Moving To Singapore

We Streamline the Moving Process

Customs Regulations for Singapore

Valid Passport
Residence visa
Residence permit
Copy of letter applying for Residence permit/Employee pass
Copy of acknowledgment card from Immigration
Proof of Employment (letter from employer to Director or Customs and Excise, stating customer’s designation and anticipated stay in Singapore)
Customs Declaration (signed, stating the customer has owned and used the goods for at least six months)
Detailed inventory (two legible copies)
Contact information (address and telephone number)

When moving to Singapore, the customer will be faced with various regulations to abide by to successfully clear Customs with a household goods shipment:

Customer must be present in Singapore at the time of shipment arrival for the shipment to clear Customs
Household goods and personal effects must arrive within six months of customer’s arrival
Used household goods and personal effects are duty free provided they have been used for at least six months abroad, are for the customer’s continued use for at least three months, and the customer will be residing in Singapore for more than 12 months
All shipments are 100 percent inspected
Only one air shipment and one surface shipment allowed

In Singapore, some articles may not be allowed for importation. These items include, but may not be limited to:

Narcotics and other drugs, including non-branded drugs and psychotropic substances
Chewing gum
Guns (including toy replicas), weapons, ammunition and firecrackers – violation punishable by death
Pornographic or politically controversial materials
Hand-held radios or transmitters
Cigarette lighters shaped like pistol revolvers
Plants and vegetable products
All live and stuffed animals on the Endangered Species list
Counterfeit currency, toy coins and toy currency notes

Some articles may have restricted quantities or require special authorization/ payments of duties and taxes to clear Customs in Singapore.

These items include, but are not limited to:

New furniture (subject to duty – supply invoices)
Only one of each major electrical item allowed duty free
Refrigerators
Antiques (require detailed inventory and certificate of antiquity to be duty free)
Prescription drugs (require valid prescription)
Alcohol and tobacco:
- Alcohol is subject to very high duty and taxes, must have exact number of bottles and type of alcohol documented
- Load by container doors for easy access
Books and magazines (examined randomly)
Video tapes, laser discs, cassettes and films are discouraged (subject to censorship and screening charges if imported)
- Provide a list of video film titles
- Videos that are exempt from censorship are children’s cartoon videos in original packing and personal recordings of family events
Certain types of stuffed birds, animals and agricultural products (require import license)
Certain weapons require permission from authorities:
- Swords
- Knives
- Spear guns
- Blow pipes
- Bows and arrows

Customers moving to Singapore may import automobiles, but they are subject to high duty and registration fees, and therefore importation is not advised. A vehicle may be imported into Singapore if:

Vehicle must be registered in your (the owner’s) name for continued use, and not for re-sale
Left-hand drive vehicles are prohibited
Vehicles cannot be imported if they are more than three years old
Dismantled vehicles are not permitted

The customer will need the following documents:

Certificate of Compliance from Exhaust Emission Control Standard (required for all vehicles)
Original Commercial Invoice
Insurance papers
Vehicle Registration Certificate
Passport
Inward Declaration Permit
Customs duty payment receipt
Temporary Certificate of Entitlement
Manufacturers letter confirming date the auto was manufactured

When importing a pet to Singapore, the requirements/documents needed are as follows:

Health and Vaccination Certificate required (must show proof vaccination was administered between 30 – 180 days prior to travel)
Animal must be at least for months old upon entry into Singapore
Import Permit required at least 14 days before importation
One month quarantine required
No more than three dogs permitted per household
Destination Agent should have the following information:
- Breed, name, age, weight, sex and color of each animal
- Owner’s name and delivery address
- Flight schedule and Air Waybill number

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International Sea & Air Shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 315-4170

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Singapore

To start, one of our trained moving specialists will provide a one-on-one consultation with you, thoroughly outlining your moving options based on certain criteria, such as:

Your moving timeline. When do you need to be in Singapore?
Your real estate plans. Will you be renting or buying?
Your family/household size. Will you be moving alone or with your family? For business or personal reasons?
Cubic feet estimate. How large is your shipment?

What Will Moving to Singapore Cost?

For an accurate estimate of your shipment size, you should schedule a home survey as early as possible for your move to Singapore. Our moving specialists will assess your belongings to give you the best estimate possible to expedite your relocation. The cost of moving to Singapore will vary considerably based on the cubic footage of your belongings and your proposed destination arrival time.

Don’t forget to ask about our overseas packing and custom crating services, too!

About Singapore

Originally a trading post of the East India Company, the Southeast Asian country of Singapore lies off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, and is also known as the Lion City. It consists of 63 islands that have a tropical rainforest climate, and is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor, and from Indonesia’s Riau Islands by the Singapore Strait.

A federal semi-presidential republic, the President is considered the head of the state and the Prime Minster the head of the government.

What once was a small fishing village is now a breathtaking cosmopolitan city with high-rise buildings, landscaped gardens and an epicenter for cultural diversity. Singapore is home to descendants from China, India, the Middle East and Malaysia – most of the country’s citizens speak more than one language.

Singapore is a parliamentary republic, and is recognized as having a world-class living environment (ranked first among Asian countries for quality of life, and 11^th in the world), as well as a thriving and successful free-market economy. The country’s export partners are: Hong Kong, Malaysia, US, Indonesia, China and Japan.

Ready for your international move to Singapore? First, get prepared by learning about what you’ll need to clear Customs!

Moving to Singapore from the U.S.

If you are moving to Singapore from the United States, there will be plenty to consider and prepare for before you head across the globe. With so many things to plan, the last thing you want to worry about is the logistics of a complicated international move – so you’ll want to hire a trustworthy and qualified overseas shipping company to make your move worry-free!

International Sea & Air Shipping will make your transition to Singapore as seamless as possible by providing top-notch shipping services for all of your household goods, and much more. Do you need help preparing your documents? Do you need Customs assistance?

No problem! International Sea & Air will help you plan your move to Singapore from start to finish!

Great service, great price!

“We moved from Boston to Singapore in September 2016, and used International Sea and Air to ship 32 boxes of books, clothes, toys, and other household items (no furniture). The process was very smooth from start to finish. We first obtained a quote from Ami who also explained the process. The minimum amount to ship was 150 cu ft, and our boxes did not end up using the full space quota. We paid a deposit, then booked a pickup, and self-packed. We were given contact info for various staff – billing, logistics, and a move coordinator, Jeanine, who kept us updated throughout the move. At the pickup, each box was numbered as two staff loaded then into a truck, and we received a copy of the inventory. The boxes took about 7.5 weeks to arrive, and we were contacted by the partner company at the Singapore side, who helped us clear customs and provided the necessary forms. Delivery was punctual and the partner company staff were courteous and helpful. Everything arrived in great shape other than one box which had a hole in the side but the contents were ok. We used standard U haul boxes for all the items. These worked well for books, but I would recommend stronger boxes for contents that aren’t packed tightly as several boxes had corners that were dinged. The price from International Sea and Air’s side was exactly as quoted at the start, without hidden charges. However, we did have to pay additional customs fees and delivery charges on the Singapore side, which we had expected. Overall, very professional service with great communication throughout, and competitive pricing. I highly recommend International Sea and Air!”

– David Huang

You can also check out for some of the neighboring countries of Singapore –