 Singapore : Formalities
All approaches are well buoyed and lit, but due to the large amount of shipping, night arrivals should be avoided.
On Arrival
All yachts requiring clearance must call at either the Western Quarantine & Immigration Anchorage (Grid ref 4913D), this is just to the north of the Sister Islands, or Changi General Purpose Anchorage (Grid ref. 0319A).
The Immigration craft can be contacted on VHF ch. 74 or numeral pendants 2 & 5 flown during daylight or 2 green vertical lights at night. The Immigration Officer will conduct a face to face check on all persons on the yacht. The following documents are required:- Passports (with Immigration white card for foreign passport holders), 4 copies of the crew list and Crew Security Bond (from 20) for visiting yachts. One copy of the crew list will be stamped and is to be retained.
Within 24 hrs of arrival, the skipper must report to the One-Stop-Document-Centre at the Maritime Port Authority to complete inward clearance. The previous Port Clearance Certificate, together with 2 copies of the General Declaration (GD) form are required. A copy of the GD form and a GDV no. will be issued.
It is now a requirement that visiting yachts must obtain cruising permits in order to cruise within Port of Singapore waters, including moving between marinas. See "Restrictions" for more information.
On Departure
Port Clearance application can be done within 24 hours prior to departure at the One-Stop-Document-Centre.
The yacht must proceed to one of the 2 arrival anchorages to clear Immigration. Here the passports (with retained white card portion), 3 copies of the crew list, the arrival crew list and the Singapore Port Clearance Certificate are needed.
If you plan ahead for your next trip out of Singapore you can notify immigration of your intended departure and return to the clearing anchorage by submitting the completed Arrival/Departure Advice Form which is available from the Marine Office. This form needs to be faxed to the Immigration Office (Fax No: 6293 67543) at least 6 hours before your intended departure or arrival. By using this service you ensure that the Immigration Officers who are on the station at the anchorage are informed in advance and will be expecting you. This will help speed up the process of clearing.
Customs do not usually visit yachts, but random spot checks are made from time to time.
Customs and Immigration clearance is also possible at Raffles Marina and the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club.
Last updated December 2008.
One-Stop-Document Centre
Maritime Port Authority, 7A Keppel Road #01-26 Tanjong Pagar Complex , Singapore 089054
Tel:6325 2374
No visa is required for citizens of Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, Ireland, Monaco, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
No visa is required for up to a stay of 90 days for citizens of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Luxembourg, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Pakistan, Spain and Sweden.
No visa is required for a stay of up to 14 days for citizens of Bahrain, Brazil, Burma, Egypt, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Mexico, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and United Arab Emirates.
Visiting yachts now get two weeks upon entry and can renew for additional weeks, one week at a time. For stays longer than two months immigration may require proof why an extension is requested. A letter from a boatyard, saying that work is being carried out on the boat, is normally sufficient. As these restrictions apply to individuals, not to the boat itself, it is sometimes easier to take the bus to neighbouring Malaysia and obtain a new pass when returning to Singapore. A yacht can extend its stay for a maximum of 6 months, at the end of which time it must leave Singapore for one month before returning.
Visas are required for all other nationalities or for longer stays. See www.ica.gov.sg for more information.
Immigration may want to see proof of sufficient funds.
Immigration craft can be contacted on VHF channel 74.
Last updated December 2008.
Immigration Department
Seamen's Section, SIR Building, 10 Kallang Road, Singapore 208718
Tel:6391 6477
Firearms, including spear guns, need an import permit from the Marine Police. The permit must be obtained in advance - two weeks is the minimum period necessary for obtaining a permit. Firearms will then be sealed on board. Yachts arriving without a permit will, after declaring their firearms to customs, have to return to the boat with the Marine Police who will escort them to the armoury by taxi to deposit the firearms. On departure, they will be escorted back to the yacht with the firearms, for which a fee will be charged.
The relevant prescriptions for any prescribed medicines held on board may have to be shown to customs. The Singapore authorities have a very strict policy regarding illegal drugs and there is a death penalty for drug trafficking.
Yachts can remain indefinitely, but the captain must report to the authorities every two months.
Last updated December 2008.
Singapore Customs
(Customs Call Centre)
Tel:6355 2000 followed by (*) (O)
www.customs.gov.sg/, customs_documentation@customs.gov.sg
Additional Customs websites for information are
www.customs.gov.sg/download/PAX-leaflet.pdf and
www.customs.gov.sg/download/TOB-leaflet_web.pdf
DOCTOR - International Medical Centre, Tanglin Shopping Centre #04-20,
19 Tanglin Road, Singapore - Tel 6733 4440
Gleneagles Medical Centre, 6 Napier Road, Singapore - Tel 6473 7222
Dental Excellence, 19 Tanglin Road #05-33 Tanglin Shopping Centre, Singapore
Tel 6733 4440
The officials do not work outside working hours, so there is no overtime. Nominal harbour and light dues are calculated per GRT.
Some areas of the harbour, which are marked on the charts, are prohibited either for anchoring or for passing through - for example there is a height restriction of 45 ft (15 m) in the area close to the airport.
It is now a requirement that visiting yachts must obtain cruising permits in order to cruise within Port of Singapore waters, including moving between marinas. In order to qualify for the permit, the visiting yacht must be fitted with an IMO AIS transponder or a Harbour Craft Transponder System (HARTS) transponder. Yachts not fitted with such a device may rent one from one from Raffles Marina, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, One 15 Marina, Changi Sailing Club, Marina Country Club or the SAF Yacht Club (Sembawang). Rental fees are S$60 for the initial 3 days and $15 per day for each subsequent day thereafter plus a deposit of $300.
Note that a transponder is NOT required if you are clearing in and going directly to a marina. It is only required if you are going from one marina to another or to a boatyard.
An application form for a cruising permit must be submitted to the Port Master (via fax no. 6224 5776) at least 6 hours before the commencement of any intra-port activity. Note that if renting a transponder the marina will have to complete a section of the form. For more information contact the MPA Port Master on Tel. 6325 2453, Fax. 6325 2425. Forms are available from the MPA website
Please also note that craft are not allowed to use sails when moving in Singapore waters.
Last updated June 2009.
PET REGULATIONS - The Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) is applicable in Singapore and requires all pets to have a Pet Passport, a current Health Certificate and current Rabies Vaccination Certificate valid within not less than 30 days and
not more than 1 year and are to be microchipped by recognised Veterinarian.
Quarantine required from some countries - for more information www.pettravelstore.com/store-pet-immigration-forms1.html
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