Singapore - Clearance
All yachts are required to engage a licensed shipping agent to handle the paperwork on arrival and departure. The same agent must be used for both.
While this system does incur the cost of an agent (see Fees for details), it is greatly simplified as the agent will contact the Port Master and the ICA (Immigration Authorities) in advance of your arrival.
For a list of licensed agents see Clearance Agents
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
Yachts must contact their appointed Agent a recommended 72 hours prior to arrival but no later than 12 hours prior, so they can do the Arrival Application (AA) with the ICA.
The Agent will need a number of documents sent by e-mail in advance (see Documents for details). Note, the last port clearance should be forwarded to the agent on departure from the last port prior to Singapore.
The Agent will also need to know:
- Last port of call
- ETA at ONE15/Raffles marina (for CIQ at marina), or Changi Sailing Club (for CIQ at CPFT – Changi point Ferry Terminal), or RSYC (for CIQ at WCP – West Coast Pier)
- Duration of stay
- ETD and Next port of call
The ICA will at first grant all crew AIC (NTL) – [Advance Immigration Clearance – Not To Land]. The Agent will forward the email from the ICA to you with the crew
list/passenger list as well as the approval code. All the skipper needs to do is make three copies of each list (for arrival), and a further two copies of each (for departure).
If crew wish to go ashore they must ask the agent to submit shore leave (i.e. convert the NTL to a landing pass (LP)). This process should be planned 3 days in advance, that means after immigration arrival has been approved and before arrival of the yacht into Singapore.
Note: Once on the crew list, the crew are signed on to the vessel and if they want to leave Singapore without the vessel, they need to be signed off or will be stopped by Immigration at the airport. Signing crew on and off the yacht’s crew list also requires an Agent and 6 hrs minimum notification, as does departure clearance.
SINGAPORE PORT REGULATION: AIS REQUIREMENT
It is mandatory for yachts to be equipped with Automated Identification System (AIS) prior to entry into Singapore waters. The AIS transponder must be approved for use within the port by the MPA or the Port Master. E-mail the vessel information to noa@mpa.gov.sg at least 12 hours before entering Singapore waters.
Failure to have an AIS transponder can result in a substantial fine.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
On Arrival at the Port of Singapore:
Fly the “Q” flag.
Crossing of TSS into Singapore water (port limit), VHF call to VTIS (East/Central/West) to inform your intention.
All approaches are well buoyed and lit, but due to a large amount of shipping, night arrivals should be avoided. Upon entering Singapore Port waters make radio contact with MPA traffic control who will direct you accordingly.
Immigration (ICA) no longer provides the service of clearance out at sea (Western Immigration/Changi General Purpose) for pleasure crafts. All pleasure crafts will need to be docked at their intended marina (note CSC works out the cheapest if a group of boats want to check in together as one water taxi carries 12 persons). Approximate arrival procedures are as follows:
- Arrival at One15/Raffles marina for CIQ clearance at berth: (VHF channel 77) get instructions from the marina crew and secure at CIQ berth, stay on board and wait for immigration physical clearance. – CIQ berth reservation fee applies.
Move your boat/yacht to designated berth after clearance done. - Arrival at Changi Sailing Club (CSC) for CIQ clearance at Changi Point Ferry Terminal: (VHF channel 77) get instruction from club crew, they will lead you to your mooring buoy, moored and water taxi will pick you up to CPFT for immigration physical clearance. Ask our agent to arrange a Water Taxi – $70.00.
Walk (700m) back to CSC after clearance. - Arrival at RSYC for CIQ clearance at West Coast Pier: (VHF channel 77) get instruction from marina (day) or security (night) for a temporary berth. Ask your agent to arrange a water taxi for pick up at WCP so you can clear in person with immigration physical clearance ($80+). Walk (100m) back to RSYC after clearance, move your boat/yacht to designated berth.
Should entering a marina not be possible (due to lack of space/availability) the MPA will approve yachts to anchor on a case-by-case basis.
The following authorities will need to seen:
- Coast Guard: Expect to be visited by Coast Guard officers who will come on board to inspect your vessel to ensure there are no stowaways, contraband etc. It is recommended that as well as the required copies of documents for Immigration, you should have additional copies of the crew list and passenger list (if any) to be handed to the Coast Guard officers on request.
- Immigration: The ICA will at first grant all crew AIC (NTL) – [Advance Immigration Clearance – Not To Land]. If crew wish to go ashore they must ask the agent to submit shore leave (i.e. convert the NTL to a landing pass (LP)). This process should be planned 3 days in advance, that means after immigration arrival approved and before arrival of the yacht into Singapore. Crew will need to use water-taxi/private car transport to Marina South Pier MSP or West Coast Pier WCP for immigration (depending on which marina you are berthed at as ONE 15 and Raffles have CIQP on site). At the MSP or WCP, passports are scanned and documents verified by Immigration, then crew are endorsed from NTL to LP. Crew may then go ashore to explore. The landing pass will have a validation date, which can be extended to the maximum stay period (this is up to ICA but normally 42 days).
- MLP: Within 24 hrs of arrival, inward clearance must be completed with the MLP. The Agent will submit all forms online. You will be given a copy of the General Declaration to keep. Make two copies for when you depart Singapore.
- The process takes only a few minutes. You can clear in and out at the same time if your stay will be two days or less.
- All foreign visiting yachts are required to pay Port Dues to MPA. MPA website: www.mpa.gov.sg.
Once all clearance procedures complete, the agent will submit the Port Arrival Declaration. Passengers can leave immediately after clearance. If any crew wish to leave the boat, sign-off procedures apply.
Domestic Cruising:
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.
DEPARTURE FORMALITIES
Port Clearance application can be done 48 hours in advance of departure with your Agent, with a noon deadline on the 2nd day.
Remember to contact your appointed agent 24 hours prior to departure as well to organize clearance with the ICA.
Immigration departure application approval will be forwarded to the skipper by the agent. Departure procedures for all marinas (these are approximate):
- Departure at One15/Raffles marina for CIQ clearance at berth: (VHF channel 77) get instructions from the marina crew and secure at CIQ berth, stay on board and wait for immigration physical clearance. CIQ berth reservation fee applies.
Move your boat/yacht out from Singapore port limit immediately after clearance done. - Departure at Changi Sailing Club (CSC) for CIQ clearance at CPFT: (VHF channel 77) gather all at CPFT departure hall, inform security that you are proceeding for yacht departure immigration physical clearance, get instruction from them, they will lead you to counter. Immigration clearance done and water taxi will pick you up to CPFT jetty to your boat/yacht – Agent will arrange for Water Taxi $70.00 Move your boat/yacht out from Singapore port limit immediately after you board your boat/yacht.
- Departure at RSYC for CIQ clearance at WCP: (VHF channel 77) gather all at WCP departure hall, inform security that you are proceeding for yacht departure immigration physical clearance, get instruction from them, they will lead you to counter, Immigration clearance done and water taxi will pick you up to WCP jetty to your boat/yacht – Agent will arrange for Water Taxi $80+
Move your boat/yacht out from Singapore port limit immediately after you board your boat/yacht.
You will need to submit the following documents:
- Passports (with retained white card portion)
- Crew list with approval code from agent/ICA (2 copies)
- Original arrival crew list endorsed by ICA on arrival (2 copies)
If any new crew are joining the boat, sign-on procedures apply.
The port clearance certificate can be collected once all marina/club payments have been done.
Customs do not usually visit yachts, but random spot checks are made from time to time.
Last updated: May 2023
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Formalities: Clearance Agents
Related to following destinations: Singapore
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Singapore Check-in / Check-out
We recently needed to check-in to Singapore for some engine repairs. Things have changed since we were last there in 2013.
All vessels need to use an agent now for formalities.
As we looked for a marina that had space for us to actually go to, we were referred to the Agent James Lim, +65-9424-5253, Marvelous Yachting Pte Ltd, and he was very helpful to advise us to save some $$ and check in at the Changi Ferry Terminal Immigration, with the boat at the Changi Sailing Club just a short distance away.
James is a former sailor, been around the world by sail, and understands that we are all on a budget. Very helpful.
The procedure is to contact James, and he will file online for your arrival. You arrive at the Changi Sailing Club, NE corner of Singapore, pick up a mooring as directed by the club, VHF77, and a Bumboat (S$70) will take you to the Ferry Terminal/Immigration. Then you walk 10 minutes back to the Club, or take bus #29 two stops. To check out is the reverse procedure.
James takes care of all the other formalities / vessel declaration / Port clearance / arranges the bumboat / etc.
Mooring rates at the Changi Sailing club were almost half price of most of the other marina’s in Singapore, and there was no QICP fee ($300 each way in/out). While you are on a mooring instead of a dock, the club ferry boat will pick up/drop off all day until 2030. Use of the pool/showers/towels/library/lockers/WiFi/facilities are included. F&B available w/ 15% discount.
Bus 29 will take you to the MRT station about 30 minutes away, where you can go to 3 malls or ride the subway all over Singapore very reasonably.
~~__/) ~~
Steve
S/V Ananda II
Hi All,
Living in Thailand but currently in France, I would like to get to my boat that is in a SG marina and sail to Phuket where she will be moored.
SG ambassy in France tells me to get a letter from port authorities, who tell me to contact the ambassy…
Any idea how and when I can plan a short trip to SG ? I will just need some victualling and then I sail away, on my own.
Thanks ahead for your kind advices.
Tom
With the current uncertainty in the Covid 19 situation , temporary suspension of the onsite CIQP services at Raffles Marina till 1 Oct 2021.
Hi, my name is Fabián Linkowski from Argentina. I have my boat in Langkawi planning to go Singapore for the 1st time in febrauary 2020. Just read about pirates in big boats:
https://time.com/5755266/pirates-singapore/?fbclid=IwAR2ZcqVEceIX4UCCzhqC_rnwwcrKw5262wtUojPR0k5fjsSu4_x-i54ilUs
Any report abourt pleasure sailors?
Thanks in advance.
Singapore is a BUSY port, with much of the South Asian Shipping transit though Singapore.
Alternatives: Batam Island ( a few KM/ Miles South of Singapore, a Resort area) Indonesia Territory.
Boat trip to Singapore is under 30 mins.
Many Singaporeans go to Batam Island for short holidays or weekends, as it has many Massage Parlors and attractions for tourists.
There are Multiple Islands with Marinas and Ferry services in this area.
——————————————————Singapore —————————————–
Marina Bay Sands is one of the highlights of Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is Beautiful by the day and night, as they do Night Tours. Singapore Botanic Gardens is a little far from Singapore, it is close the British Council – worth a look if you like landscaped gardens
Be Aware —– Singapore has some Strict rules, Bubble gum is non existent. Public Drinking is an offence. ———
My family and I recently visited Singapore and we found out that it is required to have agent to do clearances. We were recommended to engage in CRAFT DOCKET LLP. They were very helpful as they assisted us in marina booking as well. Their processing is really efficient and cheap rates.
If you’d like to use their services, do email them at:
admin@craftdocket.com
or contact/whatsapp:
+6588228893
Latest update with regards to the Immigration check in process , as mentioned by Phil Read , Coast Guards will need to come over to inspect the boat . Most of the times , the Officers do come on board and go through the entire vessel ensuring no stowayays, contrabands and so on . At times , this process of waiting for the Coast Guards arrival might take some time (+-30 min to 1 hour). I recommend that every boaters that wish to enter Singapore , have an additional copy of the crew list and the passenger list(if any) to be handed over to the Coast Guards Officers upon request.
Arrival – total copies – 4 pcs
departure – total copies – 3 pcs
for more info , email me at Hans Yacht Services and am happy to assist
Hi Phil Read ,
Thank you very much for the comment .
If you plan to use your boat (for pleasure) in Sg waters you will need too do a local on line test before you can apply for a cruising permit. The questions can be very Singapore specific; eg. Which Port Marine Circular of 2003 can you find information on declaration made by pleasure craft departing Singapore?
For me it involved a lot of googling. And they were not always easy to find. Other questions were rather more easy – general seamanship. If anyone wants a list (not complete but enough to get you through) of questions and answers email me odayhappyours1986@gmail.com. The pass mark seems to be about 70%. Also you can redo the test immediatly and there seems to be no time limit on answers – so have google open.
The link (also not easy to find) is;
https://marinet.mpa.gov.sg/osa/jsp/VY_OSA_MPARegistry.jsp?cmd=NEW
Latest from Sisters Island is that the police will board you for a cursory search, then the immigration boat will come along side for your passports. All vessels.
It is my first time coming into Singapore after the new immigration rules implemented, I found CRAFT DOCKET LLP as my agent. They are very efficient and detailed. I would like to thank them for their great assistance on our immigration clearances to Singapore and also out of Singapore!
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your feedback. I’m very sorry to hear that your experience on the recent trip was not to your satisfaction, we take all feedback seriously and I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to provide this to us so we could resolve the issue for you.
As explained the additional charges presented to you on departure was for the additional services that you had requested we action for you such as Crew Sign On/Off. I believe these cost had been explained to you at the time and to our knowledge, you were in agreement.
However, in light of your feedback, I’m pleased you were happy with the waiver of these fees as a resolution to your complaint we proposed.
In relation to fuel stops we only provide the supplier our clients routing when our clients request for fuel stops to be arranged on the way to their final destination and only upon their request, this is quite common practice however my apologies for any confusion this may have caused you as I believe we have not provided our Bunkering Service to you on your last trips with us.
I’m pleased we managed to resolve the complaint to your satisfaction and for any inconvenience caused by waiving all additional charges.
As a family business now reaching its 160th year in business, please rest assured that we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service to all of our clients along with ensuring their stay in Singapore is a pleasant & memorable one.
Should you require any additional service, assistance or information we, as always, I remain at your complete disposal,
Kind Regards,
David Mahoney,
Agency Operations Manager
Fratelli Cosulich Yacht Solutions
I have had 2 bad experiences with a company called Fratelli Cosulich, which have been complete nightmares and charged me unbelievable amounts, on both occasions the paperwork was wrong, as well as various other things, causing delays for hours at a time, last time l had to go out of Singapore and come in as crew, because they forgot to mention all this to me, they also try to see where your next fuel stop is, calling the people in advance, without your knowledge, and getting a kickback on the fuel.
These people are based at One15 Marina in an office the size of a dog box, avoid going there, l was warned about them previously, but l took 2 stupid chances
Wanted to say thanks to Craft Docket for clearing my boat in and out from Singapore with ease.
They are very efficient and professional in their work as they claim to have plenty of boats that tie down with them. Would really recommend them as their prices are cheap!
Just call for Serene (+65 8822 8893) or email Admin@craftdocket.com if you in need of their service and do help me say Hi to them!
Fantastic job guys!!
Last month, July 2016, we had quite a complicated case of yacht import/ immigration in/out Singapore with crew and passengers. This all happened on short notice, as a prior appointed agent tried to rip us off and we cut ties last minute.
We found:
Manjit Singh
Hans yachts services
http://WWW.HANSYACHTS.COM
+6592478847
Manjit immediately started working our case and came to meet the same evening with a complete proposal at a VERY! fair rate. He also organized a partner of his, who is a specialist in customs matters. Mr John Lim.
The entire case was resolved in just over 48 hours, with all the paperwork done and accompanied by the teams of Manjit & John every step of the way. This included a late night personal visa trip for one of our crew and much more.
We can highly recommend the services of these 2 gentlemen, you won’t be disappointed. Great job guys, our next yacht is coming this September and we are looking forward to meeting you again. Thanks again for helping us out! M.
Manjit is awesome.
There are new immigration rules for entering Singapore as of April 1, 2016, which means you have to use an Agent. We dealt with Hans Yachts and found them to be fantastic, quick and very well informed.
I showed up yesterday at the western immigration anchorage, having sent the arrival notice to the harbour master, but not having enrolled with the new CREW system (with a compulsory agent!).
I was refused and asked to leave their waters.
I was then escorted by a coastguard boat and then a police boat, until 8 PM.
Friendly, but unaware of what is an “innocent passage”. Montego Bay 1982.
The truth is that I committed a second crime, having sailed too close to a naval base (one mile and a half! – with no signs or security boat).
The revised procedure (effective 01 March 2016) requires an agent for enrolling into the CREW system. Doing it yourself is unpractical(as it requires a bond of $5000, etc…).
These facts speak for themselves and I prefer not to try again any entry into this country, fearing more endless unrealistic requirements.
It seems that they don’t make any difference between a visiting sailboat for a one day stop, and a freighter.
Compared to the easiness and cool welcome in Malaysia, the Singapore administration seems a nightmare.
You can no longer clear inwards/outwards at Raffles Marina – You have to clear immigration at the Quarantine Anchorage near Sister Islands.
The Ministry of Tourism Indonesia cordially invites boaters, skippers, captains, and yacht owners to attend an Afternoon Tea gathering to promote new policy on liberalizing CIQP (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine, Port Clearance) and to welcome foreign yachts and cruise ships to visit Indonesia.
Singapore Nov 7th, 14:00 Raffles Marina.
Malaysia Nov 8th, 14:00 Bayview Hotel, Langkawi.
Thailand Nov 9th, 14:00 Ao Chalong Yacht Club, Phuket.
A short presentation will be conducted by Dr Indrojono Soesilo, Honorary Advisor for the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia. Please join.
For engineering services, we can recommend Jeff Jakey of Shellback Marine Services – jeff@shellback.com.sg or +65 9766 1439. He helped us out with an engine problem – quick and very responsive.
You can no longer clear inwards at RSYC – you have to clear immigration at the quarantine anchorage
Immigration
On checking in at the Quarantine Anchorage at least one person, usually, the skipper must be registered as crew and will get a 2-week landing pass stamped in the passport. Others can be registered as passengers and will get a visitor stamp (3 months for the UK).
The landing pass can no longer be extended in person at Marina South Pier. An agent must be engaged to do it. Raffles Marina and Kepple Bay Marina act as agents and can apparently arrange it (presumably at a charge). One15 is not an agent and so if you are there you have to appoint one yourself. It cost us SGD 150 to do so. It is also possible for the “crew” to be signed off enabling him or her to leave Singapore for Malaysia and return as a visitor. Again and the agent is required. This change has apparently been in force for about 3 months.