SingaporeLevel 1/4

You must abide by local laws. Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad.

Local police may ask to see your passport and visa at any time. They could detain you while they verify your identification documents.

• Carry adequate identification at all times
• Always cooperate with local authorities
• Keep a photocopy or digital copy of your passport in a safe place, in case of loss or seizure

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences, heavy fines or the death penalty. Custom officers can subject travellers to a drug screening test at the point of entry to Singapore. If you test positive for drugs, you can be arrested and prosecuted, even if the drugs were consumed prior to your arrival in the country.

Consuming alcohol in public places between 10:30 pm and 7 am is illegal. In Liquor Control Zones, the alcohol ban is extended to all day on weekends. Local authorities may impose additional restrictions in these zones. If you don't comply, you could face heavy fines and jail time.

The legal age for smoking is 21 years old. Smoking is prohibited in many public spaces, such as:

• parks and gardens
• the ABC Water Sites and Reservoir Parks
• certain public beaches

If you're caught smoking in prohibited places, you could face heavy fines. Overview of Smoking Prohibition – Singapore's National Environment Agency

You cannot bring electronic cigarettes or vaporizers to Singapore. It is illegal to bring, sell, use or distribute:

• electronic cigarettes
• vaping devices
• vaping liquids

Convicted offenders may face heavy fines or jail sentences.

Singapore has strict laws and penalties against a variety of actions that may not be illegal or may be considered minor offences in Canada. This includes:

• jaywalking
• littering or spitting
• importing, selling, or chewing gum
• eating and drinking on the mass rapid transit system
• inappropriate masculine behaviour
• using foul language
• inappropriate displays of affection or molestation
• shoplifting
• vandalism

Convicted offenders may expect one or more of the following:

• corporal punishment, most often caning
• imprisonment
• a fine

Local authorities enforce strict regulations on the import and export of items, such as:

• weapons
• e-cigarettes, vaporizers and their refills
• certain religious material
• pornographic material
• videotapes
• CDs and DVDs
• software

All luggage is X-rayed at ports of entry, and checked luggage may be inspected for regulated items. You may be detained if you carry any of these items without permission.

Jehovah's Witness meetings, including private meetings, are illegal. Possession of a Jehovah's Witness bible or any related publication is also illegal. The Unification Church is affected by similar laws.

In 2027, the lunar month of Ramadan is expected to begin on or around February 7. In public, between sunrise and sunset, be discreet when:

• drinking
• eating
• smoking

Singaporean laws do not criminalize sexual acts or relationships between persons of the same sex. However, 2SLGBTQI+ persons could be discriminated against or detained based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics. 2SLGBTQI+ persons should carefully consider the risks of travelling to Singapore. Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Common-law relationships are not recognized. If you are in a common-law relationship, you may have to provide proof to support the claim of your union by common-law to local authorities. You may draft your own statutory declaration to proclaim your common-law relationship with another individual and request to notarize your declaration at the High Commission of Canada in Singapore. However, the High Commission cannot “certify” or “validate” your common-law relationship.

Traffic drives on the left. You must carry an international driving permit. If you reside in Singapore for more than 12 months, you must convert your valid Canadian driving licence to a Singapore Driving Licence. Traffic regulations are strictly enforced. Drinking and driving is a serious offence. Sentences can be up to 10 years in prison.

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. The convention applies between Canada and Singapore. If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Singapore, and if the applicable conditions are met, you may apply for the return of your child to the Singaporean court. If you are in this situation:

• act as quickly as you can
• contact the Central Authority for your province or territory of residence for information on starting an application under The Hague Convention
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Singapore to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies. Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

The public display of the national flags or emblems of other countries is illegal except where a specific exemption has been granted. It is illegal to use the Singapore flag and national symbols in ways considered disrespectful. Police may give you an on-the-spot fine for littering. Acts of vandalism including graffiti carry harsh penalties such as fines, imprisonment and caning. Disrespecting or intimidating a public official can be illegal. There is zero tolerance for bribery in Singapore and any attempt to bribe or otherwise prevent an official from carrying out their duties can lead to arrest.

Use of false ID is illegal in Singapore. Foreigners living in Singapore are issued with an official identity card.

You should avoid any action that could be interpreted as molestation. Penalties for convicted offenders include fines, imprisonment and caning. Some scams involving false claims of molestation and extortion have been reported.

The authorities do not tolerate drunk and disorderly behaviour. It is illegal to drink alcohol in a public place, besides restaurants, bars and licensed entertainment venues, between 10:30pm and 7am. You could be arrested for:

• being found drunk and incapable in public
• fighting and becoming a nuisance in public
• touching someone inappropriately (whether resulting from drunken behaviour or not)
• driving while drunk
• drinking in public outside of allowed hours and areas

Penalties for convicted offenders include fines, imprisonment and caning. Geylang and Little India are ‘Liquor Control Zones’ (PDF). Drinking in these areas is banned all weekend, on public holidays and on the eve of public holidays.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned in Singapore. It is illegal to bring them into the country, including for personal use. Those found in possession of vapes or e-cigarettes will have them confiscated and could be fined. You must be 21 or over to purchase, use, own, sell or supply tobacco products in Singapore. Smoking is banned at all public parks, all beaches and along certain waterways. Orchard Road is a No Smoking Zone. Make sure you smoke in designated areas only.

There are severe penalties for all drug offences in Singapore, including possession. Carrying even a small amount of drugs can have significant consequences. You can be charged with trafficking (‘intent to sell’) for possessing drugs above a certain amount. You can be detained without trial. Sentences include prison terms, caning and the death penalty, including when transiting through the airport. Airports in Singapore have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. See the Misuse of Drugs Act for information on definitions and penalties.

If you’re arrested, you might not be allowed to speak with anyone, not even a lawyer while you are questioned. Do not offer money to officials. You can face further charges or penalties for any attempt to bribe or prevent an official from carrying out their duties. See our guides on Singapore’s legal and criminal system and being arrested or detained abroad to find out how we can help. If you’re under police investigation, the authorities will take your passport and return it once the investigation is over. If you’re convicted, your passport will be held until you’ve served your sentence. In most cases, you will not be allowed to leave Singapore while the case is open. There is no set timeline for investigations. You must be able to support yourself financially during this period. The British High Commission cannot interfere in the criminal and legal process in Singapore.

A death penalty is a possibility for some offences, including murder and drug trafficking. Penalties for drug offences are severe and possession of even very small quantities can lead to a death penalty.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Singapore. However, the law does not recognise same-sex marriage and partnerships. This means, for example, that foreign residents cannot easily get a dependant’s pass for a same-sex spouse or partner. A child from a same-sex partnership may not be recognised as the child of one or both parents. It is possible to change legal gender in Singapore, subject to medical procedures. LGBT+ support groups and social venues exist in Singapore. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

The following are liable for National Service:

• all male Singapore citizens
• all male dual nationals aged 20 and under
• all male children granted Permanent Resident (PR) status as part of their parents’ PR application

Specific questions on National Service can be put to Singapore’s Central Manpower base, email: contact@ns.sg. For further information, see the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

Avoid street gatherings and public demonstrations as they will be illegal if they do not have police permission. Foreigners who are not permanent residents are prohibited from attending outdoor demonstrations regardless of police permission. Filming an illegal gathering is forbidden. The wearing of ‘cause-related’ clothing and displaying ‘cause -related’ banners is prohibited in public. It is illegal for foreign nationals to give a talk publicly on ‘racial, communal, religious, cause-related or political topics’ without a permit.

Both public and private Jehovah’s Witness meetings are illegal in Singapore. It is also illegal to possess any Jehovah’s Witness publication, including a Jehovah’s Witness bible. There are similar measures against the Unification Church and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

Singapour applique des règles strictes pour maintenir l'ordre public . Les infractions sont systématiquement poursuivies et sanctionnées. En cas de plainte, il faut s'attendre à un retrait immédiat du passeport ou à une détention jusqu'au prononcé du jugement. Selon la gravité de l'infraction, certaines violations peuvent être punies d'amendes, de peines de prison ou de châtiments corporels. Il s'agit notamment des infractions suivantes:

• jeter des déchets par terre (p.ex. des mégots de cigarette);

• cracher;

• l’importation et la vente de chewing-gum;

• l’importation et la consommation de cigarettes électroniques;

• les infraction à l’interdiction de fumer: dans les bâtiments publics ainsi que jusqu’à 5 mètres devant les entrées;

• la consommation de denrées alimentaires et de boissons dans les transports publics et les bâtiments;

• les actes de vandalisme (entre autres apposer des graffitis);

• les remarques critiques à l'égard du gouvernement (également sur les réseaux sociaux);

• tout comportement indécent ou contraire aux bonnes mœurs (Outrage of Modesty). Cela inclut le harcèlement verbal ou physique, par ex. des attouchements n’ayant pas été explicitement approuvés par la personne concernée. On a rapporté des cas de fausses accusations visant à obtenir une compensation financière grâce à un règlement à l'amiable.

Les autorités ne tolèrent ni l'ivresse ni les comportements contraires à l'ordre public. La consommation d’alcool dans les lieux publics est soumise à certaines restrictions. Les infractions à la loi sur les stupéfiants, y compris la détention de minimes quantités de drogue quelle qu'elle soit (cela inclut également les cigarettes électroniques sont durement réprimées. Les sanctions vont des amendes, des châtiments corporels, des lourdes peines de prison à la peine de mort. Les personnes chez lesquelles des tests effectués à leur arrivée dans le pays révèlent une consommation antérieure de stupéfiants sont également passibles de condamnation. La peine de mort peut également être prononcée pour d'autres délits graves, telles que le meurtre. Les enquêtes policières et les procédures judiciaires donnent souvent lieu à des investigations de longue durée. Pendant cette période, une interdiction de sortie du territoire est généralement prononcée. Dans de tels cas, l'assistance d'un avocat local ou d’une avocate locale est indispensable. Les conditions de détention sont dures.

Les normes morales sociales à Singapour doivent être prises en considération. Même dans les bars et les discothèques, les attouchements peuvent être considérés comme inappropriés et entraîner des conséquences juridiques dans le cadre de la loi sur « Outrage of Modesty » (voir chapitre Dispositions légales particulières). La tolérance envers les minorités sexuelles peut varier considérablement.

À Singapour, la conduite s’effectue à gauche. Les amendes de la circulation sont élevées, même pour les personnes à pied. Singapore Highway Code Transports publics: Singapour possède un réseau très développé de lignes de bus et de métro. Les points de passage des frontières peuvent être temporairement fermés à court terme, par exemple afin d’endiguer la propagation de maladies. Informez-vous auprès des autorités locales ou directement auprès des postes-frontières.

Les personnes en voyage à destination de Singapour doivent soumettre une carte d’arrivée électronique avant ou à leur arrivée. Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) and Electronic Pass (e-Pass) Enquiry Portal

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Ambulance and fire: 995

Police: 999

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You can call  FCDO  in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

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