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Singapore
General
Information
Airport Tax
A passenger service charge of SGD 21 should be incorporated
in the air ticket (including tickets issued outside of
Singapore). If this has not been done, you may be required
to pay the SGD 21 during check-in. In some cases, the
airline may absorb the service charge. Passengers who are in
transit for less than 24 hours may leave the airport without
having to pay the service charge upon departure from
Singapore.
Baby-sitting
Baby-sitting services are provided in most hotels.
Banking
The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Notes
come in denominations of SGD 2, SGD 5, SGD 10, SGD 20, SGD
50, SGD 100, SGD 500, SGD 1,000, and SGD 10,000.
Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and
SGD 1.
Banking hours are Mondays to Fridays: 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs.
Saturdays: 0930 hrs to 1300 hrs (some banks are open until
1500 hrs. Sundays: 0930 hrs to 1500 hrs (some banks in
Orchard Road).
Most banks handle travellers' cheques and change foreign
currencies. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange
dealings on Saturdays.
Passports are required when cashing in travellers' cheques.
A nominal commission may be charged.
Credit/Charge Cards
Major cards are widely accepted by establishments in
Singapore. Should any shop insist on adding a surcharge,
contact the respective card company to report the errant
shop-owner.
American Express
Tel: (65) 6880 1111
Diners Card
Tel: (65) 6416 0800
JCB
Tel: (65) 6734 0096
MasterCard
Tel: 800 - 110 0113 (toll-free in Singapore only)
Visa
Tel: 800 - 448 1250 (toll-free in Singapore only)
Currency
Other than the Singapore Dollar, the US and Australian
Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in most
major shopping centres and big departmental stores.
An online currency converter service is available at asiaone.
Check on today's exchange rate.
Drinking Water
It is perfectly safe to drink water straight from the tap in
Singapore. However, for those who prefer bottled mineral
water, local supermarkets and grocers usually carry a
sizeable selection.
Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is viewed seriously in Singapore. Illicit
trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is
strictly prohibited.
Electricity
Singapore voltage is 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles per second.
On request, most hotels will provide transformers to
visitors with electrical appliances of a different voltage,
such as 110-120 volts, 60 cycles per second. When shopping
for electrical appliances, do remember to check the voltage
of the item against the acceptable voltage in your home
country. The power plugs used in Singapore are of the
three-pin, square-shaped type.
Fireworks
Any individual found keeping, possessing, having under his
control, discharging or letting off dangerous fireworks
(including firecrackers, rocket fireworks, sandcrackers and
such other fireworks) is liable to a fine not exceeding SGD
5,000 or imprisonment for up to two years or both.
Gambling
Charity draws, Toto and Singapore Sweep lotteries, and
on-course betting at the Singapore Turf Club on horse races
are the only authorised forms of gambling in Singapore. All
other gambling activities are illegal in Singapore.
Hair Salons
Most major hotels provide a full range of hair styling
services. Hair salons are also found in shopping centres,
offering standard haircuts as well as more elaborate
services like hair treatments, facial treatments, and
manicure and pedicure services.
Hotel Phone Services
Most hotels offer in-room international direct dial (IDD)
telephone services. However, some hotels may impose a
minimal 30 cents successful call transaction surcharge. As
there are different IDD service providers in Singapore,
rates and access codes are dependent on the service provider
used by the hotel. Generally, local calls are charged at 10
cents for every three minutes.
Laundry
Same-day laundry service is available in most hotels.
Typically, it costs SGD 5 for a laundered shirt, SGD 10 for
a dress and SGD 14 for a dry-cleaned suit. Independent
dry-cleaners can be found in the Yellow Pages of the
Singapore Phone Book.
Medical Facilities
Singapore's medical facilities are among the finest in the
world, with well-qualified doctors and dental surgeons.
Pharmacies are ready available at supermarkets, department
stores, hotels and shopping centres. Registered pharmacists
generally work from 0900 hrs to 1800 hrs.
Most hotels have their own doctor on-call around the clock.
Other doctors are listed under Medical Practitioners in the
Yellow Pages of the Singapore Phone Book. For an ambulance,
dial 995. Visitors could also contact the following
hospitals' International Patient Service Centres:
Parkway Group Healthcare Medical
Referral Centre
302 Orchard Road Tong Building #16-01/02/03 Singapore 238862
Tel: (65) 6735 5000 (24-hour hotline)
Fax: (65) 6732 6733
Raffles International Patients Centre
Raffles Hospital 585 North Bridge Road Singapore 1889770
Tel: (65) 6311 1666 Fax: (65) 6311 2333
24-hour Appointments Hotline
Tel: (65) 6311 1222 Fax: (65) 6311 2136
National Healthcare Group
International Patient Liaison Centre
National University Hospital 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119074
Tel: (65) 6779 2777 (24-hour hotline) Fax: (65) 6777 8065
Singapore Health Services (SingHealth)
International Medical Service
Singapore General Hospital Block 6 Level 1 Outram Road
Singapore 169608
Tel: (65) 6326 5656 Fax: (65) 6326 5900
Mobile Phones
There are two mobile phone networks - GSM900 and GSM1800 -
and three mobile telephone service providers - SingTel, M1
and StarHub. To make international calls, the access codes
are 001, 013, or 019 for SingTel, 002 or 021 for M1, and 008
or 018 for StarHub.
Postal Services
Singapore Post operates a network of more than 1,300 postal
outlets conveniently located throughout the island. These
outlets offer a wide range of postal, telecommunication and
agency services. Most postal outlets are open Monday through
Friday, from 0830 hrs to 1700 hrs and until 1300 hrs on
Saturday.
Post Restante service is also available at:
Singapore Post Pte Ltd
10 Eunos Road 8
Singapore Post Centre
Singapore 408600
Open: 0800 hrs - 2100 hrs (Mon - Fri), 0800 hrs - 1800 hrs
(Sat),
1000 hrs - 1600 hrs (Sun and Public Holidays)
Tel: (65) 6741 8857
Fax: (65) 6841 6085
Website: http://www.singpost.com.sg
Safety
Increasingly, personal safety and security are becoming
critical concerns of international travellers. The situation
in Singapore remains calm and stable, and the island remains
one of the safest in the world to visit.
Enhanced security measures at key installations and other
sensitive places ensure that Singapore continues to remain
safe. The Singapore Government explicitly states that
extremism originating from religion or race has no place in
Singapore and swift action will be taken against any
extremist or terrorist groups or individuals.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in public service vehicles,
museums, libraries, lifts, theatres, cinemas,
air-conditioned restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets,
department stores and government offices. Offenders can be
fined up to SGD 1,000. While it is an offence to smoke in
air-conditioned eating places, smoking is permitted in
air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars and nightspots.
Useful Telephone Numbers
Here is a list of useful telephone numbers.
Police
999 (toll-free)
Emergencies/Ambulance/Fire Brigade
995 (toll-free)
STB Touristline (24-hr automated
tourist information system)
Tel: 1800 736 2000 (toll-free in Singapore only)
CitySearch (operator-assisted Yellow
Pages)
Tel: (65) 1900 777 7777
International Calls
Tel: 104
Time of day
Tel: 1711
Trunk Calls to Malaysia
Dial 109 for operator assistance or 02 for direct dial.
Toll-free lines
Dial 1800 followed by the toll-free line number (in
Singapore only).
Weather
Tel: (65) 6542 7788
Visa and Entry Facilities
Generally, foreigners who do not require visas for entry and
are visiting Singapore as tourists, may be given up to
30-day social visit passes upon their arrival in Singapore.
What to Wear
Singapore has a warm and humid climate throughout the year
with a daily average temperature range of 24 degrees Celsius
to 31 degrees Celsius. Light and summer clothing made from
natural fabrics like cotton is best for everyday wear.
Casual dress is acceptable for most situations and occasions
but some establishments may require a more formal dress
code. It is always advisable to check beforehand on dress
regulations, if any.
Immigration & Customs
Generally, foreigners who do not require visas for entry and
are visiting Singapore as tourists, may be given up to
30-day social visit passes upon their arrival in Singapore.
Tourists, however, should have valid passports, onward /
return tickets, onward facilities (visas, entry permits,
etc.) to their next destination and sufficient funds for
their stay in Singapore. If they require a longer stay, they
may apply to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority after
their arrival.
Women in an advanced state of pregnancy (six months or more)
intending to visit Singapore should make prior application
with the nearest Singapore overseas mission.
Contact details of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
are:
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
ICA Building 10 Kallang Road Singapore 208718
Tel: (65) 6391 6100
Fax: (65) 6298 0843 / 6298 0837
Email: feedback@ica.gov.sg
Visa Requirements
Foreigners holding travel documents issued by the
following countries will require a visa to enter Singapore:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bangladesh (Except Diplomatic/Official passport
holders)
- Commonwealth of Independent States* (Except
Diplomatic/Official/Service passport holders for a stay
of up to 30 days )
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Egypt
- India (Except Diplomatic/Official passport
holders)
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan (Except Diplomatic/Official passport
holders)
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Morocco
- Myanmar (Except Diplomatic/Official passport
holders)
- People's Republic of China (Except
Diplomatic/Service/Public Affairs passport holders for a
stay of up to 30 days)
- Pakistan
- Saudi Arabia
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia (Except Diplomatic/Official passport
holders)
- Yemen
In addition, visitors holding Hong Kong Document of
Identity, Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Travel
Permit, Palestinian Authority Passport, Refugee Travel
Document issued by the Middle-East countries and Temporary
Passport issued by United Arab Emirates will also require a
visa to enter Singapore.
* Nationals of the Commonwealth Independent States may be
granted entry into Singapore without visas if they are on
transit to a third country. However, they are required to
fulfil the following conditions:-
- They are in transit to a third country;
- They hold a valid passport, a confirmed onward
air-ticket, entry facilities (including visa) to the
third country and have sufficient funds for the period
of stay in Singapore;
- They continue their journey to the third country
within the 96-hour visa free period granted; and
- They satisfy Singapore's entry requirements. As in
all arrivals, the grant of the social visit passes to
travellers will be determined by the Immigration &
Checkpoints Authority officers at the Singapore
Checkpoints.
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