Shipping Goods to Singapore from USA

Singapore is an exciting city, and a number of USA citizens are thinking of transferring residences there. Whether you’re an American, though, or a Singaporean who’s returning to the country with household items you’d like to ship into the country, the process can be cumbersome unless you have a clear guide by your side. The information below should be a good overview. It should tell you what to expect, what documents to acquire, and what duties and taxes to anticipate as you bring your property into Singapore.

Used household items and personal effects

It is fairly easy to import used personal effects and household items into Singapore as long as you have the proper documentation for it. Make sure that you itemize your list carefully, provide the quantity per item, and state its true value on the inventory. The inventory should be in English. The shipment must also come with the airway bill or the original bill of lading (for sea freights).

The packing list must be specific and state whether the items are used or not. Brand new items may be imported but they could incur higher taxes and duties. Used items are defined as items which have been owned by the consignee for at least three months. Upon arrival and clearance of the shipment, the consignee is not allowed to dispose of the items in the next three months. Below are specific requirements depending on the consignee’s stature in Singapore:

i. Diplomats are given duty-free importation passes for used items which meet diplomatic protocols. They just need to present their diplomat passport and the duty exemption letter from the embassy.
ii. Non-diplomat foreign residents, whether they’re requesting for temporary or permanent transfer of the items, must provide the Customs Agency with a copy of their passport and the correct, stamped Visa, their Employment or Dependent Pass or the Form 8 (application form) if the former is not available, a letter of sponsorship from the Singapore employer, a completed Declaration of Facts to Singapore Customs for GST Relief on Used Household Articles and Personal Effects, a completed importation form, and an acknowledgement letter from the Singapore Immigration.
iii. Returning Citizens must provide a clear copy of their visas or re-entry permit into the country to clear imported personal effects and used household items. They must also have a clear copy of their Changi Immigration Stamp. A letter from their USA employer must also be provided by the consignee to prove that they have been out of the country for at least six months. If this can’t be proven, the imported items will be taxed and liable to duties. Should the client be studying or working abroad, their work/study permits must also be presented to the Customs Agency.

The information above is just an overview. Customs regulations change all the time and documents and forms may be added or eliminated from the list of requirements. For more specific information, the consignee must contact the Singapore Embassy in the USA before the importation of goods. This way, they can also get an estimate of the duties and taxes they will have to pay once the shipment arrives in Singapore. Personal appearance of the consignee is not necessary for clearance as long as all the documents are available. However, foreign residents may only have items shipped into Singapore after six months of their arrival in the country.

For vehicles

Motor vehicles are very expensive to import into Singapore unless diplomatic privileges are used. Importation of personal automobiles is not advised if the consignee is a non-diplomat. However, it isn’t prohibited. If you would like to import your automobile from the USA, you must provide these documents:

i. The original invoice, the freight receipts, and insurance papers
ii. Invoices on incidental charges for shipment
iii. Documents which prove that the vehicle passes Singapore’s stringent environmental standards
iv. Vehicle’s original registration and de-registration for transfer to Singapore
v. A letter from the manufacturer stating the vehicle’s make, model, age, etc.
vi. Inward Cargo Clearance Permit

Only vehicles which are three years old or newer may be imported into the country. The vehicle must also be right hand drive. For the vehicle to be cleared, all taxes and duties must be paid in full. To use the vehicle in the country, proper licenses must also be obtained by the owner. Importation of vehicles is allowed only if they’re for personal use.

Singapore does not prohibit the importation of boats, motor houses, industrial machinery, and similar special vehicles. However, the duties for these vehicles are bound to be heftier because of their possible commercial use once they’re in the country. For the permits, documents, duties and tariffs for these vehicles, contact the Singapore Embassy in the USA. The importation of industrial machinery may be reserved for commercial investors in the country.