Table of Contents
As an expat living in Singapore, you’ll soon start experiencing unexpected challenges such as having to account for your personal business cards and cash. The rules around tax and banking can be complicated and even the most basic questions will land you on the wrong side of the law. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, consider moving to a new city or simply traveling, you may come across customs inspectors at international airports and ports of entry. While they are often helpful and informational, there are times when they can be tricky to deal with. Let’s take a look at how you can handle custom customs in Singapore:
Be Proactive and Communicate Beforehand
One of the most important things you can do is plan ahead and communicate with the customs officers in your destination country. It’s important to know what questions to ask, who you should be communicating with, and when. For example, if you’re traveling to Japan and want to bring a certain brand of kitchen appliances back to Singapore, you’ll need to go through customs. However, if you don’t know what questions to ask, who to contact, or when, it could prove challenging. You may end up having to pay a high price for products that you thought were free of charge.
Plan Ahead and Allow Enough Time
If you’re going to be in Singapore for a short period of time, you may want to ask what the customs rules are for your country of origin, as well as your destination country. You’ll also want to make sure you have a good plan for what to do if you’re stopped. For example, if you’re traveling to China and plan to bring back electronic items, it would be wise to let customs know in advance so they can allow you to through without a search.
Don’t Rush Through the Enquiry Process
When you’re called in for customs, you’ll go through an automated system where you’ll list everything you have with you and pay particular attention to the contents of your bags. You may be stopped and questioned about your occupation, how you make a living, and what you plan to do with your newfound wealth. You may also be asked to demonstrate how you operate certain household items. If you’re unaware of the rules or unsure of how long you should be allowed to keep an item, it’s better to strike early and allow your items to be searched. It may be that the customs official is busy and just wants to get to the bottom of the item you’re trying to bring back.
Avoid Receiving a Summons
In some cases, you may receive a summons from customs officials when you enter a country for the first time. The purpose of the summons is to warn you about the rules and to let you know that you need to come up with a specific amount of money before being allowed to enter the country again. The amount varies from country to country, but in some cases it can be as much as $50. In other cases, you may be handed a summons when you return to the same country after a long absence. It’s not clear why you’re being summoned or what the amount of the fine is, but it’s probably not a good sign.
As an expat living in Singapore, you’ll soon start experiencing unexpected challenges such as having to account for your personal business cards and cash. The rules around tax and banking can be complicated and even the most basic questions will land you on the wrong side of the law. If you’re looking to expand your horizons, consider moving to a new city or simply traveling, you may come across customs inspectors at international airports and ports of entry.
