Singapore rules and fines for visitors

Question 1

Is chewing gum illegal in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Importing and selling chewing gum are banned in Singapore, except gum registered as a health product, such as dental gum. Chewing it on MRT premises is a separate offence, with a maximum fine of S$500. Leave your own pack at home and carry mints instead.

Question 2

Can I bring or use a vape in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned in Singapore, so you can't bring one in, buy one or use one. Possessing or using one can bring a fine of up to S$10,000, and importing carries heavier penalties. If you arrive with a vape, declare it to the officers at the checkpoint.

Question 3

What happens if I am caught with drugs in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Possessing, using or importing a controlled drug is an offence in Singapore, and trafficking above set amounts can carry the death penalty. Cannabis is included. Medicines that contain controlled substances need approval before you bring them in, so check the medicine rules before you pack.

Question 4

Can I drink alcohol in public in Singapore, and until when?

Accepted Answer

Drinking alcohol in public places is banned across Singapore from 10.30pm to 7am. Little India and Geylang are Liquor Control Zones, where the ban also covers weekends and public holidays. Licensed bars and restaurants are exempt within their licensed hours, so that's where to carry on after 10.30pm.

Question 5

Can I eat or drink on the MRT or a bus in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Eating and drinking are banned on MRT trains and stations and on public buses, with a maximum fine of S$500. On a bus you can carry a drink if it is sealed or tied up, but keep it closed. Finish your snack before you go through the gates.

Question 6

How much is the littering fine in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

NEA gives a first-time litterer a S$300 fine, and a court can fine up to S$2,000 for a first conviction. Repeat convictions carry higher fines, and a court can also order cleaning work for up to 12 hours. Keep your wrapper until you find a bin, and see the hawker etiquette guide for the tray-return rule.

Question 7

Is jaywalking illegal in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Yes, pedestrians within 50 metres of a pedestrian crossing must use it to cross the road. At a signalised crossing, cross only when the green man shows. Overhead bridges, underpasses, zebra crossings and signalised junctions are the facilities to use, so find the nearest one. The same rule applies to cyclists and personal mobility device riders.

Question 8

Can I fly a drone as a tourist in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Visitors fly drones under the same rules as residents, and any drone over 250 grams must be registered. A permit is needed within 5 kilometres of an airport or airbase, above 200 feet, and in restricted or danger areas. Drones are also banned in nature reserves and in parks such as the Botanic Gardens, so check OneMap before you go.

Question 9

Where can I smoke in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Smoking is banned in most indoor places and many outdoor ones, including public parks and beaches, where you can light up only in designated smoking areas. Caught smoking in a banned place, you face a S$200 fine, and a court can fine up to S$1,000. In parks, the smoking areas sit near carparks or away from the main park area, so follow the signs.

Question 10

What scams should visitors know about in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

Phone and online scams are common in Singapore, and many involve someone posing as an official or a bank employee. Government officials never ask you to transfer money, share bank log-in details or install apps from unofficial stores over a phone call. If you're unsure, hang up and ring the ScamShield helpline on 1799, which answers around the clock.

Question 11

What are the main rules for visitors in Singapore?

Accepted Answer

The rules visitors meet first are simple: vapes and gum can't come in, public drinking stops at 10.30pm, and eating on the MRT is fined. Smoking is banned in many places, littering is fined, and drug offences carry the heaviest penalties, including death for trafficking above set amounts.