Singapore Traveler's Guide: A Comprehensive Overview of Laws and Regulations for Tourists

Singapore is a wonderful destination that draws visitors from across the world. This beautiful city-state is known for its rich and diverse culture, thriving wildlife, spectacular attractions, and loads of things to do and see. These make for an incredible trip to remember in your lifetime. However, travelling to a new country comes with a lot of challenges. Starting from obtaining your Singapore visa and documents, to rechecking at the point of entry and navigating throughout the city, everything feels overwhelming.

Singapore is known for its tidiness and low crime percentage. With a strong reputation for being safe, you might often see a board put up by the authorities stating “Low crime does not mean no crime,” alerting people to stay cautious. So, when you plan on visiting Singapore, it is good advice to conduct your basic research on the country's culture, current events and Singapore laws for tourists and know what is right and what is wrong. This will ensure you enjoy your trip without any hassle and fit in like a local.

Here is a complete guide that will help you to know Singapore laws for tourists, which are normally taken for granted but can end up costing you a precious amount of money when travelling abroad.

Overstaying in Singapore

Overstaying in Singapore is a serious offence. Each country has its own set of rules and regulations for overstaying, and Singapore has a range of penalties for those who overstay their visa. Overstaying without legal permission will result in heavy penalties, jail time, caning punishment, and deportation. Always remember your visa expiration dates, and if you wish to stay longer in Singapore, visit your nearest embassy for further processing.

The Significance of Discipline

In Singapore, discipline means a lot to the locals, and they unhesitantly accept physical punishment. You might be surprised to know that caning is a punishment in Singapore. It is not just used for criminals for serious offense but also in schools, the military, and in domestic scenarios as an act of discipline. Don’t get baffled to see canes being sold at a local grocery shop. These are exclusively made for parental care.

Chewing Gum

Chewing Gum is strictly banned in Singapore. So, if you are addicted to some, make sure to leave them at home when packing your bags for Singapore. Carrying any chewing gum, even if it is not for selling purposes, is illegal in Singapore. However, the current set of laws and regulations does not have any specified provisions for carrying chewing gum for personal use, but indecorous disposal of chewing gum or carrying huge quantities of banned items in Singapore will definitely cost hefty penalties of up to $1,000 (subject to change) for first offenders.

This might really seem weird, but a proposal on chewing gum prohibition has long been in execution, starting with maintenance problems in huge buildings with chewing gum stuck inside keyholes, on elevator buttons, inside mailboxes, and more. Bitten rolls being stuck in the seats of public transports, stairways, asphalts of public region, and floors were views as difficult issues. However, the initial ban wasn’t successful until the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project began operating in the country, which started malfunctioning and disrupting the services due to chewing gum.

Drugs and Drinking

Considering it is a drug, trafficking it in any country will lead to unfortunate circumstances. The punishment for drug dealing is death in Singapore. First, you need to understand what trafficking is. It is the possession of drugs above a specified amount. For instance, you can carry cannabis up to 500 grams. In case you got some traces of pot in your blood while testing at the airport, you made your way straight to jail.

In cases of minor drug crimes, the corporal penalty is usually given with a rattan cane. Murder, abduction, and weapon smuggling offences also fall under the major crimes.

Drinking in Singapore in public places is illegal. You must know the hours from 10:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. are strictly prohibited for drinking in public. You can choose to enjoy your evening in bars, restaurants, cafes, the outdoor areas of private properties like condominiums and chalets, and at outdoor events with a legal permit.

Please keep in mind that Little India and Geylang are entitled to ‘Liquor Control Zones’. Drinking is illegal in public places during all weekends, and on public holidays. If you take this for granted, you may end up paying a penalty up to S$2000 or being sent to prison for up to three months.

Drunken and riotous conduct is a serious offence in Singapore. You must know your limits when drinking. Considering the severity of the crime committed, offenders are liable to pay up to S$5000 or up to 15 years of imprisonment or equivalent canning.

In the case of driving, the maximum limit for blood alcohol level in Singapore is 0.08%. The penalty for drunk driving is strict, with a fine of S$1000 to S$5000 or six months in jail. Repeated offenders might have to face heavier penalties.

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in most areas of Singapore and these areas cover all indoor places where there is a lot of crowd which includes indoor public places with no air-conditioning (offices, shops, and shopping areas). Outdoor public areas include fitness areas, playgrounds, and sports courts. The further extension of the smoking rules includes multi-purpose halls, covered walkways and linkways, hospital outdoor compounds, pedestrian overhead bridges, and a five-meter perimeter around bus shelters.

Vandalism

Singapore takes vandalism as a major crime, with punishments that result in heavy penalties as well as imprisonment and up to eight strokes of caning. This includes damages done to public and private properties. With any act of drawing, damaging, inscribing, stealing, or destroying public property, painting, writing, or marking private property without the consent of the owner is termed illegal. Affixing banners, postcards, and flags is also strictly prohibited.

Jaywalking

First coined in the United States, Jaywalking is now widely used and accepted in several countries. This refers to the illegal or reckless crossing of pedestrians on roads. In Singapore, this mainly refers to jaywalking or crossing streets in non-designated areas. Make sure you always look for marked pedestrian lanes before crossing the street in Singapore.

Not flushing the toilet and Urinating in Elevators

Not flushing the toilets in Singapore is more than just a breach of property. If you do so, you are breaking the law, and if you get caught, expect to pay a fine. Elevators in Singapore are equipped with Urine Detection Devices (UDD), so do not even think of urinating in elevators. It will identify the scent of pee, set off a caution and close the entryways of the lifts until police show up and arrest the guilty party.

Other laws to keep in mind

Pornography

Importing obscene films into the country will carry fines and imprisonment. Make sure to clean your hard drive before travelling to the country. Though consuming porn in the country is not an offence, the government has banned several adult sites.

Homosexuality

Homosexuality is illegal in Singapore, and keep in mind that it carries two years in prison. Although attitudes are changing as the LGBTQ+ community of the country engages in intensive activism, it is still better to attract attention and avoid public displays of affection. The offence includes people behaving inappropriately towards other people. Uncomfortable touching and verbal abuse are straight-away offences in Singapore.

Racial Harmony

Singapore is a multicultural country that has worked hard over the years to create harmony among different cultures. You can find people from India, China, and Malays and any activity that harms the beliefs and emotions of such cultures will carry severe punishments.

Singapore is one of the top and most splendid destinations in Southeast Asia. It perfectly blends various cultures while showcasing its incredible growth and development. These are some of the simple things that you need to follow when visiting Singapore with your Singapore visa. Please keep in mind that if taken for granted, you may end up paying hefty fines and spending your days in jail.