Singapore Fast Facts

Airport Tax

A Passenger Service Charge of SG$ 15 should be incorporated in the air ticket (including tickets issued outside of Singapore). If not, you are not required to pay the SG$ 15 during check-in. Your airline will 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.

Banking

• The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations of SG$ 2, SG$ 5, SG$ 10, SG$ 20, SG$ 50, SG$ 100, SG$ 500, SG$ 1,000, and SG$ 10,000.
• Coins come in denomination of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and SG$ 1.
• Banking hours are Monday - Friday from 10:00 - 15:00 and Saturday from 09:30 - 13:00 (some banks are open until 15:00). Sunday from 09:30 - 15:00 (some banks in Orchard Road).
• Most banks handle travellers' cheques and change foreign currencies. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings on Saturday.
• Passports are required when cashing 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.

OUB Credit Card
Tel: 1 800 221 7888 (toll-free in Singapore only)

Standard Chartered Visa
Tel: 1 800 789 7662 (toll-free in Singapore only)

UOB Card Centre
Tel: (65) 355 6933 / 6940 / 6937 / 6942

Currency

Other than the Singapore Dollar, the US and Australian Dollars, Yen, Deutsch Mark and British Pound are also accepted in most major shopping centres and big departmental stores.

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 always have ample stocks.

Drug Abuse

Trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2 kg of opium carries the death penalty if convicted. Possession of such quantities is deemed as prima facie evidence of trafficking. Persons convicted of unauthorised traffic in the following drugs in the respective quantities face an imprisonment term of 20-30 years and 15 strokes of the cane.

Opium
Not less than 800g and not more than 1200g

Heroin
Not less than 10g and not more than 15g

Cannabis
Not less than 330g and not more than 500g

Morphine & Cocaine
Not less than 20g and not more than 30g

Cannabis Resin
Not less than 130g and not more than 200g

Electricity

Voltage is 230 Volts, 50 cycles per second, with 3-pin flat blades (Type G plug as used in the UK).

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 SG$ 5,000 or imprisonment for up to 2 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 hairstylists offering a full range of services. Hair salons are also found in shopping centres, offering standard haircuts as well as more elaborate services like hair perms, facial treatments, manicure and pedicure services.

Jaywalking

Pedestrians crossing a road within 50 metres of a pedestrian crossing risk a SG$ 50 fine.

Laundry

Same-day laundry service is available in most hotels. Typically, it costs SG$ 5 for a laundered shirt, SG$ 10 for a dress and SG$ 14 for a dry-cleaned suit. Independent dry-cleaners can be found in the Yellow Pages of the Singapore Phone Book.

Littering

Any person convicted of littering faces a fine of up to SG$ 1,000 for the first offence. Repeat offenders may be fined SG$ 2,000 including a stint of a corrective work order cleaning public places.

Medical Facilities

Singapore's medical facilities are among the finest in the world, with well-qualified doctors and dental surgeons.

Pharmaceuticals are available from numerous outlets, including supermarkets, department stores, hotels and shopping centres.

SIM Cards and Dialing Prefixes

Pre-paid SIM cards (S$10 to S$50) are available at 7-Eleven stores, Cheers convenience stores and at the Singapore Post. The three mobile phone service providers are SingTel, MobileOne (M1) and Starhub. Singapore doesn’t use area codes; to call a number within Singapore, simply dial the eight-digit number.

To call Singapore from outside the city-state, dial +65, the country code, then the eight-digit number. To make an international call from Singapore, dial the access code 001 (Sing Tel), 002 (M1), or 008 (StarHub), followed by the country code, area code and the number.

Important Phone Numbers

Time Zone

GMT+8 (the same as Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia)