Singapore

The public display of the national flags or emblems of other countries is illegal except where a specific exemption has been granted. It is illegal to use the Singapore flag and national symbols in ways considered disrespectful.

Police may give you an on-the-spot fine for littering. Acts of vandalism including graffiti carry harsh penalties such as fines, imprisonment and caning.

Disrespecting or intimidating a public official can be illegal. There is zero tolerance for bribery in Singapore and any attempt to bribe or otherwise prevent an official from carrying out their duties can lead to arrest.

Use of false ID is illegal in Singapore. Foreigners living in Singapore are issued with an official identity card.   

You should avoid any action that could be interpreted as molestation. Penalties for convicted offenders include fines, imprisonment and caning.

Some scams involving false claims of molestation and extortion have been reported.

The authorities do not tolerate drunk and disorderly behaviour. It is illegal to drink alcohol in a public place, besides restaurants, bars and licensed entertainment venues, between 10:30pm and 7am.

You could be arrested for:

• being found drunk and incapable in public
• fighting and becoming a nuisance in public
• touching someone inappropriately (whether resulting from drunken behaviour or not)
• driving while drunk
• drinking in public outside of allowed hours and areas

Penalties for convicted offenders include fines, imprisonment and caning.

Geylang and Little India are ‘Liquor Control Zones’ (PDF). Drinking in these areas is banned all weekend, on public holidays and on the eve of public holidays.

Vapes and e-cigarettes are banned in Singapore. It is illegal to bring them into the country, including for personal use. Those found in possession of vapes or e-cigarettes will have them confiscated and could be fined.

You must be 21 or over to purchase, use, own, sell or supply tobacco products in Singapore.

Smoking is banned at all public parks, all beaches and along certain waterways. Orchard Road is a No Smoking Zone. Make sure you smoke in designated areas only.

There are severe penalties for all drug offences in Singapore, including possession. Carrying even a small amount of drugs can have significant consequences.

You can be charged with trafficking (‘intent to sell’) for possessing drugs above a certain amount. You can be detained without trial. Sentences include prison terms, caning and the death penalty, including when transiting through the airport.

Airports in Singapore have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

See the Misuse of Drugs Act for information on definitions and penalties.

If you’re arrested, you might not be allowed to speak with anyone, not even a lawyer while you are questioned.

Do not offer money to officials. You can face further charges or penalties for any attempt to bribe or prevent an official from carrying out their duties.

See our guides on Singapore’s legal and criminal system and being arrested or detained abroad to find out how we can help.

If you’re under police investigation, the authorities will take your passport and return it once the investigation is over. If you’re convicted, your passport will be held until you’ve served your sentence.

In most cases, you will not be allowed to leave Singapore while the case is open. There is no set timeline for investigations. You must be able to support yourself financially during this period.

The British High Commission cannot interfere in the criminal and legal process in Singapore.

A death penalty is a possibility for some offences, including murder and drug trafficking. Penalties for drug offences are severe and possession of even very small quantities can lead to a death penalty.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Singapore. However, the law does not recognise same-sex marriage and partnerships. This means, for example, that foreign residents cannot easily get a dependant’s pass for a same-sex spouse or partner. A child from a same-sex partnership may not be recognised as the child of one or both parents.

It is possible to change legal gender in Singapore, subject to medical procedures.

LGBT+ support groups and social venues exist in Singapore.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

The following are liable for National Service:

• all male Singapore citizens
• all male dual nationals aged 20 and under
• all male children granted Permanent Resident (PR) status as part of their parents’ PR application

Specific questions on National Service can be put to Singapore’s Central Manpower base, email: contact@ns.sg.

For further information, see the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

Avoid street gatherings and public demonstrations as they will be illegal if they do not have police permission. Foreigners who are not permanent residents are prohibited from attending outdoor demonstrations regardless of police permission. Filming an illegal gathering is forbidden. The wearing of ‘cause-related’ clothing and displaying ‘cause -related’ banners is prohibited in public.

It is illegal for foreign nationals to give a talk publicly on ‘racial, communal, religious, cause-related or political topics’ without a permit.

Both public and private Jehovah’s Witness meetings are illegal in Singapore. It is also illegal to possess any Jehovah’s Witness publication, including a Jehovah’s Witness bible. There are similar measures against the Unification Church and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.