SINGAPORE GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT
City & Country
Dates of travel
Students affected
SINGAPORE
July 2016 to June 2017
Prepared by
Date
Sussex Abroad Office
8th April 2016
Before you go
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides travel advice by country. It covers safety and security, local laws and customs, entry requirements,
health and natural disasters along with a host of other useful information. We strongly recommend that students read the section related to their destination
prior to departure and before undertaking any trip to another part of the county/region. https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/singapore
Visa regulations:
For information on visas please see the High Commission of the Republic of Singapore, London website:
http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/mfa/overseasmission/london.html
Passport visa regulations: Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Singapore. If you are intending to
transit Singapore to neighbouring countries, make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.
Emergency number in Singapore: If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 995 and ask for an ambulance.
Vaccinations: Visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures.
Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre on the TravelHealthPro website:
http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/locations/malaysia/#Vaccine_recommendations
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Type
Nature of the Hazards
Risk level
low/med/
high
Procedures to minimise risks
Crime/security:
Be aware of the risk of street crime,
particularly bag snatching.
Take particular care of your passport. Leave valuables in a safe
if possible. Don’t leave valuables in unattended vehicles.
Sea travel
There have been attacks against ships in
and around the waters of Singapore and
the Malacca Straits.
Be vigilant and take appropriate precautions. Reduce
opportunities for theft, establish secure areas onboard and
report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.
Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from
terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate,
including in places frequented by
expatriates and foreign travellers.
The Singaporean Government has put in place extensive
measures to combat terrorism and has arrested a number of
terrorist suspects.
Local Laws
The death penalty exists for certain
offences, including murder and drug
trafficking. There are severe penalties for
all drug offences in Singapore.
Possession of even very small quantities
of drugs can lead to imprisonment,
corporal punishment or the death penalty.
Male homosexual acts are illegal in
Singapore, but in a statement to
Parliament in 2007 Singapore’s Prime
Minister stated that ‘The Government
does not act as moral policemen’ and that
‘we do not proactively enforce’ the law on
this issue.
Don’t become involved with drugs of any kind.
On-the-spot fines are common, and can
be given for a wide range of behaviours
which are tolerated in the UK. You’ll be
fined for littering and smoking in some
public places. It’s also illegal to bring
chewing gum into the country, except for
certain medical chewing gums.
Don’t litter or smoke in a public place or bring chewing gum into
the country.
Openly gay and lesbian support groups and social venues
exist.
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A police permit is required for any outdoor
public assembly or procession. Filming an
illegal public gathering is also forbidden,
as is the wearing or displaying of any
‘cause related’ material without
permission.
You should avoid street gatherings and public demonstrations
as they might be illegal.
Penalties for overstaying your visa include
fines, imprisonment, corporal punishment
(the rattan cane) and deportation
depending on the length of overstay.
Be aware of the details of your visa.
It’s illegal to drink alcohol in public places
(eg beyond the premises of bars and
restaurants) from 10.30pm to 7am and all
day at weekends in certain areas.
Offenders will be fined. Geylang and Little
India are designated as ‘Liquor Control
Zones’ where drinking in public places is
prohibited all weekend, on public holidays
and the eve of public holidays. You could
be fined up to SG$1,000 (approximately
£500). Repeat offenders may be fined up
to SG$2,000 (approximately £1,000) or
sent to prison for up to 3 months. Drunk
and disorderly conduct are treated
seriously, and can lead to a fine or being
sent to prison.
Be aware of the local laws. You can drink alcohol between
these hours in restaurants, bars and cafes, the outdoor areas
of private condominiums and chalets, and outdoor events that
have obtained a permit.
You can’t bring vaporisers, like ecigarettes, e-pipes, e-cigars, and refills
into the country. These items are likely to
be confiscated, and you could be fined or
sent to prison.
A wide range of offences, including
‘outrage of modesty’ (inappropriate
behaviour by men towards women) and
vandalism carry corporal punishment (the
Do not bring these items into the country
You should avoid any action that could be interpreted as
molestation.
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rattan cane). Scams involving false claims
of molestation are thought to exist.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is a
serious offence in Singapore. The traffic
police regularly carry out breath tests.
Sentences can include a fine or
imprisonment.
Do not drink and drive.
The public display of national flags or
national emblems is illegal except where a
specific exemption has been granted.
Health
From June to September Singapore can
experience high levels of pollution (haze)
from fires in Indonesia. The haze can
cause disruption to local and regional air
travel, and the air pollution may have an
impact on public health.
You should monitor the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI)
updates and health advisories from the Singapore government.
Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue
fever and chikungunya virus occur all year
round. The last two years have seen
relatively high numbers of dengue cases.
You should take appropriate precautions to avoid being bitten
by mosquitoes. Cover your arms and legs and use a mosquito
net at night.
Yellow fever vaccination is required for
travellers who are arriving from, or have
transited through, countries with risk of
yellow fever transmission.
Some prescribed and over the counter
medicines available in the UK are
considered controlled substances in
Singapore.
You must apply for prior authorisation and a permit at least ten
working days before your travel date from the Singapore Health
Sciences Authority in order to bring any such medication into
Singapore. For medicines that do not contain a controlled
substance, you may bring up to three months’ supply into
Singapore without prior approval, but must bring supporting
documents such as a letter from your doctor or a copy of the
prescription as proof that the medicines are for your personal
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use. For more information, please consult the Health Sciences
Authority website. If you have questions please email
hsa_info@hsa.gov.sg
Healthcare in Singapore is of a high
quality and expensive. Not all UK
prescribed drugs are available in
Singapore. Some over-the-counter
medications like Ibuprofen need a
prescription.
You should take enough medication to cover your stay and
carry it in your hand baggage. Make sure you have adequate
travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost
of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
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