Travellers carrying over S$20,000 in or out of Singapore must make declarations online from May 13 (2024)

SINGAPORE: All travellers entering or leaving Singapore with more than S$20,000 (US$14,700) in cash must declare them online from May 13.

Those carrying over S$20,000 of bearable negotiable instruments – such as traveller’s cheques, money orders and postal orders – will also have to declare them.

Currently, travellers are required to submit their declarations in hard copy. This will be discontinued on May 13.

“To make such declarations simpler and more convenient, we will be moving such declarations online,” said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a news release on Friday (Apr 19).

The declarations aid Singapore’s efforts to combat criminal activity such as money laundering, said the police, adding that such requirements are common in many countries.

Travellers who fail to make a full and accurate declaration of the cash and bearable negotiable instruments can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$50,000, or both.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ELECTRONIC DECLARATION

The new online declaration form will be on the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) website or the MyICA application from May 10.

Travellers will be required to provide their particulars, the country or region the money is being moved from or being moved to, as well as their reasons for moving it.

They will also have to include the types and amount of cash and bearablenegotiable instruments and, where relevant, the sources and recipients of them.

Travellers arriving in Singapore can select "submit cash declaration" after filling up the Singapore Arrival Card online.

Once the declaration is submitted successfully, travellers will receive an acknowledgement email which can be provided as proof to ICA officers when required at checkpoints.

Travellers can make their submissions up to three days before their arrival or departure from Singapore.They must complete their declaration before reaching Singapore’s checkpoints.

Anyone who makes a mistake in their declaration must void it and submit a new one online. If their travel plans have changed, they should also void the declaration.