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Shipping boxes to and from Singapore

Singapore charges no duty on everyday goods, only 9% GST, and boxes sent by air with a CIF value of S$400 or less clear GST-free. Moving there? Your used household items can come in GST-free too, but you must file a Declaration of Facts with Singapore Customs before the boxes arrive. Leave out vapes, chewing gum, and firecrackers: they are banned, and cigarettes get no tax-free allowance at all.

Typical transit
2-4 business days from elsewhere in Asia; 3-5 from Europe or North America
Currency
SGD
Duty-free up to
Boxes sent by air, including by express courier, with a CIF value (goods plus insurance and freight) of S$400 (about $313) or less pay no GST at import
Receiver ID
Not usually needed

Price a shipment to Singapore

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Singapore

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$135.41delivered in 4 to 7 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$677.06 totalabout $135.41 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Singapore and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Popular routes to Singapore

Popular routes from Singapore

Sending to Singapore

Duties and taxes1234569

Duty-free threshold
Boxes sent by air, including by express courier, with a CIF value (goods plus insurance and freight) of S$400 (about $313) or less pay no GST at import. Alcohol and tobacco never qualify, and the relief doesn't apply to boxes that arrive by sea or land. Above S$400, GST applies to the whole value. Since 2023, online purchases of S$400 or less from GST-registered overseas sellers have GST charged by the seller at checkout; your own used belongings and gifts aren't bought from such a seller, so the normal S$400 border relief applies to them.
Import tax
GST (Goods and Services Tax) at 9%, charged on the CIF value plus any duty. Customs and excise duties apply only to alcohol, tobacco, motor vehicles, and petroleum products, so most household goods pay GST alone.
How value is worked out
Customs value is the CIF value: the goods plus insurance and freight to Singapore. The S$400 relief is tested on the CIF value, and GST is charged on the CIF value plus any duty. Amounts in a foreign currency are converted to Singapore dollars at the prevailing weekly average exchange rates published by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Customs' main method uses the price actually paid, which needs evidence of a sale. Used belongings have no sale, so customs can fall back on other methods, such as the value of identical or similar goods. Declare a fair current value for each used item, and include the real shipping and insurance cost.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?
Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents returning to live in Singapore after living overseas, and foreigners relocating or migrating there, can get GST relief on used household items and personal effects. You must be moving your home to Singapore, own the items, have used and had them for at least 3 months, and agree not to sell, give away, or dispose of them within 3 months of arrival. The items must arrive within 6 months of your first arrival in Singapore. File an online Declaration of Facts with Singapore Customs before the goods arrive: applications for goods already imported are rejected and GST is due. Alcohol and tobacco still pay duty and GST.

Worked example

Illustrative: a box of used clothes, books, and kitchenware sent by air, declared at S$550 for the goods plus S$80 for freight and insurance, so the CIF value is S$630 (about $492). Assumes no relocation relief is claimed.

The CIF value is over S$400, so GST applies to the whole value. These goods carry no duty. GST: 9% x S$630 = S$56.70.

About S$56.70 (about $44), plus any courier fee. At a CIF value of S$400 or less, nothing would be due.

How customs clearance works in Singapore14

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) clears courier shipments at the Free Trade Zones and land checkpoints, based on customs permits and documents such as the invoice, packing list, and air waybill. Ordinary goods sent by air with a CIF value of S$400 or less clear on the courier's advance manifest, with no permit and no GST. Above S$400, or for dutiable or controlled goods, the courier takes out a TradeNet permit, pays any GST and duty for you, and bills you with its service fee.

Formal entry
A TradeNet customs permit (In-Payment permit) is needed for any air shipment over S$400 CIF, any shipment by sea or land, and all alcohol and tobacco. The courier or another declaring agent files it. Controlled goods also need approval from the relevant authority, such as HSA, SFA, or NParks, before import.
How long it takes
Often the same or next business day after arrival for shipments of S$400 or less. Allow longer when a permit, a GST payment, or another agency's approval is needed.
Inspections
ICA officers clear courier shipments at the checkpoints. Parcels with controlled goods, such as medicines, food, plants, or telecom equipment, are held until the relevant authority approves them. Postal parcels that arrive without an invoice are held until the receiver provides one.
If duties go unpaid
Singapore Customs doesn't publish storage limits for courier shipments. Each courier sets its own storage charges and return or abandonment terms, so pay promptly. For postal parcels, SingPost asks for payment within 14 days of its notice.

Moving to Singapore: claiming duty relief34

  1. 01

    Check you qualify

    Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents returning to live in Singapore after living overseas, or foreigners relocating or migrating there. You must be moving your home to Singapore.

  2. 02

    Check the items

    You must own them and have used and had them for at least 3 months. You also agree not to sell, give away, or dispose of them within 3 months of arrival. Alcohol and tobacco still pay duty and GST.

  3. 03

    File the Declaration of Facts before the boxes arrive

    Submit it online to Singapore Customs with a copy of your passport and/or NRIC, proof of the move (Employment Pass, Dependant Pass, Student Pass, or MOM In-Principle Approval letter), your ICA Re-Entry Permit if you are a PR, and the air waybill. One declaration covers one air waybill. Customs rejects it if the goods have already arrived.

  4. 04

    Get the relief permit

    Within 10 working days of approval, the courier or your agent applies for a Customs In-Non-Payment (GST Relief) permit through TradeNet using your approval reference. Dutiable items need an In-Payment (Duty and GST) permit. If relief is refused, an In-Payment (GST) permit is taken out and GST is paid.

  5. 05

    Ship within 6 months

    Your household items and personal belongings must arrive within 6 months of your first arrival in Singapore.

Documents to have ready141012

  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gift
  • Invoice or pro forma invoice showing the values; customs uses it with the air waybill and packing list during clearance
  • Receiver's full name, phone number, and email, so the courier can collect any GST and arrange delivery
  • For relocation relief: the approved Declaration of Facts, a copy of your passport and/or NRIC, proof of the move (Employment Pass, Dependant Pass, Student Pass, or MOM In-Principle Approval letter), and your ICA Re-Entry Permit if you are a Permanent Resident
  • For medicines with controlled substances: the HSA approval email, plus a copy of the prescription for any medicine
  • For plants or seeds: the NParks import permit, the phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country, and a CITES permit for CITES-listed species

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms141012

What you can pack, category by category15678101112

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesAllowedUsed clothing is fine. Air shipments up to S$400 CIF pay no GST; above that, 9% GST unless relocation relief applies.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedBooks and printed papers are fine. Obscene, seditious, or pirated material is banned.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsConditionsPersonal devices are fine with batteries installed. Scanners, radio jammers, and phone voice changers are banned, and other radio equipment may need IMDA approval.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsUp to 3 months' supply with a copy of the prescription, in original labeled packaging. Controlled substances need HSA approval first; medicine in gum form and anything with cannabis are banned.
FoodMore on foodConditionsSFA limits, written for travelers, allow processed food up to 5 kg or 5 liters and S$100, and meat only from approved countries. Send only sealed, shelf-stable food, or none.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsPersonal toiletries are fine. Couriers refuse aerosols and nail polish.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedAlcohol and tobacco always pay duty and 9% GST, with no S$400 or relocation relief, and couriers generally refuse them. Vapes and chewing tobacco are banned.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearAllowedClean used gear is fine. Couriers refuse gas canisters, fuel, and flares.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearAllowedUsed toys are fine. Remove loose batteries, and leave out realistic toy guns.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and photos are fine.
OtherConditionsPlants, seeds, and cut flowers need an NParks permit, wildlife products may be banned, and chewing gum is banned. Check unusual items with Singapore's HS/CA Product Code Checker.

Quantity limits161011

Quantity limits for Singapore
ItemLimit
Personal shipments by airNo GST at import when the CIF value is S$400 (about $313) or less, except alcohol and tobacco. Boxes that arrive by sea or land pay GST at any value.
MedicinesUp to 3 months' supply for yourself or an immediate family member, with a copy of the prescription. Controlled substances need HSA approval first. HSA publishes this limit for travelers; keep shipped medicine within it.
TobaccoNo duty-free allowance or GST relief for anyone, travelers included. Every cigarette pays duty and GST.
Alcohol (travelers only)2 liters duty-free in set combinations, such as 1 liter of spirits and 1 liter of wine, for travelers 18 or older who spent 48 hours or more abroad and aren't arriving from Malaysia. More than 10 liters needs a customs permit. Does not apply to shipments.
GST relief on new goods (travelers only)S$500 (about $391) after 48 hours or more abroad, or S$100 (about $78) after less. Not for work, employment, student, dependant, or long-term pass holders, or crew. Does not apply to shipments.
Food (travelers only)Processed food up to 5 kg or 5 liters in total and S$100 in value; meat and fish up to 5 kg, with meat only from approved countries; 30 chicken eggs from approved countries; fruit and vegetables in hand-carry amounts. Larger amounts need an SFA import permit.

What you can't send to Singapore15678101112

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Chewing gum. The only exception is HSA-approved dental and medicinal gum, and HSA doesn't allow personal imports of medicines in gum form
  • E-cigarettes, vapes, vaporizers, their parts, and any liquid containing nicotine or tobacco for use in them
  • Chewing tobacco, nasal and oral snuff, gutkha, khaini, zarda, and dissolvable or topical nicotine products
  • Shisha, including tobacco-free shisha, and smokeless cigarettes, cigars, or cigarillos
  • Firecrackers
  • Controlled drugs, including medicines that contain prohibited substances such as cannabis
  • Rhinoceros horn and products from endangered wildlife
  • Scanning receivers, radio jammers, telephone voice changers, and military communication equipment
  • Obscene, seditious, or treasonable publications and media
  • Pirated copies of publications, films, and recordings
  • Cigarette lighters shaped like a pistol or revolver

Allowed with conditions

Medicines
Up to 3 months' supply of medicine prescribed to you or an immediate family member, in the original labeled packaging with a copy of the prescription. Medicines with controlled substances need HSA approval first; apply at least 2 weeks ahead. More than 3 months' supply isn't allowed. HSA writes these rules for travelers, so expect boxes with medicine to be checked.
Alcohol
Pays duty and 9% GST at any value, with no S$400 relief and no relocation relief. Wine and spirits pay S$88 (about $69) per liter of pure alcohol; beer and stout pay S$16 customs duty plus S$60 excise duty, S$76 (about $59) in all, per liter of pure alcohol. Couriers generally refuse alcohol in personal boxes.
Cigarettes and tobacco
No duty-free allowance or GST relief for anyone. Cigarette duty is 58.9 cents for every gram or part of a gram of each stick, so at least S$11.78 (about $9) for a pack of 20, plus GST. Packs that don't meet Singapore's standardized packaging rules are not allowed in and are disposed of at the border.
Food
SFA's private-consumption limits are written for travelers: processed food up to 5 kg or 5 liters in total and S$100 in value; meat and fish up to 5 kg, with meat only from approved countries. Above the limits you need an SFA import permit. Send only sealed, shelf-stable food, or none.
Plants, seeds, and cut flowers
Need an NParks import permit (for courier shipments, a Cargo Clearance Permit filed through TradeNet, S$11 per consignment) and often a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country. CITES-listed species also need a CITES permit.
Radio and telecom equipment
Customs lists it as controlled. Mobile phones are fine. Scanners, jammers, and phone voice changers are banned outright, and other radios that work on mobile-phone bands are banned unless IMDA approves them.
Films, DVDs, CDs, and video games
Customs lists them as controlled goods that may need authorization. Obscene or pirated copies are banned. Ask Singapore Customs before sending a large collection.
Shipments over S$400, or arriving by sea or land
GST is due, and the courier takes out an In-Payment customs permit and bills the receiver for the GST plus any service fee.

Sending from Singapore

Shipping boxes out of Singapore13

Sending your own belongings out of Singapore is simple. Goods sent by air worth S$1,000 (about $782) or less in total need no customs export permit, as long as nothing is dutiable or controlled. Above that, or for alcohol, tobacco, or controlled goods, a customs export permit is needed before the boxes leave.

Documents

  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gift
  • Sender's name, address, and phone number, plus ID details if the courier asks
  • Receiver's full address and phone number
  • Customs export permit for air shipments over S$1,000, or for any dutiable or controlled goods, arranged through the courier or a declaring agent

Can't leave the country

  • Alcohol and tobacco are dutiable and need an export permit whatever their value
  • Controlled goods need approval from the relevant authority, and an export permit, before they leave
  • Air shipments worth more than S$1,000 (about $782) in total need a customs export permit
  • Couriers will not carry cash, gift cards, or other negotiable items
  • Anything the destination country bans

Before pickup

  • The S$1,000 limit is for the whole shipment, so add up fair values for every box on the waybill.
  • Gifts worth S$400 or less are also exempt from the export permit, unless dutiable or controlled.
  • Check the destination guide before packing food, plants, or medicines. The receiving country decides what gets in.
  • Book pickups early before Chinese New Year and the year-end holiday peak.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the block or house number and street, then the unit number as #floor-unit (for example #08-56), the building name if there is one, and 'Singapore' with the 6-digit postal code. There is no state or district line. Add the receiver's phone number.

Wei Ling ExampleBlk 123 Example Avenue 4#08-56Singapore 560123Singapore

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Central Area (Downtown Core and Orchard), Jurong, Tampines, Woodlands, Punggol, Bedok, Ang Mo Kio, Sentosa.

Remote areas: Almost every address on the main island is reached quickly. Offshore islands such as Pulau Ubin may not get standard courier delivery, so ask the courier first.

Most deliveries arrive within a day or two of clearance. Many condominiums have a guardhouse that can accept parcels. Give a phone number so the courier can arrange any GST payment and delivery.

When things slow down

Expect slower clearance and delivery around Chinese New Year (January or February), Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Deepavali, and National Day (August 9), and during the November-December sales and holiday peak.

Advice for your situation

Students

International students arriving on a Student Pass can claim GST relief on used belongings: the pass counts as proof of the move. File the Declaration of Facts before the boxes arrive, and ship within 6 months of your first arrival.

Returning home

Singapore Citizens and PRs coming home after living overseas can claim GST relief on used household items they've owned and used for at least 3 months. PRs attach their ICA Re-Entry Permit to the Declaration of Facts.

Expats and relocations

Foreigners relocating on an Employment Pass or Dependant Pass, or with an MOM In-Principle Approval letter, can claim relief the same way. Pass holders don't get the S$500 traveler GST relief on new goods. Leaving? Personal boxes sent by air worth S$1,000 or less need no export permit.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Moving to Singapore? File the Declaration of Facts before the boxes arrive. Customs rejects it once the goods have landed, and GST becomes payable.
  • Send all the boxes on one air waybill when you claim relocation relief. Each Declaration of Facts covers one air waybill.
  • Where it's honest, keep the CIF value (goods plus shipping and insurance) at S$400 or less. Air shipments at or under that pay no GST.
  • Leave out vapes, chewing gum, chewing tobacco, and firecrackers. They are banned, and cigarettes get no tax-free allowance.
  • Pack medicines in their original labeled packaging with a copy of the prescription, no more than 3 months' supply. Check HSA's list for controlled ingredients first.
  • Write the unit number (like #08-56) and the 6-digit postal code on every box.

Shipping to and from Singapore: questions

Is there a tax-free limit for parcels to Singapore?

Yes. Boxes sent by air with a CIF value (goods plus insurance and freight) of S$400 or less pay no GST, except alcohol and tobacco. Above that, 9% GST applies to the whole value. Boxes that arrive by sea or land pay GST at any value.

Do I pay GST on my own used belongings?

Above S$400 CIF, yes, unless you're moving to Singapore and get GST relief. The parcel rules don't separate used goods from new ones, but most household items pay no duty, only 9% GST.

How do I get GST relief when moving to Singapore?

File an online Declaration of Facts with Singapore Customs before the boxes arrive, with your passport and/or NRIC, proof of the move such as an Employment Pass or Student Pass, and the air waybill. Once it's approved, the courier or agent takes out a GST relief permit within 10 working days.

Can I send vapes, chewing gum, or cigarettes to Singapore?

No to vapes and chewing gum: both are banned imports. Cigarettes aren't banned, but they have no duty-free allowance, pay duty and GST on every stick, and most couriers refuse tobacco anyway.

Can I send medicine to Singapore?

Up to 3 months' supply of your own prescribed medicine, in its original labeled packaging with a copy of the prescription. Medicines with controlled substances need HSA approval first, and some, such as anything with cannabis or medicine in gum form, are not allowed at all.

Can I send food to Singapore?

Only small amounts are practical. SFA's personal limits, written for travelers, allow processed food up to 5 kg or 5 liters and S$100 in total, and meat only from approved countries. Leave out fresh and perishable food.

How long does shipping boxes to Singapore take?

Express door to door usually takes 2-4 business days from elsewhere in Asia and 3-5 from Europe or North America, plus time for any permit or GST payment.

How do I ship boxes from Singapore to another country?

Book an express courier and list every item with a fair value. Air shipments worth S$1,000 or less need no customs export permit unless they contain alcohol, tobacco, or controlled goods. Above that, the courier or an agent arranges the permit. The receiver pays any import charges at the other end.

Official help in Singapore

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Singapore makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    Singapore Customs

    Courier / Postal Procedures (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  2. 2.

    Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)

    Current GST rates (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 27, 2026

  3. 3.

    Singapore Customs

    Do I Qualify for GST Relief? (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  4. 4.

    Singapore Customs

    Sending Unaccompanied Items (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  5. 5.

    Singapore Customs

    List of Dutiable Goods (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  6. 6.

    Singapore Customs

    Duty-Free Concession and GST Import Relief (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  7. 7.

    Singapore Customs

    Controlled and Prohibited Goods for Imports (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  8. 8.

    Singapore Customs

    Customs Guide for Travellers (English) (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  9. 9.

    Singapore Customs

    Establishing Customs Value and Methods (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

  10. 10.

    Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

    Travelling with medications to Singapore (opens in a new tab)

    Health regulator · checked September 27, 2026

  11. 11.

    Singapore Food Agency (SFA)

    List of Food & Food Products Allowed (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 27, 2026

  12. 12.

    National Parks Board (NParks)

    Apply for an import permit (opens in a new tab)

    Biosecurity · checked September 27, 2026

  13. 13.

    Singapore Customs

    Permit Exemptions (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 27, 2026

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