Singapore arrival · Customs guide
Singapore customs declaration: goods, cash and the right channel
Goods and cash are reported through different official processes. Use this guide to choose the Red or Green Channel, understand Customs@SG and file a cash report when the CBNI threshold applies.
Official sources checked 20 August 2026
The short answer
Declare dutiable, taxable, controlled or prohibited goods at the Red Channel. Use the Green Channel only when you have nothing to declare. Separately, anyone entering or leaving Singapore with physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments totalling more than S$20,000, or the foreign-currency equivalent, must submit Form NP 727.
- Goods: Red or Green Channel
- Use the Red Channel when required
- Cash and CBNI: Form NP 727
- Above S$20,000 is a reporting threshold
- Official sources
Official sources checked 20 August 2026
- Singapore Customs: Red and Green Channels
- Singapore Customs: duty-free concession and GST import relief
- Singapore Customs: Customs@SG web application
First decide: goods or cash?
A goods declaration and a cash/CBNI report are not the same form. One journey can require both.
Goods: Red or Green Channel
Singapore Customs uses the two channels after immigration. Your choice is a declaration, so check the live official rules before you travel.
Use the Red Channel when required
Go to Red if you carry dutiable or taxable goods above your applicable relief, controlled or prohibited items, or goods for someone else. If you are unsure, ask an officer at the Red Channel or Customs Examination Area.
Use Green only for nothing to declare
The Green Channel is for passengers with no declarable goods. Officers may still carry out checks. Removing packaging or using a newly bought item during the trip does not by itself make the purchase an old personal belonging.
Check relief and item-specific controls
GST relief and duty-free concessions depend on the traveller, time spent outside Singapore and the type of goods. Food, medicine and other controlled items can have separate authority rules, so use the linked official pages rather than a generic quantity estimate.
Cash and CBNI: Form NP 727
CBNI means physical currency plus bearer negotiable instruments. This reporting rule applies on both arrival and departure.
Above S$20,000 is a reporting threshold
Report a combined value exceeding S$20,000, or its foreign-currency equivalent, whether you carry it for yourself or another person. The threshold is not a cap on how much cash or CBNI may be carried.
Submit within 72 hours before travel
File the online CBNI declaration, Form NP 727, within 72 hours before arriving in or departing from Singapore. Keep the summary page or acknowledgement email available for verification at the checkpoint.
Correct changes before crossing
If travel dates or other reported details change, void the earlier submission and file a new declaration where required. A separate report is needed for each relevant trip.
Which official online service should you use?
Customs@SG and Form NP 727 solve different declaration tasks.
01
Customs@SG for overseas purchases
Use Customs@SG to declare eligible overseas purchases and pay duty or GST up to 3 days before arrival. Controlled goods and goods requiring a permit cannot be cleared through this web application; follow the official permit and Red Channel instructions.
02
e-727 for cash and bearer instruments
Use the ICA-linked e-727 service for the CBNI report within 72 hours before arrival or departure. It records the currency, amount, source and recipient details required by the official form.
A customs declaration is not the SG Arrival Card
The SG Arrival Card is a separate ICA arrival submission and is not a visa. Completing it does not replace a goods declaration, Customs@SG payment or Form NP 727. ICA provides a link to the CBNI form after SGAC submission, but the reports remain separate.
SG Arrival CardBefore you reach the checkpoint
A five-minute check can prevent choosing the wrong channel.
- 01List purchases, gifts and items carried for other people; keep receipts available.
- 02Check live GST relief, duty-free concession and controlled-goods guidance for your exact items.
- 03Add all physical currency and bearer negotiable instruments across currencies.
- 04If the combined CBNI value exceeds S$20,000, submit Form NP 727 within the 72-hour window.
- 05Keep declaration receipts or acknowledgement records accessible on your phone.
- 06When uncertain about goods, approach the Red Channel and ask an officer.
Next useful route
Continue with the right Singapore check
Use these links to move from this article into the matching visa, SG Arrival Card, Form 14A, transit or pass route without starting from scratch.
Popular Singapore visa searches
Singapore customs declaration FAQ
How much cash can I bring into Singapore?
ICA states there is no restriction on the type or amount of CBNI you may carry. However, a combined value above S$20,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, must be reported using Form NP 727. It is a reporting threshold, not a cash limit.
Do I use the Red Channel for more than S$20,000 cash?
The current process is an online Form NP 727 submission within 72 hours before arrival or departure. Keep the declaration summary or acknowledgement email for ICA verification. Treat this cash report separately from the Red/Green Channel decision for goods.
What is the difference between the Red and Green Channels?
Red is for declarable goods, including taxable, dutiable, controlled or prohibited items. Green is only for passengers with nothing to declare, although checks may still occur. If you are not sure about an item, Singapore Customs says to approach an officer at Red.
Can I declare purchases online before arriving?
Eligible overseas purchases can be declared and duty or GST paid through Customs@SG up to 3 days before arrival. The service does not cover controlled goods or goods that need a Customs permit. Follow the linked official instructions for those items.
Does the SG Arrival Card include my customs declaration?
No. SGAC is a separate ICA arrival submission. It does not replace declaring goods or paying duty/GST. ICA may offer a link to submit the cash/CBNI report after SGAC, but Form NP 727 remains a separate legal report.
How much food or medicine may I bring?
There is no safe universal quantity to use for every product. Requirements depend on the exact food, medicine or controlled item and the responsible authority. Check the current official rules for the item and use the Red Channel if a declaration or permit is required or you are unsure.
Official sources
Rules can change. Check these Singapore Government pages again close to travel.
Customs ready — now check the visa route
Customs clearance and visa eligibility are separate. Check whether your passport needs a Singapore visa; if it does, continue to the application service.
This is general travel information, not an official declaration service or legal advice. Singapore Customs, ICA and other competent authorities decide which rules apply. VisatoSingapore is an independent visa assistance service and is not affiliated with the Singapore Government.