Immigration Act 1959 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · Entry Into and Departure from Singapore
6. Control of entry into and departure from Singapore
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023. 3 amendments in all.
A person, other than a citizen of Singapore, must not enter or attempt to enter Singapore unless —
he or she is in possession of a valid entry permit or re‑entry permit lawfully issued to him or her under section 10 or 11;
his or her name is endorsed upon a valid entry permit or re‑entry permit in accordance with section 12, and he or she is in the company of the holder of that permit;
he or she is in possession of a valid pass lawfully issued to him or her to enter Singapore; or
he or she is exempted from this subsection by an order made under section 56.
Every person departing from Singapore, other than a citizen of Singapore or a person exempted from this subsection by an order made under section 56, must, if so required by an immigration officer, complete an embarkation form and submit it for examination by that officer at the time he or she leaves Singapore.
immigration officer
“immigration officer” means any person appointed under section 3;
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and —
in the case of an offence under subsection (1), shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months and shall also be punished with caning with not less than 3 strokes, or where by virtue of section 325(1)(a) or (b) of the Criminal Procedure Code 2010 he or she is not punishable with caning, he or she shall, in lieu of caning, be punished with a fine not exceeding $6,000;
in the case of an offence under subsection (2), shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), it is presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the defendant attempted to enter Singapore in contravention of subsection (1)(c) if the defendant was found within the waters of the port and it is proved to the satisfaction of the court that —
he or she was unable, or refused, to produce when requested to do so by a police officer or an immigration officer a valid passport or other valid travel document issued by the competent authority of any country;
he or she has no visible means of subsistence; or
he or she had taken precautions to conceal his or her identity or presence from any police officer or immigration officer.
In this section, “port” means any place declared to be a port under section 3 of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act 1996.