Is State Immunity Act 1979 still in force?

Yes — State Immunity Act 1979 is currently in force.

When did State Immunity Act 1979 take effect?

State Immunity Act 1979 was first recorded in 1979.

How many sections does State Immunity Act 1979 have?

State Immunity Act 1979 contains 19 sections.

What amends State Immunity Act 1979?

State Immunity Act 1979 has been amended by Act 21 of 2008 and Act 25 of 1996.

Where can I read the official version of State Immunity Act 1979?

The official text of State Immunity Act 1979 is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.

/akn/sg/act/act/1979/SIA

State Immunity Act 1979

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Type: Act
Status: In force
Enacted: 1979
Last amended: 2008
Sections: 19

Quick answer

About this act

State Immunity Act 1979 is Singapore Act, cited as Act SIA 1979, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1979.

Part 1

PRELIMINARY

Section 1

Short title and application

This Act is the State Immunity Act 1979.(2) Subject to subsection (3), Part 2 does not apply to proceedings in respect of matters that occurred before 26 October 1979 and, in particular —

(a)

sections 4(2) and 15(3) do not apply to any prior agreement; and

(b)

sections 5, 6 and 11 do not apply to any transaction, contract or arbitration agreement,entered into before that date.(3) Section 14 applies to any proceedings instituted after 26 October 1979.

(1)

This Act is the State Immunity Act 1979.

(2)

Subject to subsection (3), Part 2 does not apply to proceedings in respect of matters that occurred before 26 October 1979 and, in particular —

(a)

sections 4(2) and 15(3) do not apply to any prior agreement; and

(b)

sections 5, 6 and 11 do not apply to any transaction, contract or arbitration agreement,entered into before that date.

(3)

Section 14 applies to any proceedings instituted after 26 October 1979.

Section 2

Interpretation

(1)

In this Act —

Definition

“commercial purposes” means purposes of any transactions or activities that are mentioned in section 5(3);

Definition

“court” includes any tribunal or body exercising judicial functions;

Definition

“ship” includes a hovercraft.

(2)

In this Act —

(a)

references to an agreement in sections 4(2) and 15(3) include references to a treaty, convention or other international agreement; and

(b)

references to entry of appearance and judgments in default of appearance include references to any corresponding procedures.

Part 2

PROCEEDINGS IN SINGAPORE BY OR AGAINSTOTHER STATES

Section 3

General immunity from jurisdiction

(1)

A State is immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore except as provided in the following provisions of this Part.

(2)

A court is to give effect to the immunity conferred by this section even though the State does not appear in the proceedings in question.

Section 4

Submission to jurisdiction

(1)

A State is not immune as respects proceedings in respect of which it has submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore.

(2)

A State may submit after the dispute giving rise to the proceedings has arisen or by a prior written agreement; but a provision in any agreement that it is to be governed by the law of Singapore is not to be regarded as a submission.

(3)

A State is deemed to have submitted —

(a)

if it has instituted the proceedings; or

(b)

subject to subsections (4) and (5), if it has intervened or taken any step in the proceedings.

(4)

Subsection (3)(b) does not apply to intervention or any step taken for the purpose only of —

(a)

claiming immunity; or

(b)

asserting an interest in property in circumstances such that the State would have been entitled to immunity if the proceedings had been brought against it.

(5)

Subsection (3)(b) does not apply to any step taken by the State in ignorance of facts entitling it to immunity if those facts could not reasonably have been ascertained and immunity is claimed as soon as reasonably practicable.

(6)

A submission in respect of any proceedings extends to any appeal but not to any counterclaim unless it arises out of the same legal relationship or facts as the claim.

(7)

The head of a State’s diplomatic mission in Singapore, or the person for the time being performing his or her functions, is deemed to have authority to submit on behalf of the State in respect of any proceedings; and any person who has entered into a contract on behalf of and with the authority of a State is deemed to have authority to submit on its behalf in respect of proceedings arising out of the contract.

Section 5

Commercial transactions and contracts to be performed in Singapore

(1)

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to —

(a)

a commercial transaction entered into by the State; or

(b)

an obligation of the State which by virtue of a contract (whether a commercial transaction or not) falls to be performed wholly or partly in Singapore,but this subsection does not apply to a contract of employment between a State and an individual.

(2)

This section does not apply if the parties to the dispute are States or have otherwise agreed in writing; and subsection (1)(b) does not apply if the contract (not being a commercial transaction) was made in the territory of the State concerned and the obligation in question is governed by its administrative law.

(3)

In this section, “commercial transaction” means —

(a)

any contract for the supply of goods or services;

(b)

any loan or other transaction for the provision of finance and any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any such transaction or of any other financial obligation; and

(c)

any other transaction or activity (whether of a commercial, industrial, financial, professional or other similar character) into which a State enters or in which it engages otherwise than in the exercise of sovereign authority.

Section 6

Contracts of employment

(1)

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to a contract of employment between the State and an individual where the contract was made in Singapore or the work is to be wholly or partly performed in Singapore.

(2)

Subject to subsections (3) and (4), this section does not apply if —

(a)

at the time when the proceedings are brought the individual is a national of the State concerned;

(b)

at the time when the contract was made the individual was neither a citizen of Singapore nor habitually resident in Singapore; or

(c)

the parties to the contract have otherwise agreed in writing.

(3)

Where the work is for an office, agency or establishment maintained by the State in Singapore for commercial purposes, subsection (2)(a) and (b) does not exclude the application of this section unless the individual was, at the time when the contract was made, habitually resident in that State.

(4)

Subsection (2)(c) does not exclude the application of this section where the law of Singapore requires the proceedings to be brought before a court in Singapore.

(5)

In this section, “proceedings relating to a contract of employment” includes proceedings between the parties to such a contract in respect of any statutory rights or duties to which they are entitled or subject as employer or employee.

Section 7

Personal injuries and damage to property

A State is not immune as respects proceedings in respect of —

(a)

death or personal injury; or

(b)

damage to or loss of tangible property,caused by an act or omission in Singapore.

Section 8

Ownership, possession and use of property

(1)

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to —

(a)

any interest of the State in, or its possession or use of, immovable property in Singapore; or

(b)

any obligation of the State arising out of its interest in, or its possession or use of, any such property.

(2)

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to any interest of the State in movable or immovable property, being an interest arising by way of succession, gift or bona vacantia.

(3)

The fact that a State has or claims an interest in any property does not preclude any court from exercising in respect of it any jurisdiction relating to the estates of deceased persons or mentally disordered persons or to insolvency, the winding up of companies or the administration of trusts.

(4)

A court may entertain proceedings against a person other than a State even though the proceedings relate to property —

(a)

which is in the possession or control of a State; or

(b)

in which a State claims an interest,if the State would not have been immune had the proceedings been brought against it or, in a case within paragraph (b), if the claim is neither admitted nor supported by prima facie evidence.

Section 9

Patents, trademarks, etc.

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to —

(a)

any patent, trademark or design belonging to the State and registered or protected in Singapore or for which the State has applied in Singapore;

(b)

an alleged infringement by the State in Singapore of any patent, trademark, design or copyright; or

(c)

the right to use a trade or business name in Singapore.

Section 10

Membership of bodies corporate, etc.

(1)

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to its membership of a body corporate, an unincorporated body or a partnership which —

(a)

has members other than States; and

(b)

is incorporated or constituted under the law of Singapore or is controlled from or has its principal place of business in Singapore,being proceedings arising between the State and the body or its other members or (as the case may be) between the State and the other partners.

(2)

This section does not apply if provision to the contrary has been made by an agreement in writing between the parties to the dispute or by the constitution or other instrument establishing or regulating the body or partnership in question.

Section 11

Arbitrations

(1)

Where a State has agreed in writing to submit a dispute which has arisen, or may arise, to arbitration, the State is not immune as respects proceedings in the courts in Singapore which relate to the arbitration.

(2)

This section has effect subject to any contrary provision in the arbitration agreement and does not apply to any arbitration agreement between States.

Section 12

Ships used for commercial purposes

(1)

This section applies to —

(a)

Admiralty proceedings; and

(b)

proceedings on any claim which could be made the subject of Admiralty proceedings.

(2)

A State is not immune as respects —

(a)

an action in rem against a ship belonging to that State; or

(b)

an action in personam for enforcing a claim in connection with such a ship,if, at the time when the cause of action arose, the ship was in use or intended for use for commercial purposes.

(3)

Where an action in rem is brought against a ship belonging to a State for enforcing a claim in connection with another ship belonging to that State, subsection (2)(a) does not apply as respects the firstmentioned ship unless, at the time when the cause of action relating to the other ship arose, both ships were in use or intended for use for commercial purposes.

(4)

A State is not immune as respects —

(a)

an action in rem against a cargo belonging to that State if both the cargo and the ship carrying it were, at the time when the cause of action arose, in use or intended for use for commercial purposes; or

(b)

an action in personam for enforcing a claim in connection with such a cargo if the ship carrying it was then in use or intended for use for commercial purposes.

(5)

In subsections (2), (3) and (4), references to a ship or cargo belonging to a State include references to a ship or cargo in its possession or control or in which it claims an interest; and, subject to subsection (4), subsection (2) applies to property other than a ship as it applies to a ship.

Section 13

Customs duties, etc.

A State is not immune as respects proceedings relating to its liability for —

(a)

any customs duty or excise duty;

(b)

any goods and services tax; or

(c)

any tax in respect of premises occupied by it for commercial purposes.

Section 14

Service of process and judgments in default of appearance

(1)

Any writ or other document required to be served for instituting proceedings against a State must be served by being transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, to the ministry of foreign affairs of that State, and service is deemed to have been effected when the writ or document is received at that ministry.

(2)

Any time for entering an appearance (whether prescribed by Rules of Court or otherwise) begins to run 2 months after the date on which the writ or document is so received.

(3)

A State which appears in proceedings cannot thereafter object that subsection (1) has not been complied with in the case of those proceedings.

(4)

No judgment in default of appearance may be given against a State except on proof that subsection (1) has been complied with and that the time for entering an appearance as extended by subsection (2) has expired.

(5)

A copy of any judgment given against a State in default of appearance must be transmitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, to the ministry of foreign affairs of that State and any time for applying to have the judgment set aside (whether prescribed by Rules of Court or otherwise) begins to run 2 months after the date on which the copy of the judgment is received at that ministry.

(6)

Subsection (1) does not prevent the service of a writ or other document in any manner to which the State has agreed and subsections (2) and (4) do not apply where service is effected in that manner.

(7)

This section is not to be construed as applying to proceedings against a State by way of counterclaim or to an action in rem; and subsection (1) is not to be construed as affecting any Rules of Court whereby leave is required for the service of process outside the jurisdiction.

Section 15

Other procedural privileges

(1)

No penalty by way of committal or fine shall be imposed in respect of any failure or refusal by or on behalf of a State to disclose or produce any document or other information for the purposes of proceedings to which it is a party.

(2)

Subject to subsections (3) and (4) —

(a)

relief must not be given against a State by way of injunction or order for specific performance or for the recovery of land or other property; and

(b)

the property of a State must not be subject to any process for the enforcement of a judgment or an arbitration award or, in an action in rem, for its arrest, detention or sale.

(3)

Subsection (2) does not prevent the giving of any relief or the issue of any process with the written consent of the State concerned; and that consent (which may be contained in a prior agreement) may be expressed so as to apply to a limited extent or generally; but a provision merely submitting to the jurisdiction of the courts is not to be regarded as a consent for the purposes of this subsection.

(4)

Subsection (2)(b) does not prevent the issue of any process in respect of property which is for the time being in use or intended for use for commercial purposes.

(5)

The head of a State’s diplomatic mission in Singapore, or the person for the time being performing his or her functions, is deemed to have authority to give on behalf of the State the consent mentioned in subsection (3) and, for the purposes of subsection (4), his or her certificate to the effect that any property is not in use or intended for use by or on behalf of the State for commercial purposes must be accepted as sufficient evidence of that fact unless the contrary is proved.

Part 3

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

Section 16

States entitled to immunities and privileges

(1)

The immunities and privileges conferred by Part 2 apply to any foreign or Commonwealth State other than Singapore; and references to a State include references to —

(a)

the sovereign or other head of that State in his or her public capacity;

(b)

the government of that State; and

(c)

any department of that government,but not to any entity (called in this section a separate entity) which is distinct from the executive organs of the government of the State and capable of suing or being sued.

(2)

A separate entity is immune from the jurisdiction of the courts in Singapore if, and only if —

(a)

the proceedings relate to anything done by it in the exercise of sovereign authority; and

(b)

the circumstances are such that a State would have been so immune.

(3)

If a separate entity (not being a State’s central bank or other monetary authority) submits to the jurisdiction in respect of proceedings in the case of which it is entitled to immunity by virtue of subsection (2), section 15(1) to (4) applies to it in respect of those proceedings as if references to a State were references to the separate entity.

(4)

Property of a State’s central bank or other monetary authority is not to be regarded for the purposes of section 15(4) as in use or intended for use for commercial purposes; and where the bank or authority is a separate entity, section 15(1), (2) and (3) applies to it as if references to a State were references to the bank or authority.

(5)

Section 14 applies to proceedings against the constituent territories of a federal State; and the President may by order provide for the other provisions of this Part to apply to any such constituent territory specified in the order as they apply to a State.

(6)

Where the provisions of Part 2 do not apply to a constituent territory by virtue of any such order, subsections (2) and (3) apply to it as if it were a separate entity.

Section 17

Restriction and extension of immunities and privileges

If it appears to the President that the immunities and privileges conferred by Part 2 in relation to any State —

(a)

exceed those accorded by the law of that State in relation to Singapore; or

(b)

are less than those required by any treaty, convention or other international agreement to which that State and Singapore are parties,the President may, by order, provide for restricting or (as the case may be) extending those immunities and privileges to such extent as appears to the President to be appropriate.

Section 18

Evidence by certificate

A certificate by or on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs is conclusive evidence on any question —

(a)

whether any country is a State for the purposes of Part 2, whether any territory is a constituent territory of a federal State for those purposes or as to the person or persons to be regarded for those purposes as the head or government of a State; and

(b)

whether, and if so when, a document has been served or received as mentioned in section 14(1) or (5).

Section 19

Excluded matters

(1)

Part 2 does not affect any immunity or privilege applicable in Singapore to diplomatic and consular agents, and section 8(1) does not apply to proceedings concerning a State’s title to or its possession of property used for the purposes of a diplomatic mission.

(2)

Part 2 does not apply to —

(a)

proceedings relating to anything done by or in relation to the armed forces of a State while present in Singapore and, in particular, has effect subject to the Visiting Forces Act 1960;

(b)

criminal proceedings; and

(c)

proceedings relating to taxation other than those mentioned in section 13.

Common questions

What is State Immunity Act 1979?: State Immunity Act 1979 is Singapore Act, cited as Act SIA 1979, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1979.
Is State Immunity Act 1979 still in force?: Yes — State Immunity Act 1979 is currently in force.
When did State Immunity Act 1979 take effect?: State Immunity Act 1979 was first recorded in 1979.
How many sections does State Immunity Act 1979 have?: State Immunity Act 1979 contains 19 sections.
What amends State Immunity Act 1979?: State Immunity Act 1979 has been amended by Act 21 of 2008 and Act 25 of 1996.
Where can I read the official version of State Immunity Act 1979?: The official text of State Immunity Act 1979 is published at sso.agc.gov.sg.

Singapore law

ActIn force

Reference: Act SIA 1979
Expression: EN - rev_ed_2020
Authority: Authoritative

Legislative history

You are reading the rev_ed_2020 text, which already incorporates the amendments below.

Enacted 1979. Current status: In force

Amendment history of State Immunity Act 1979
Amending instrument	Year
Act 25 of 1996	1996
Act 21 of 2008	2008

Primary source

Compare this reader text against the official source.

View at official source PDF

Structured from sso.agc.gov.sg. Last updated 28 Jun 2026. How we source & verify

Cited in court decisions

Court decisions that cite this act.

Referred to[2016] SGHC 65Case
“se of WestLB AG v Philippine National Bank and others [2007] 1 SLR(R) 967 (“WestLB”). In WestLB, a defendant filed an application praying, first, to stay the plaintiff’s action pursuant to s 3 of the State Immunity Act (Cap 313, 1985 Rev Ed) and, second, for the court to order that certain funds held by the plaintiff b”
Referred to[2017] SGHCR 2Case
“Lesotho is a State to which the State Immunity Act (Cap 313, 2014 Rev Ed) applies. The question is whether the Enforcement Order is a “writ or other document required to be served for instituting proceedings against a State” within the terms of s 14(”
Referred to[2017] SGHC 104Case
“Must an order granting leave to enforce an arbitral award (a “leave order”) be served in accordance with s 14 of the State Immunity Act (Cap 313, 2014 Rev Ed) (“the Act”)? This was the central question in Registrar’s Appeal 91 of 2017 (“RA 91”), an appeal by Josias Van Zyl and the trustees of the Josias Van Zyl Family”
Referred to[2022] SGHC 53Case
“n award — Order granting leave to enforce foreign award; Civil Procedure — Service — Service of leave order on foreign State — Time for foreign State to apply to set aside leave order — Section 14(2) State Immunity Act”
Referred to[2023] SGHC(I) 7Case
“In SUM 155, the central issue is whether, as a sovereign state, India is immune from the jurisdiction of the Singapore courts. By section 3(1) of the State Immunity Act 1979 (2020 Rev Ed) (the “SIA”), sovereign states are immune from this court’s jurisdiction unless an exception to state immunity applies. DT contends t”

Show 7 more

Referred to[2023] SGCA(I) 10Case
“The key thrust of India’s case is that the Tribunal did not have jurisdiction to determine the dispute between India and DT. As a starting point, India relies on s 3(1) of the State Immunity Act 1979 (2020 Rev Ed) (“SIA”) which provides that “a State is immune from the jurisdiction of the courts of Singapore except as”
Referred to[2024] SGHC(I) 10Case
“on of time to file an application to set aside an enforcement order; Civil Procedure — Service — Requirements for valid service of documents out of jurisdiction on a “State” within the meaning of the State Immunity Act 1979; Arbitration — Confidentiality — Application for redaction and sealing orders; Civil Procedure —”
Referred to[2024] SGHC(I) 28Case
“f those affidavits and making of further submissions in the applications; that a large number of legal authorities were cited, particularly in relation to the significant issues involving s 14 of the State Immunity Act 1979 (2020 Rev Ed); and that, consequently, the hearing of the applications extended over two days, p”
Referred to[2025] SGHC(I) 16Case
“eedings — Foreign judicial; Conflict of laws — Restraint of foreign proceedings — Breach of legal or equitable right not to be sued; International Law — Sovereign immunity — Sections 3, 11, 15 and 16 State Immunity Act 1979 (2020 Rev Ed)”
Referred to[2025] SGHC(I) 19Case
“Arbitration — Conduct of arbitration — Estoppel; Arbitration — Enforcement — Foreign award; International Law — Sovereign immunity — Sections 3(1) and 11(1) State Immunity Act 1979 (2020 Rev Ed); Res Judicata — Issue estoppel”
Referred to[2025] SGHC(I) 27Case
“(1) a declaration that RF is immune from the jurisdiction of the Singapore Courts pursuant to section 3(1) of the State Immunity Act 1979;”
Referred to[2026] SGHC 43Case
“International Law — Sovereign immunity — Sections 3(1), 4(1), and 11(1) State Immunity Act 1979 (2020 Rev Ed); International Law – Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States; Arbitration — Sections 4 and 5 Arbitration (International Investme”