Forbidden Items to Bring to Singapore

WanWanWan · Post by **WanWanWan** » Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:23 pm

I cannot find this out on the web. Any help is appreciated.

We are moving all our furniture, household goods, etc. to Singapore in a few months. Most of it is fine. However, the Singapore customs site (http://www.customs.gov.sg/leftNav/trav/ ... +Goods.htm) has a list of items which you cannot bring into Singapore. This includes knives (as weapons) and films. We own a few dozen DVDs, pretty much all cheesy action flicks, and have a rather expensive but very nice cleaver. It seems odd that you would not be able to bring a few personal and legally-bought DVDs into the country, as well as a knife which is not a weapon--although I can see that that would be hard to prove. Then again, anything else is a weapon if you consider it correctly. And the customs site does specifically say that all "weapons" cannot be taken in.

I have asked the moving company but they'll "get right back to <me>" so it might be a while if at all.

Does anyone know if we can take these things with us?

timbojangles · Post by **timbojangles** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:42 am

I would call around to a few other moving companies and see if they would be willing to send you a list, they all have them.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 1:28 am

You are not going to have issues with either. Declare the DVD's... the chances of them being looked at are very slim. A friend moved to Singapore with great kitchen implements... not declared, and no need to.

uscate · Post by **uscate** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 9:45 am

We recently moved here from the US, and our moving company would not move our DVDs or CDs - no way, no how....bummer!! You may want to check into that more closely.

They also wouldn't allow us to bring packaged beef jerky for personal use (apparently beef from US is not allowed?)

Good luck with your move!!

Steve1960 · Post by **Steve1960** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:58 am

I think its the removal companies, they don't want the hassle of the whole consignment being held in Customs if they decide they do want to check your DVD collection.

When we relocated here last year I had all of our 200 or so original DVD / CD's shipped. We just had to itemise each title in a document which was a bit of a pain.

Of course the non original ones went in the trash can before we left!

whoisit · Post by **whoisit** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:00 pm

We moved with all our furniture including various knifes (one was a scary looking meat cleaver) and Original DVDs and BDs. We had about 300 movies and had to painfully catalog them. I now use this catalog as a reference to track down the occasional discs borrowed by our friends and never returned

Post by **nakatago** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:25 pm

whoisit wrote:We moved with all our furniture including various knifes (one was a scary looking meat cleaver) and Original DVDs and BDs. We had about 300 movies and had to painfully catalog them. I now use this catalog as a reference to track down the occasional discs borrowed by our friends and never returned

They amazingly have no problems with knives that aren't obvious weapons (by the way, you CAN legally buy swords here). I once had my bag scanned and they found a folding utility knife. The office just asked me to open it and then waved me away.

They're more scared of your movies that can endanger the harmony of Singapore society and corrupt the minds of the people with seditious, outrageous or morally bankrupt ideas.

/s

alittlerisky · Post by **alittlerisky** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:34 pm

nakatago wrote: They're more scared of your movies that can endanger the harmony of Singapore society and corrupt the minds of the people with seditious, outrageous or morally bankrupt ideas.

/s

What?? But... but.. but...

That's my job! I'm a banker!

Post by **x9200** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 1:37 pm

3Wan, I recall somebody not so long ago reported here importing a katana sword with virtually no problems. I don't know what you have in your kitchen but you should probably be ok. DVDs/BDs no problem at all.

zzm9980 · Post by **zzm9980** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 2:11 pm

On the flip side, i do have a longterm PR friend that said he ordered a season of some british TV show from Amazon on DVD (can't recall what), and that ICA shipped it and said he would have to pay $XX per hour for them to review it and 'OK' it for importation. I don't recall what $XX was, but the total would have been several times more than he paid Amazon and just decided it wasn't worth it.

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 2:58 pm

x9200 wrote:3Wan, I recall somebody not so long ago reported here importing a katana sword with virtually no problems. I don't know what you have in your kitchen but you should probably be ok. DVDs/BDs no problem at all.

I missed that thread, but .. I been to a couple of Local cops house .. at both their places, they had katanas, as they had got as gifts from Japan, but the blade was BLUNTED !!! And they did say that is how you are allowed to bring in, if you do really want it ..

And once, when I was arriving in BT, a Caucasian who flew in From BKK was arrested famously for not having declared his Samurai Sword .. the cops were like waiting till he picked his luggage and then pulled him aside .. and the sword was like pasted on top his big bag .. and while I was killing time waiting for my friend to clear Immigration .. I saw said individual in handcuffs being escorted out .. with his Sword prominanly stuck on top of his baggage trolley ..

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 3:01 pm

zzm9980 wrote:On the flip side, i do have a longterm PR friend that said he ordered a season of some british TV show from Amazon on DVD (can't recall what), and that ICA shipped it and said he would have to pay $XX per hour for them to review it and 'OK' it for importation. I don't recall what $XX was, but the total would have been several times more than he paid Amazon and just decided it wasn't worth it.

and many years ago, when I dutifully declared that I had CDs, and the Customs guy asked me to opt for 'screening' when I flew down from KL, I did a mental calculation and said "keep it .. " as it was all training material from Our KL Office ..

A few weeks later, Customs did send it to our office .. FOC !!!

Post by **x9200** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 4:13 pm

ecureilx wrote:
x9200 wrote:3Wan, I recall somebody not so long ago reported here importing a katana sword with virtually no problems. I don't know what you have in your kitchen but you should probably be ok. DVDs/BDs no problem at all.
I missed that thread, but .. I been to a couple of Local cops house .. at both their places, they had katanas, as they had got as gifts from Japan, but the blade was BLUNTED !!! And they did say that is how you are allowed to bring in, if you do really want it ..

Here, here: http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic89900.html

ecureilx · Post by **ecureilx** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 4:39 pm

x9200 wrote:
ecureilx wrote:
x9200 wrote:3Wan, I recall somebody not so long ago reported here importing a katana sword with virtually no problems. I don't know what you have in your kitchen but you should probably be ok. DVDs/BDs no problem at all.
I missed that thread, but .. I been to a couple of Local cops house .. at both their places, they had katanas, as they had got as gifts from Japan, but the blade was BLUNTED !!! And they did say that is how you are allowed to bring in, if you do really want it ..
Here, here: http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic89900.html

Gee, interesting

Things have changed I guess

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Thu, 14 Feb 2013 4:40 pm

Probably always been like that, had you asked a customs officer.

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