Travel Information From Brunei to Singapore

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Routine Vaccines

Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include

• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis
• Flu (Influenza)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Shingles

COVID-19

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Hepatitis A

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Singapore. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given. Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin.

Hepatitis B

Recommended for unvaccinated travelers of all ages to Singapore.

Measles

Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series.

Rabies

Singapore is free of dog rabies. However, rabies may still be present in wildlife species, particularly bats. CDC recommends rabies vaccination before travel only for people working directly with wildlife. These people may include veterinarians, animal handlers, field biologists, or laboratory workers working with specimens from mammalian species.

Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

Yellow Fever

Required if traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission and ≥1 year of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YF virus transmission.

You will need 6 months validity remaining on your passport from the date you intend to entry.

Local Phrases Language : Mandarin Chinese

Local Phrases :

Greetings

Hello = Nǐ hǎo
Good morning = Zǎoshang hǎo
Good afternoon = Xiàwǔ hǎo
Goodbye = Zàijiàn
Nice to meet you = Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nǐ

Conversational

How are you? = Nǐ hǎo ma?
I am good thank you = Wǒ hěn hǎo, xièxiè
What’s your name? = Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?
My name is … = Wǒ de míngzì shì…
Do you speak English? = Nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?
I don’t speak … = Wǒ bù shuōhuà……
How do you say… in … = Nǐ zěnme shuō……zài……
I don’t understand = Wǒ bù míngbái

Basics

Yes = Shì de
No = Bù
Please = Qǐng
Thank you = Xièxiè
You’re welcome = Bié kèqì
Excuse me = Dǎrǎo yīxià
Wait = Děngdài
Hurry up = Gǎnkuài
Go away = Líkāi
Let’s go to = Ràng wǒmen qù
I want to go to … = Wǒ xiǎng qù…
A little bit = Yī diǎndiǎn
A lot = Hěnduō

Shopping & Eating Out

Restaurant = Cāntīng
Do you have? … = Nǐ yǒu? …
Not too spicy = Bù tài là
It was delicious = Hěn měiwèi
The bill, please = Zhàngdān, qǐng
How much? = Duōshǎo qián?
Very expensive = Fēicháng guì
Can you reduce the price? = Néng bùnéng jiàngjià?
Please can I have a beer? = Qǐngwèn wǒ kěyǐ hē píjiǔ ma?

Transportation & Directions

Taxi = Chūzū chē
Car = Chē
Bus = Gōnggòng qìchē
Right = Zhèngquè de
Left = Shèng xià
Straight = Zhí de
Stop here = Tíng zài zhèlǐ

Places

Downtown = Shì zhōngxīn
Street = Jiēdào
Hotel = Jiǔdiàn
Museum = Bówùguǎn
Mall = Gòuwù zhòng xīn
Market = Shìchǎng
Hospital = Yīyuàn
Doctor = Yīshēng
Police = Jǐngchá
Post office = Yóujú
Bank = Yínháng

Time & Dates

Today = Xiànzài shì jǐ diǎn?
Tomorrow = Míngtiān
The day after tomorrow = Hòutiān
Yesterday = Zuótiān
When? = Shénme shíhòu?

Emergencies

Where is the toilet? = Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎ?
Help me, please = Qǐng bāng bāng wǒ
Call an ambulance = Jiào jiùhù chē
I don’t feel goo = Wǒ juédé bù tài hǎo"

• Singapore City: +6567339055
• Singapore City hotline: +6596730300
• Singapore City hotline: +6591995060

Type G View Plug-Type

Don't ask to open window - there's a belief that leaving your window open can invite the dreaded "promaja" )also know as draft) and can cause illness or even death.

5,703,569

Singapore

Singapore is a sunny, tropical island in South-east Asia, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The city-state is 710 square kilometres and inhabited by five million people from four major communities; Chinese (majority), Malay, Indian and Eurasian. Since its independence in 9 August 1965, the country has adopted a parliamentary democracy system. Currently, the government and the cabinet are led by Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong while President Halimah Yacob is the Head of State.

Ideally positioned in South-east Asia, where the rest of the region is just a hop, skip and jump away, Singapore is a thriving metropolis offering a world-class infrastructure, a fully integrated island-wide transport network, dynamic business environment, vibrant living spaces and a rich culture largely influenced by the four major communities in Singapore with each offering different perspective of life in Singapore in terms of culture, religion, food, language and history.

Customs Allowances : Click Here

Social behaviour scams

There has been a recent surge is reported scams involving Singapore's "Outrage of modesty" law. Tourists and expats have been accused of touching a woman inappropriately in a nightclub, and asked for a hefty settlement to avoid police charges.

This is how the scam works: a traveler cuts loose at a nightclub, has a few drinks too many, and is approached by a local woman. She lays on the charm, and the man, inevitably, falls for it. His hands get a little too bold, and she accuses him of molestation, or "Outrage of modesty".

Two heavies come to her defense, threatening to call the police unless the traveler gives her hush money, which can be in the thousands of dollars. Usually the victim pays up because he's drunk, confused, and don't want to get caught up in the law or receive the punishment: jail time or the cane.

Even if he contests it, the law might side with the accuser. There has been an increase in "Outrage of modesty" cases in Singapore, and while we can't extrapolate how many of those were real cases of molestation or scams that were settled privately, the best advice is to avoid having too much to drink, and to keep your hands to yourself.

Fake monks and nuns

This is a scam not limited to Singapore but commonly found in other destinations throughout Asia. You may be approached by a Buddhist monk or nun asking for donations. Buddhist monks and nuns do not beg for money, nor do they persistently pester people. Report it immediately to local police.

Find out why you should avoid donating to beggars no matter where you are in the world.

Overpriced food at hawker centers

Another scam to watch out for is with retail prices. Certain hawker centers, mainly food courts, have been known to charge absurd prices for a meal. In one famous case, an American tourist was charged nearly US $369 (500 SGD) for a meal for six, including US $175 (239 SGD) for eight prawns.

However, justice was swift. This became a national scandal and the seller was shut down for three months. To avoid this unpleasant scenario, always check prices at hawker centers, especially the crowded ones like Lau Pa Sat and Newton.

Singapore is famous for its chilli crab, however some travelers have reported receiving less than the whole crab they ordered.

Other items dodgy restaurants may overcharge for, which are usually assumed complimentary, or charge an exorbitant price include: wet wipes, paper napkins, a sliced mango, desserts you didn't order, peanuts, US $30 for Chinese broccoli, or charging for the vegetables in fried rice.

To avoid being overcharged, ask the vendor if the price is inclusive of everything in the meal, and ask upfront for costs of extra items.

Credit card swap

Credit card swaps can also happen at restaurants in Singapore. When you give your card to the waiter to pay the bill, pay attention when they return, as some travelers have reported being handed back the wrong card with the receipt wrapped around it.

The card looks similar to yours, so you might not think much of it, only to discover it's not yours when you go to use it later, finding it's an expired card.

To avoid this, never let your card out of sight.

Shopping scams

There have been some reports of the infamous "white van scam" in Singapore. This is where a man in a van claims to have expensive, high-quality audio equipment, such as headphones, and offers you an absurdly low price for it. The gear will have a name that sounds like a reputable brand, but is in fact a cheap knockoff. Ignore any offers like this from anyone on the streets, especially if they are selling from their van.

Many travelers have sadly experienced the fake goods situation in Singapore. Some people thought they were buying a genuine iPad, only to discover that the iPad is not what they paid for – either the features were not included or totally fake.

Property rental scams

People wishing to rent property in Singapore should exercise caution. Real estate fraud has stung a visitor or two. Although there are several types of scam, the idea is the same: request money upfront from a foreigner who doesn't know the rights and safeguards of tenants.

For example, a real estate broker can offer a lower price if you pay a whole year's rent upfront. Others might take a deposit for a timeshare that doesn't exist.

To avoid being taken for a ride, prospective tenants must follow due diligence: make sure the agent is legit, confirm the name of the landlord with a proof of ownership, and read through all the legal documents. And never pay in cash: issue a cheque or cashier's order to the name of the owner.

International Driving Permit 1949 is required

• The most common religion in Singapore is Buddhism.
• Don't bring in food into MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) - you can be fined.
• Don't wear tight and super revealing clothes. Be conservative in your behaviour. Dress conservatively for business functions and dress casually in other situations.
• Don't give clocks, handkerchiefs or straw sandals - they're associated with funerals and death. Don't wrap the gifts in white, blue or black colours these are mourning colours.
• Don't feed birds in public - it's prohibited.
• Don't stay on the right side of the escalator - remain on the left side of the escalator, the right lane is for all those people in a rush.
• Don't forget to remove your shoes when entering a private home, a temple or a mosque.
• Don't tip. Tipping is not customary in Singapore, and it's even frowned upon by the government.
• Don't litter, chew gum, sell gum, jaywalk, or smoke in public - it's punishable by jail or even death.
• Don't smoke in public and don't even drop the cigarette end in the street.
• Don't provide your passport as collateral when hiring vehicles - better use cash as deposit.
• Don't consume alcohol in public places between 22:30 and 07:00 local time, and all day at weekends in certain areas.
• Don't bring vaporisers like e-cigarettes into the country - it’s forbidden.
• Don't be too affectionate in public - kissing, cuddling and similar behaviour are frowned upon if in public, especially amongst older locals.
• Don't show disrespect to Buddha or its images - large or small, ruined or not, it's regarded as a sacred object and don't touch a monk. Treat monks with the highest respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of woman.

Do I need travel insurance to travel to Singapore?

Travel insurance is very important when traveling overseas. We strongly recommend that you take out cover to travel to Singapore. You can usually take out single trip or annual multi-trip cover to give you peace of mind should anything happen.

It can be a better and cheaper option to take annual multi-trip cover as it usually covers any number of trips taken in one year with a maximum of up to around 60 days away per trip.

We work with the top names in the industry and have already pre-selected the easiest, cheapest and best quality travel insurance on the market to save you time and money trying to find the best cover.

Travel insurance typically covers the following; however, you can tailor a policy to suit your needs depending on where you are traveling to, your activities and how long you are away.

• Medical Expenses
  Medical treatment can be extremely costly and add up very quickly, and include Overnight stays in hospital, minor or major surgery, accident and emergency treatment, drugs, COVID-19 treatment, journey home if you cannot use the original ticket, dental treatment, and many more unexpected expenses.
• Baggage and personal belongings
  If your baggage is lost, stolen, damaged or delayed it is extremely frustrating. If you must buy new clothes, toiletry products or personal belongings it can be very expensive and time consuming.
• Cancellation
  Sometimes due to unforeseen circumstances you may need to cancel your trip. This could be due to several reasons such as illness, injury, a bereavement or many other scenarios. Usually airlines, tour operators and hotels have large cancellation fees, so buying travel insurance that covers this is recommended.

Health Care

Healthcare System in Singapore

Healthcare of Singapore is ranked 15th in the world. Singaporeans enjoy universal healthcare – meaning the public health system and mandatory health insurance is funded by the government.

Health Risk

Leptospirosis

Caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

Dengue

Occurs from insect bites, including mosquitoes.

Chikungunya

Caused by Mosquito bite.

Zika

Occurs from mosquito bite.

Hantavirus

Less commonly, being around someone sick with hantavirus.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Caused from an infected and contagious person coughing, speaking, or singing.