On 20/06/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 20/06/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 20/06/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 01/01/2008.
PART IV
PROCEDURE ON ARRIVAL IN AND DEPARTURE FROM SINGAPORE
16.
—(1) The master of every vessel which arrives in or is about to leave Singapore shall hoist the prescribed immigration signal and shall exhibit that signal until authorised by an immigration officer to haul it down.
[13/77]
(2) The master of a vessel who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
Vessel to proceed to immigration or departure anchorage or other place ordered by immigration officer
17.
—(1) The Controller may, by notification in the Gazette, declare any place within the limits of any port to be an immigration anchorage, either for vessels generally or for vessels of a class specified in the notification.
[13/77]
(2) The master of every vessel which arrives at or is about to leave a port where an immigration anchorage, either for vessels generally or for vessels of a class to which that vessel belongs, has been declared shall, subject to any directions given under subsection (4), immediately navigate his vessel to that anchorage and shall remain there until an immigration officer gives him permission to leave.
[13/77]
(3) The master of every vessel which arrives in or is about to leave Singapore shall, if so ordered by an immigration officer, anchor or tie up his vessel at such place as may be ordered, and shall remain there until an immigration officer gives him permission to leave.
[13/77]
(4) The master of a vessel who contravenes or fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section or any order made or directions given thereunder shall be guilty of an offence.
18.
—(1) The captain of every aircraft which arrives in or leaves Singapore shall land his aircraft at, or fly his aircraft away from, an authorised airport.
[13/77]
(2) The captain of an aircraft who, without reasonable cause, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
18A.
—(1) The master of every train which arrives in or leaves Singapore shall stop his train at, or drive his train away from, an authorised train checkpoint.
[38/93]
(2) The master of a train who, without reasonable cause, contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
[38/93]
18B.
—(1) The driver of a vehicle who wishes to drive into Singapore shall stop his vehicle at an authorised place of embarkation, an authorised point of entry or an immigration control post upon arrival in Singapore.
[53/2004]
(2) The driver of a vehicle who wishes to drive out of Singapore shall stop his vehicle at an authorised departing place, an authorised point of departure or an immigration control post before leaving Singapore.
[53/2004]
(3) The driver of a vehicle who, without reasonable cause, contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence.
[53/2004]
19.
—(1) Except under and in accordance with any authority granted by an immigration officer, no person other than —
(a)
the pilot;
(b)
any Government officer boarding the vessel on duty;
(c)
the owner, charterer or agent of the vessel; or
(d)
a consular officer or an accredited representative of the country to which the vessel belongs,
shall leave or board a vessel arriving in Singapore nor may any person (other than the crew of a vessel carrying any such person) approach within 200 metres of the vessel, until the vessel has been examined by an immigration officer and the immigration signal has been hauled down, or board a vessel departing from Singapore after it has been examined by an immigration officer just before its departure.
[13/77; S 353/75]
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and every such person leaving a vessel in contravention of subsection (1) shall, if so required by an immigration officer, return immediately to the vessel and remain thereon and the master of the vessel shall be bound to re-embark that person.
20.
—(1) It shall be the duty of the master and the owner or charterer of every vessel which arrives in Singapore to prevent any person other than a person specified in section 19(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) from disembarking from or boarding the vessel until the disembarkation or boarding has been authorised by an immigration officer, and for that purpose any means reasonably necessary may be used.
(2) Where any person disembarks from or boards any vessel before being authorised by an immigration officer in that behalf, that person, the master and the owner or charterer of the vessel shall each be guilty of an offence under this section.
(3) It shall be no defence to a prosecution under this section that the master, owner or charterer did not permit or do anything to facilitate the disembarkation or boarding of the person.
(4) It shall be a good defence to a prosecution under this section that the master, owner or charterer took every reasonable precaution to prevent the disembarkation or boarding of the person.
(5) The master of the vessel from which any person has disembarked before the disembarkation has been authorised by an immigration officer shall be bound to re-embark that person and any master refusing to re-embark that person shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) Any person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
21.
—(1) Except with the authority of an immigration officer, no article or thing shall be removed or taken from, or put on board, any vessel until the vessel has been examined by an immigration officer under section 19.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.
22.
—(1) The master, owner, agent or charterer of every vessel arriving in or leaving Singapore shall —
(a)
furnish to an immigration officer a complete list of the members of the crew in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed;
(b)
produce to that officer for inspection and interrogation all the members of the crew;
(c)
furnish to that officer in triplicate the identification cards of each member of the crew in such form as may be prescribed;
(d)
submit to such search of his vessel as may be necessary to establish the presence or absence of other persons on board;
(e)
produce his ship’s papers; and
(f)
report the presence on board of any stowaway or any unauthorised person or any person proceeding to any state or country on his removal from any other state or country by the competent authorities of that state or country.
[38/93]
(2) In the case of vessels carrying passengers, the master, owner, agent or charterer shall, in addition —
(a)
furnish a complete list of all passengers in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed;
(b)
furnish in relation to every passenger disembarking in or embarking from Singapore such particulars in such form as may be prescribed; and
(c)
produce all passengers for inspection and interrogation.
[13/77; 38/93]
(3) The master, owner, agent or charterer of a vessel who contravenes subsection (1) or (2), and any person who hinders or obstructs any search of a vessel under subsection (1)(d), shall each be guilty of an offence.
[38/93]
(4) If any person whose presence has not been reported under subsection (1)(f) is found on board the vessel, the master, owner, agent and charterer of the vessel shall each be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000 in respect of each such person.
[38/93]
(5) In any proceedings under this section, the certificate in writing of an immigration officer who boarded or examined any particular vessel to the effect that the vessel carried, on arrival in Singapore, a total number of seamen corresponding in description to the particulars on the identification cards furnished under subsection (1)(c) shall be conclusive proof that the vessel did on arrival carry that number of seamen.
23.
—(1) The captain, owner, agent or charterer of every aircraft arriving in or leaving Singapore shall —
(a)
furnish to an immigration officer a complete list of all passengers of his aircraft as prescribed under section 22(2)(a) or in accordance with Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation;
(b)
furnish to that officer in relation to every passenger landing in or departing from Singapore such particulars in such form as may be prescribed;
(c)
furnish to that officer a complete list of the members of the crew of his aircraft as prescribed under section 22(1)(a) or in accordance with Annex 9 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation;
(d)
produce the members of the crew and passengers of that aircraft for inspection and interrogation as directed, either generally or specifically, by an immigration officer;
(e)
submit to such search of his aircraft as may be necessary to establish the presence or absence of other persons on board; and
(f)
report the presence on board of any stowaway or any unauthorised person or any person proceeding to any state or country on his removal from any other state or country by the competent authorities of that state or country.
[13/77; 38/93]
(2) The captain, owner, agent or charterer of an aircraft who contravenes subsection (1), and any person who hinders or obstructs any search of an aircraft under subsection (1)(e), shall each be guilty of an offence.
[38/93]
(3) If any person whose presence has not been reported under subsection (1)(f) is found on board an aircraft, the captain, owner, agent and charterer of the aircraft shall each be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000 in respect of each such person.
[38/93]
(4) In any proceedings under this section, the certificate in writing of an immigration officer who boarded or examined any particular aircraft to the effect that the aircraft carried, on arrival in Singapore, a total number of crew corresponding in description to the particulars on the list furnished under subsection (1)(c) shall be conclusive proof that the aircraft did on arrival carry that number of crew.
23A.
—(1) The master, owner, agent or charterer of every train arriving in or leaving Singapore shall, at an authorised train checkpoint and if required to do so by an immigration officer —
(a)
furnish to that officer a complete list of the members of the crew in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed;
(b)
produce to that officer for inspection and interrogation all the members of the crew;
(c)
submit to such search of his train as may be necessary to establish the presence or absence of other persons on board; and
(d)
report the presence on board of any stowaway or any unauthorised person or any person proceeding to any state or country on his removal from any other state or country by the competent authorities of that state or country.
[38/93; 53/2004]
(2) In the case of a train carrying passengers, the master shall, in addition —
(a)
furnish a complete list of all passengers in such form and containing such particulars as may be prescribed;
(b)
furnish in relation to every passenger disembarking in or embarking from Singapore such particulars in such form as may be prescribed; and
(c)
produce all passengers for inspection and interrogation.
[38/93]
(3) The master, owner, agent or charterer of a train who contravenes subsection (1) or (2), and any person who hinders or obstructs any search of a train under subsection (1)(c), shall each be guilty of an offence.
[38/93]
(4) If any person whose presence has not been reported under subsection (1)(d) is found on board the train, the master, owner, agent and charterer of the train shall each be guilty of an offence and shall each be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000 in respect of each such person.
[38/93]
(5) In any proceedings under this section, the certificate in writing of an immigration officer who boarded or examined any particular train to the effect that the train carried, on arrival in Singapore, a total number of crew corresponding in description to the particulars on the list furnished under subsection (1)(a) shall be conclusive proof that the train did on arrival carry that number of crew.
[38/93]
24.
—(1) Every person arriving by sea in Singapore shall appear before an immigration officer at such time and place as that officer may direct.
(2) The immigration officer, after such examination as he may consider necessary, shall inform any person whom he considers to be prohibited from entering Singapore under the provisions of this Act or any regulations or orders made thereunder of his finding, and the person, if still aboard the vessel, shall not disembark in Singapore or, if he has disembarked for the purposes of the examination, shall return immediately to the vessel and remain thereon.
[38/93]
(3) The master, owner, agent or charterer of the vessel shall likewise immediately be informed in writing by the immigration officer of his finding and the master, owner, agent or charterer shall not permit the person to disembark in Singapore, or, if the person has disembarked, whether for the purpose of examination or otherwise, shall be bound to re-embark him.
[38/93]
(4) Any person who —
(a)
refuses or neglects to appear before an immigration officer as required by subsection (1) or who leaves the place of examination without or otherwise than in accordance with the authorisation of that officer;
(b)
after being informed by an immigration officer that he is prohibited from entering Singapore, either disembarks in Singapore or refuses or neglects to return immediately to his vessel, as the case may be; or
(c)
being the master, owner, agent or charterer of a vessel, permits any person to disembark in Singapore, or refuses to re-embark any person, after being informed by an immigration officer that the person is prohibited from entering Singapore or that the person has refused or neglected to appear before an immigration officer as required by subsection (1) or that he had left the place of examination without or otherwise than in accordance with the authorisation of that officer,
shall each be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[38/93; 53/2004]
(5) Where any person either disembarks in Singapore or refuses or neglects to return to his vessel in contravention of this section, an immigration officer may require that person to return to his vessel and may take such steps, including the use of force, as may be reasonably necessary to compel that person to return, and the master, owner, agent or charterer of the vessel shall be bound to re-embark that person and to remove him from Singapore.
[38/93]
(6) The master, owner, agent or charterer of a vessel may use such force as may be reasonably necessary to enable him to comply with subsections (3) and (5).
[38/93]
25.
—(1) Every person arriving by air at any authorised airport in Singapore shall appear before an immigration officer at such time and place as that officer may direct.
[38/93]
(2) The immigration officer, after such examination as he may consider necessary, shall inform any person whom he considers to be prohibited from entering Singapore under the provisions of this Act or any regulations or orders made thereunder of his finding, and the person shall not leave the precincts of the airport except for a place approved by that officer, and shall leave and depart from Singapore by the first available means in accordance with the instructions of that officer.
[38/93]
(3) The captain, owner, agent or charterer of the aircraft in which the person arrived shall, if so required by the immigration officer, remove the person from Singapore by the same aircraft.
[38/93]
(4) Any person who —
(a)
refuses or neglects to appear before an immigration officer as required by subsection (1) or who leaves the place of examination without or otherwise than in accordance with the authorisation of that officer;
(b)
after being informed by an immigration officer that he is prohibited from entering Singapore, leaves the precincts of an airport without the permission of that officer, or refuses or neglects to proceed to or remain at a place approved by that officer;
(c)
refuses or fails to leave Singapore in accordance with the instructions of an immigration officer given under subsection (2); or
(d)
being the captain, owner, agent or charterer of the aircraft in which any person arrived in Singapore, refuses or neglects to remove the person from Singapore after being informed by an immigration officer that the person is prohibited from entering Singapore or that the person has refused or neglected to appear before an immigration officer as required by subsection (1) or that he has left the place of examination without, or otherwise than in accordance with, the authorisation of that officer,
shall each be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[38/93; 53/2004]
(5) Where any person leaves the precincts of an airport in contravention of this section or refuses to leave and depart from Singapore in accordance with the instructions of an immigration officer given under subsection (2), the immigration officer may take such steps, including the use of force, as may be reasonably necessary to compel that person to return to the precincts of the airport or to comply with those instructions, as the case may be.
25A.
—(1) Every person arriving by train at any authorised train checkpoint in Singapore shall appear before an immigration officer at such time and place as that officer may direct.
(2) The immigration officer, after such examination as he may consider necessary, shall inform any person whom he considers to be prohibited from entering Singapore under the provisions of this Act or any regulations or orders made thereunder of his finding, and the person shall not leave the precincts of the checkpoint except for a place approved by that officer, and shall leave and depart from Singapore by the first available means in accordance with the instructions of that officer.
(3) The master, owner, agent or charterer of the train in which the person arrived shall, if so required by the immigration officer, remove the person from Singapore by the same train.
[38/93]
(4) Any person who —
(a)
refuses or neglects to appear before an immigration officer as required by subsection (1) or who leaves the place of examination without, or otherwise than in accordance with, the authorisation of that officer;
(b)
after being informed by an immigration officer that he is prohibited from entering Singapore, leaves the precincts of an authorised train checkpoint without the permission of that officer, or refuses or neglects to proceed to or remain at a place approved by that officer;
(c)
refuses or fails to leave Singapore in accordance with the instruction of an immigration officer given under subsection (2); or
(d)
being the master, owner, agent or charterer of the train in which any person arrived in Singapore, refuses or neglects to remove the person from Singapore after being informed by an immigration officer that the person is prohibited from entering Singapore or that the person has refused or neglected to appear before an immigration officer as required by subsection (1) or that he has left the place of examination without, or otherwise than in accordance with, the authorisation of that officer,
shall each be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[38/93; 53/2004]
(5) Where any person leaves the precincts of an authorised train checkpoint in contravention of this section or refuses to leave and depart from Singapore in accordance with the instructions of an immigration officer given under subsection (2), the immigration officer may take such steps, including the use of force, as may be reasonably necessary to compel that person to return to the precincts of the checkpoint or to comply with those instructions, as the case may be.
[38/93]
Examination of persons entering Singapore by land or at a place other than an authorised landing place or airport
26.
—(1) Every person who enters Singapore by land shall proceed to the nearest immigration control post and shall appear before an immigration officer in charge of the post and shall, if so required by that officer, furnish particulars about himself in such form as may be prescribed.
[13/77]
(2) Every person arriving by sea or air in Singapore at any place, other than at an authorised landing place or airport, shall immediately proceed to and appear before the nearest immigration officer.
[13/77]
(3) The immigration officer before whom any person appears in accordance with this section shall, if he considers that that person is prohibited from entering Singapore under the provisions of this Act or any regulations or orders made thereunder, inform him of his finding and that person shall in accordance with the instructions of that officer immediately leave and depart from Singapore.
[13/77]
(4) Any person who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $4,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
[13/77]
27.
—(1) Where an immigration officer is in doubt as to the right of any person to enter Singapore, it shall be lawful for that officer to direct the person to an immigration depot and, in that case, that person shall proceed immediately to that depot and shall remain there until permitted to leave by that officer.
(2) No person shall, except on the written order of the Minister, be so detained for any period exceeding 7 days except that the Controller may, in his discretion, and pending the completion of inquiries regarding that person, release him from the immigration depot on such terms and conditions as the Controller may think fit, and for that purpose the Controller may issue to that person a pass in the prescribed form.
(3) Any person who refuses or neglects to comply with any directions given by an immigration officer under subsection (1), or who leaves an immigration depot in contravention of that subsection, shall be guilty of an offence.
28.
—(1) Any person who arrives in Singapore or who is about to leave Singapore shall —
(a)
fully and truthfully answer all questions and enquiries put to him by an immigration officer or a police officer tending, directly or indirectly, to establish his identity, nationality or occupation or bearing on any of the restrictions contained in this Act or the regulations or any absolute or conditional liability on his part to any military, naval or air force service under any state or country; and
(b)
disclose and produce to any such officer on demand all documents in his possession relating to those matters.
[21/73]
(2) All such answers and documents shall be admissible in evidence in any proceedings under this Act against the person making, disclosing or producing the same.
[21/73]
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as rendering any such answer inadmissible in any other proceedings in which they would otherwise be admissible.
[21/73]
(4) Any person who —
(a)
refuses to answer any question or enquiry put to him under subsection (1);
(b)
knowingly gives any false or misleading answer to any such question or enquiry;
(c)
refuses or fails to produce any document in his possession when required to do so under subsection (1); or
(d)
knowingly produces any false or misleading document,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —
(i)
in the case of an offence under paragraph (a), (b) or (c), to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both; or
(ii)
in the case of an offence under paragraph (d), to a fine not exceeding $6,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
[21/73; 53/2004]
29.
—(1) For the purpose of exercising his powers and carrying out his functions and duties under this Act or the regulations, an immigration officer may require any person who desires to enter Singapore, or to whom a permit, pass or certificate has been issued, to submit to an examination by a Government medical officer.
[34/98]
(2) The Government medical officer shall, upon completion of an examination of a person under subsection (1), submit a copy of the results of the examination to the Controller.
[34/98]
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law or rule of law, a Government medical officer shall, if required by the Controller for the purposes of exercising his powers and carrying out his functions and duties under this Act or the regulations, furnish the Controller with a copy of any medical record relating to a person who has been examined pursuant to subsection (1) as the Controller may require.
[34/98]
(4) Any person to whom a permit, pass or certificate has been issued who, without reasonable excuse, refuses to submit to an examination when required by an immigration officer under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and 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.
[34/98]
(5) The Controller may cancel the permit, pass or certificate of any person who refuses to submit to any examination when required to do so by an immigration officer under subsection (1).
[34/98]
(6) On making any cancellation under subsection (5), the Controller shall, by notification which, if the address of the person is known, shall be sent to him at that address and otherwise shall be published in such manner as the Controller thinks fit, inform the person affected of the grounds on which the cancellation has been made.
[34/98]
(7) A person whose permit, pass or certificate is cancelled under subsection (5) may, within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed, appeal against the cancellation to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
[34/98]
(8) For the purpose of this section, “Government medical officer” includes a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Registration Act (Cap. 174) who is employed in any hospital or medical institution and who is designated by name or office by the Controller in writing for the purposes of this section.
[34/98]
30.
—(1) An immigration officer may give such instructions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that no passenger or member of a crew evades examination either of his person or effects.
(2) Any person who refuses or fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with any instructions given under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence.