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  • Check Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice before travelling.  
     
     
  • Intending to travel to neighbouring countries? Be aware that the immigration regulations of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in the area preclude entry to anyone travelling on a passport which has less than six months validity remaining. It takes five working days to issue a new passport.  
     
     
  • Bring enough funds for your stay and your return journey. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Some ATMs accept CIRRUS cards with your UK PIN number.  
     
     
  • Obey local laws and regulations. Enforcement and punishment are very strict.  
    Don’t break the law. Don’t smoke in any air-conditioned public place or indoor restaurant. It is banned. Failure to observe this regulation attracts an immediate fine. Don’t chew gum on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. It is forbidden and the penalty can be a heavy on-the-spot fine. Don’t litter. The penalty is an on-the-spot fine.  
     
     
     
  • Outrage of Modesty is a local law that protects women from unwelcome male attention (intentional or otherwise). Avoid accidental physical contact in crowded places – your intentions might be mistaken. Crude comments and behaviour, eg bottom pinching, attract penalties, including heavy fines and custodial sentences.  
     
     
  • Vandalism, public drunkenness and other antisocial behaviour can attract heavy fines and, in some cases, a custodial sentence.  
     
     
  • Air rage: The Singapore authorities will prosecute cases of air rage within their jurisdiction. The maximum sentence is 7 years imprisonment, and corporal punishment (the rattan cane).  
     
     
  • PASSPORTS: Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months, as required by the Singaporean immigration authorities. This is especially important if you plan to travel to neighbouring countries (eg Thailand, Indonesia (Bali) or Malaysia) whose authorities will refuse you leave to enter. It can take up to 5 working days to issue a new passport at the High Commission in Singapore.  
    Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.  
     
     
  • Don’t get involved with drugs. Drug abuse carries the heaviest penalties. The death penalty is mandatory for some offences. Persons using prescribed drugs are therefore advised to carry a prescription or an explanatory note from their doctor or hospital.  
     
     
  • Don’t carry packages through Customs, whether entering or transiting Singapore, for someone else unless you know exactly what they contain.  
     
     
  • Travel insurance. Don’t leave home without it. Ensure that it covers the cost of local hospitalisation and medical repatriation to Britain. Medical facilities are good but expensive. There is no NHS equivalent or reciprocal arrangement.  
     
     
  • On Medication? Take enough medication to cover your stay and carry it in your hand baggage. Not all UK prescribed drugs are available in Singapore. Some over-the-counter medications (eg Ibuprofen) need a prescription.  
     
     
  • Don’t overstay your visa. It is against the law to stay in Singapore longer than your immigration permit allows (usually 30 days for visitors). Serious overstaying can result in a heavy fine, a prison term and corporal punishment. If you need to extend your stay, you must contact the local immigration authorities before your permit expires.