ICARCV 2006

Situated at one of the most important crossroads of the world, Singapore is truly a place where East and West come together. The Republic’s geographical location (between latitudes 1°09’N & 1°29’N and longitudes 103°38’E & 104°05’E) has long been instrumental in Singapore’s growth as an important centre in trade, tourism and communications.

Click here to view tourist information on Singapore.

Visa and Entry Facilities

Generally, foreigners who do not require visas for entry and are visiting Singapore as tourists, may be given up to 30-day social visit passes upon their arrival in Singapore.

For more information on visa requirements, click here. To find out more about the types of visas and to download the necessary application forms, click here.

Banking

The local currency is Singapore dollars and cents. Notes come in denominations of SGD 2, SGD 5, SGD 10, SGD 20, SGD 50, SGD 100, SGD 500, SGD 1,000, and SGD 10,000.

Coins come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and SGD 1.

Banking hours are Monday to Friday: 10 am to 3 pm, and Saturday: 9.30 am to 1 pm (some banks are open until 3 pm). Sunday, 9.30 am to 3 pm (some banks in Orchard Road).

Most banks handle travellers' cheques and change foreign currencies. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings on Saturday.

Passports are required when cashing travellers' cheques. A nominal commission may be charged.

Currency

Other than the Singapore Dollar, the US and Australian Dollars, Yen and British Pound are also accepted in most major shopping centres and big departmental stores.

An online currency converter service is available at asiaone.

Drinking Water

It is perfectly safe to drink water straight from the tap in Singapore. However, for those who prefer bottled mineral water, local supermarkets and grocers always have ample stocks.

Electricity

Singapore voltage is 220-240 volts AC, 50 cycles per second. On request, most hotels will provide transformers to visitors with electrical appliances of a different voltage, such as 110-120 volts, 60 cycles per second. When shopping for electrical appliances, do remember to check the voltage of the item against the acceptable voltage in your home country. The power plugs used in Singapore are of the three-pin, square-shaped type.

Useful Telephone Numbers

Here is a list of useful telephone numbers.

Police
999 (toll-free)
Emergencies/Ambulance/Fire Brigade
995 (toll-free)

STB Touristline (24-hr automated tourist information system)
Tel: 1800 736 2000 (toll-free in Singapore only)

CitySearch (operator-assisted Yellow Pages)
Tel: (65) 1900 777 7777

International Calls
Tel: 104

Time of day
Tel: 1711

Trunk Calls to Malaysia
Dial 109 for operator assistance or 02 for direct dial.

Toll-free lines
Dial 1800 followed by the toll-free line number (in Singapore only).