Destination file · singapore

Buy from Switzerland,
delivered to Singapore.

The short version

Singapore is effectively a free port: no duty on almost anything except liquor, tobacco, petroleum and motor vehicles. GST at 9% applies to every import with no low-value exemption at all.

0%Duty on Swiss consumer goods
9%GST, with no low-value threshold
3–4Working days, Geneva to Singapore
S$0Threshold — GST applies from the first dollar

What duty actually costs

No duty. All GST.

Singapore charges customs duty on only four categories of goods, and Swiss consumer products are in none of them. The trade-off is that GST applies to every import from the first dollar of value, so there is no small-parcel loophole to plan around.

Duty on Swiss goodsstable · verified 11 Aug 2026
0%3%6%9%12%9%20190%2022202420260%
Duty you actually payGST — the entire cost of importing hereAll tax, no duty
  • LongstandingFree port statusDuty applies only to liquor, tobacco, petroleum products and motor vehicles.0%
  • Jan 2023GST on low-value goodsOverseas vendor registration extends GST to imported goods of any value. No threshold remains.8%
  • Jan 2024GST rises to 9%Current rate, applied to the CIF value of every import.9%
  • OngoingEFTA–Singapore FTAIn force since 2003. Relevant mainly to industrial goods, since consumer duty is already zero.0%
  • Because duty is zero, freight is the entire variable. In markets with high duty, choosing a cheaper courier saves you little because tax scales with the total. Here, every franc saved on freight is a franc saved outright — which is why consolidation pays for itself faster in Singapore than almost anywhere.

Sources: Singapore Customs duties and dutiable goods schedule; IRAS GST on imported goods guidance; EFTA–Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Verified 11 August 2026.

Landed cost

What it actually costs to land in Singapore.

Every figure updates live. The duty basis, tax base and de-minimis rule change with the destination — that is the whole reason this page exists.

Goods, Swiss retail1 × CHF 1'649.00 incl. VAT1'649.00
Swiss VAT refunded8.1% reclaimed on export− 123.56
Net declared valuethe customs value1'525.44
Service fee8% of net · min. CHF 20122.04
Handlinginspection and extras25.00
Air freight14.8 kg chargeable · 3–4 days151.06
Import dutyFree port — duty on four categories only · 0.0% on CIF · HS 8516.710.00
GST9%, applies from the first dollar150.88
Total landed, DDP
Nothing owed on arrivalCHF 1'974.42≈ 3,178.81 SGD

Most requested

What Singapore buys from Switzerland.

A precise, well-informed market. Buyers here read the tariff pages, compare against Ion Orchard pricing, and order once convinced.

  • ✓WatchesThe most price-transparent market we serve. Buyers arrive already knowing the Swiss retail figure and want the landed comparison.
  • ✓Swiss skincare and pharmacy exclusivesProducts not carried by regional distributors, often bought in repeat quantities.
  • ✓Coffee machines and kitchen equipment230 V matches Singapore's 230 V supply, so no transformer is needed. A genuine advantage over the US and Japan.
  • ✓Chocolate and fine foodsYear-round insulated packing given the arrival climate, not the departure one.
  • ✓Outdoor and travel equipmentMammut and Swiss technical gear ahead of regional trips.

Restricted or refused

What we will not ship there.

We screen every request against this list before quoting. A refusal costs you nothing; a seizure costs you the goods.

  • ✕Chewing gumImport for sale is prohibited. Therapeutic gum requires a prescription. This is not a myth and it is enforced.
  • ✕E-cigarettes and vaping productsProhibited outright, including possession. We do not ship them.
  • ✕Alcohol above personal allowanceDutiable and licence-controlled. Outside what we handle.
  • ✕Meat and processed meat productsOnly from approved sources with an SFA import licence.
  • ✕Certain health supplementsHSA notification may be required depending on ingredients.
  • ✕Anything sanctioned or dual-useScreened against SECO and destination lists at quote and payment.

Transit

Geneva to Singapore in three days.

Among the fastest and most predictable clearances in our network. GST is prepaid by us so nothing is collected on delivery.

ServiceDoor to door
DHL Express WorldwideDefault, fastest clearance3 days
FedEx International PriorityComparable, occasionally cheaper above 20 kg3–4 days
Singapore Post consolidatedBest value on bulk and repeat orders6–9 days
DHL Economy SelectNon-urgent and bulky7–10 days

Questions

Shipping to Singapore, answered.

Is there really no small-parcel exemption?

Correct. Since January 2023 GST applies to imported goods of any value, and the rate rose to 9% in January 2024. A S$20 order and a S$20,000 order are both taxed. There is no threshold to plan around, which at least makes quoting straightforward.

Will a Swiss appliance work in Singapore?

Yes, directly. Both run 230 V at 50 Hz, so a Swiss coffee machine works out of the box. You will need a plug adapter for the socket shape — Singapore uses the UK-style Type G — but no transformer. This is a real advantage over shipping the same machine to the US or Japan.

Does consolidation actually save money here?

More than in most markets. Because duty is zero, tax does not scale with the freight you save, so every franc taken off the shipping cost is a franc off your total. Ordering from three Swiss retailers in one week and shipping once typically saves more than the CHF 15 consolidation fee several times over.

How does this compare with buying at Ion Orchard?

On watches the Swiss retail price plus our landed cost is often below Singapore authorised-dealer pricing, largely because of the 8.1% VAT refund. We show both figures in the quote. On fast-moving consumer goods the gap is usually not worth the freight, and we will say so.

Get a Singapore landed cost in under a minute.

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