Singapore Expats

So far I have everyone of my newbie question answered on this forum and am so grately. Hopefully one more can be answered.

I am in the process of shipping my personal effects to Singapore. However, my shipper noted that if I have any large knife, I need to get Arms & Explosives license before I can ship. Has anyone done this is it allowed?

I went on this site:
http://www.spf.gov.sg/licence/frameset_AE.html
and clicked Importation of Arms or Explosives, but it seem to indicate this is for a dealer to apply.

Am I suppose to go through a local Singapore dealer to help me import my old sword? Is there an agency that does that? Or do I have to register myself as a dealer to ship my own sword?

I searched on this forum, seems like the only mention of it was not to bring it. Any advice would be appreciated.

cw1483 wrote:So far I have everyone of my newbie question answered on this forum and am so grately. Hopefully one more can be answered.

I am in the process of shipping my personal effects to Singapore. However, my shipper noted that if I have any large knife, I need to get Arms & Explosives license before I can ship. Has anyone done this is it allowed?

I went on this site:
http://www.spf.gov.sg/licence/frameset_AE.html
and clicked Importation of Arms or Explosives, but it seem to indicate this is for a dealer to apply.

Am I suppose to go through a local Singapore dealer to help me import my old sword? Is there an agency that does that? Or do I have to register myself as a dealer to ship my own sword?

I searched on this forum, seems like the only mention of it was not to bring it. Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm sorry but I think if you should really leave it there. Save all the hassle. However if you still would like very much to bring it over, I would suggest you to call ICA directly and have the answer straight from the horse's mouth.

Tell them that your sword is an antique piece and you're not a collector so it will be just one sword. By the way, is your sword kept in a display case? You should highlight that as well if you do.

I'd also note if the sword is a forged carbon steel rich sword and capable of sharpening or sharp as this will have a difference, if the piece is simply a replica or show piece then this will probably be less painful to do.

At the end of the day, Singapore don't like folk having weapons in Singapore unless they have a need for it, so the less it looks like a weapon and the less use it is to kill someone the easier your life should be!

Good luck!

nutnut wrote:.... Singapore don't like folk having weapons in Singapore ....

Very sensible that.

I know where a very mean looking British Military Machete from pre-1965 is located, complete with the scabbard for the webbing belt of the period. It does, however have a wooden, none original handle on it. You would be surprised what you used to be able to find in the old Seletar Camp at the end of Jln Kayu.

nutnut wrote:At the end of the day, Singapore don't like folk having weapons in Singapore unless they have a need for it, so the less it looks like a weapon and the less use it is to kill someone the easier your life should be!

I remember the time I bought a wooden quarterstaff in a mall shop.

The cashier wrapped the whole thing in one layer of newspaper.

nakatago wrote:

nutnut wrote:At the end of the day, Singapore don't like folk having weapons in Singapore unless they have a need for it, so the less it looks like a weapon and the less use it is to kill someone the easier your life should be!

I remember the time I bought a wooden quarterstaff in a mall shop.

The cashier wrapped the whole thing in one layer of newspaper.

The toy-weapons shops in Raffles MRT/Plaza Singapore?

v4jr4 wrote:

nakatago wrote:

nutnut wrote:At the end of the day, Singapore don't like folk having weapons in Singapore unless they have a need for it, so the less it looks like a weapon and the less use it is to kill someone the easier your life should be!

I remember the time I bought a wooden quarterstaff in a mall shop.

The cashier wrapped the whole thing in one layer of newspaper.

The toy-weapons shops in Raffles MRT/Plaza Singapore?

There's a sports shop in Marina Square that also sells martial arts gear.

I know a guy who has bought and brought in hundreds of kris... he is a collector... and they have never stopped him at the airport.

never did i think the expats will be so kiasi of the sg gov't.

ive brought in japanese swords (from WW2 era). yes those ones that probably killed some pommy troops or even some local singapore soldiers. and all i needed to do was obtain a permit for the swords from a particular police station (tanglin or tanjong pagar if im not wrong). they certify that its ok, and that you will store it properly, and no problems.

there was actually a couple of times, i just brought in a few swords into singapore and didnt even declare it.

the lynx wrote:I would suggest you to call ICA directly and have the answer straight from the horse's mouth.

Probably not ICA but the customs. Call them or write to them (contact form or email) they are pretty responsive.

x9200 wrote:

the lynx wrote:I would suggest you to call ICA directly and have the answer straight from the horse's mouth.

Probably not ICA but the customs. Call them or write to them (contact form or email) they are pretty responsive.

Oops, you're right. It is Singapore Customs.

http://www.customs.gov.sg/topNav/hom/

You know, I don't understand why, for a minute there, I thought that ICA stands for Immigration & Customs Authority.

I took Sensei's advice above and went to the police station. I went to Outram Park MRT at 391 New Bridge Road, #02-701, Police Cantonment Complex to ask for a permit. The officer there asked how many swords and does it fit in your suitcase. I told him 1 and yes, it fits in checked-luggage. He noted I didn't need to get a license. So I asked if he can give me a note to that effect and he said, if you write me an email, I will reply to that.

I was given email [email protected] and got a reply back saying no import license is needed for that item. So when I went back home to move my final suitcase, I put the weapon in my checked luggage, then upon arrival to Singapore went through the red channel and showed the customs officer the printed email. I got through with no problems.

sundaymorningstaple wrote:I know where a very mean looking British Military Machete from pre-1965 is located, complete with the scabbard for the webbing belt of the period. It does, however have a wooden, none original handle on it. You would be surprised what you used to be able to find in the old Seletar Camp at the end of Jln Kayu.

[pedantic] Without wishing to appear pedantic, a machete originates from Latin America. It's long blade suits it's main purpose, cutting sugar-cane...
Like this:
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/image ... achete.jpg

Whereas a parang is a S. E. Asian implement, and it has a shorter, wider, and heavier blade. I once did a 'survival weekend' over in the Welsh Mountains and the instructor did just about every cutting/chopping/skinning/peeling job with the faithful old parang he'd acquired whilst serving in Borneo in the 60/70s.
Like this:
http://wildertools.net/wp-content/uploa ... 24x927.jpg


p.s. [/pedantic]

JR8 wrote:

sundaymorningstaple wrote:I know where a very mean looking British Military Machete from pre-1965 is located, complete with the scabbard for the webbing belt of the period. It does, however have a wooden, none original handle on it. You would be surprised what you used to be able to find in the old Seletar Camp at the end of Jln Kayu.

[pedantic] Without wishing to appear pedantic, a machete originates from Latin America. It's long blade suits it's main purpose, cutting sugar-cane...
Like this:
http://www.warriorsandwonders.com/image ... achete.jpg

Whereas a parang is a S. E. Asian implement, and it has a shorter, wider, and heavier blade. I once did a 'survival weekend' over in the Welsh Mountains and the instructor did just about every cutting/chopping/skinning/peeling job with the faithful old parang he'd acquired whilst serving in Borneo in the 60/70s.
Like this:
http://wildertools.net/wp-content/uploa ... 24x927.jpg


p.s. [/pedantic]

You can be forgiven for thinking you appear to be pedantic. As you have never been in the military, the word may have had it's origins in S America, but the blade in question is a machete. The English language, as you well know, is a mismash of numerous languages and adopts words continually even till today.

http://www.gouldsoutdoors.co.uk/partnum ... nid=327972

Bout the only difference between that one and mine is mine dates from the early 60's before the British left Seletar Camp. How old it actually is I don't know.