Important information:
Delegates are urged to seek their own travel advice before travelling but we hope the following will also assist
Visa and Entry Requirement:
Visas are entirely the responsibility of the delegate. Should you require any information from the conference organisers to assist please contact lawasia@lawasia.asn.au
All visitors to Singapore must meet the following entry requirements:
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Valid travel document (minimum validity = 6 months);
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Onward / return ticket;
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Entry facilities to next destination;
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Sufficient funds to stay in Singapore and
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Visa for Singapore (if applicable)
Foreigners holding travel documents issued by the following countries will require either a Business visa (for business visit) or Social Visit visa (for social visitors) to enter Singapore:
Assessment Level I Countries
Commonwealth of Independent States (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan), India, Myanmar, People's Republic of China and holders of Hong Kong Document of Identity and
Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Travel Permit.
Assessment Level II Countries
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia, Yemen, and holders of Palestinian Authority Passport, Temporary Passport issued by the United Arab Emirates and Refugee Travel Document issued by Middle-East countries.
Please visit www.ica.gov.sg to obtain latest information on visa and entry requirements.
Climate
The average daytime temperature is 31ºC (88ºF), dropping to around 24ºC (75ºF) in the evenings.
Language
The official working language of the conference is English.
The four official languages of Singapore are English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. English is generally the language of administration and commerce
Time
UTC/GMT plus 8 hours
Electricity
Singapore voltage is 220-240 volts AC at 50 cycles.
Money
The currency used in Singapore is the Singapore dollar (S$). Money changing services can be found not only at the Singapore Changi Airport but also most shopping centres and hotels around the island. You can also access the automated teller machines (ATMs) located everywhere (even in the most obscure bits) in Singapore, that accept most of the main credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Banking
Banking hours are from Mondays to Fridays: 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs. Saturdays: 0930 hrs to 1300 hrs. Most banks can process travellers' cheques and change foreign currencies. However, some banks do not have foreign exchange dealings on Saturdays. Passports are required when cashing in travellers' cheques and a nominal commission may be charged.
Telephones
The country code of Singapore is +65
There are two mobile phone networks - GSM900 and GSM1800 - and three mobile telephone service providers - SingTel, M1 and StarHub.
To make international calls, the access codes are 001, 013, or 019 for SingTel, 002 or 021 for M1, and 008 or 018 for StarHub.
Smoking
Besides air-conditioned areas such as shopping centres, restaurants, entertainment outlets and cinemas, smoking is also an offence on the SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit system), public buses, taxis and in lifts. Recently, the smoking ban has also been imposed on public eateries and within a five-metre radius from most building entrances, except for allocated smoking areas that are clearly marked with bright yellow paint. A maximum fine of S$1,000 may be imposed on first-time offenders.
Airport Tax
There is a passenger service charge of SGD 21 during check-in at the Singapore Changi Airport. This is usually absorbed by your airline.
Goods and Services Tax (GST)
A GST of 7% is levied on all purchases in Singapore. As a visitor, you can claim the GST that you paid on your purchases when you take them home. The GST refund form must be validated by Customs at the Singapore Changi Airport before departure by air travel and is not applicable for land and cruise departures.
Emergencies or other medical matters:
Hopefully they wont be needed, but the following numbers may be useful just in case
Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 999
Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 995
Fire Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 995
Flight Information . . . . . . . . . 1800-542-4422
Medical services
Raffles Hospital (585 North Bridge Road) (65) 6311-1111
Singapore General Hospital (Outram Road) (65) 6222-3322
Gleneagles Hospital (6A Napier Road) (65) 6473-7222
In some cases hotels will have their own doctor on-call around the clock. Other doctors are listed under Medical Practitioners in the Yellow Pages of the Singapore Phone Book.
Transportation
Travel arround Singapore is relatively hassle free with a good system of taxis, buses and the modern Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) rail system e. A copy of the MRT guide can be found in Station Control Rooms in all MRT stations.
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