Criteria for the Tourist Refund Scheme

Are you eligible for a VAT refund? You must be a tourist and you must meet the following criteria:

You are not a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident.

• You have been in Singapore no more than 365 days in the last 24 months prior to purchasing;
• You had not been employed in Singapore in the six months prior to the purchase;
• You are not a member of the crew of the aircraft or ship you are departing Singapore on;
• You are at least 16 years old at the time of purchase;
• If you are in possession of a student ID, you must have purchased the goods at least four months prior to the expiration date of your student ID and you must be outside Singapore for at least 12 months after you have left the country with the goods.
• You are leaving Singapore from Changi Airport or Seletar Airport. If you leave the country on the causeway to Malaysia, you will not be eligible for a VAT refund.
• You must have made your purchases within two months of requesting a refund.

VAT reimbursement is not possible for the following purchases, among others:

• Goods that you have already used or consumed in Singapore.
• Goods that you export for commercial purposes.
• Goods that are exported as cargo.
• Costs for accommodation in a hotel or hostel and costs for services such as renting a car and sightseeing tours.

Where can you get your reimbursement:

If you are leaving Singapore by air, you can apply for a refund of the VAT you have paid using the Electronic Tourist Refund Kiosks (eTRS kiosks), which you can use yourself and which are located at Changi Airport in the departure hall, at the check-in ( before exit control) and in the transit lounge in the departure area (after exit control) as well as in the office of the Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at Seletar Airport &.

You can also request a refund directly from your mobile device using the Tourego app. The digital ticket for the refund will be sent to your e-wallet. Tourego also offers useful tips on shopping, traveling and dining for a stress-free stay in Singapore.

How the Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) works

The Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme (eTRS) was introduced to enable you to apply for your VAT refund electronically and to eliminate the use of paper forms. This makes it easier for you to get a refund because you no longer have to fill out different refund forms issued by different stores.

There are two ways to request a refund through eTRS.

1. Select a credit / debit card that will act as a reference card. Always show the same card at every retailer you shop at. This card is used to associate all of your purchases with you. Swipe this card (token) through the machine at an eTRS self-service kiosk to request a refund at the airport. The details of all your purchases are read in one go and you can request your reimbursement following the instructions on the kiosk.

Note: you do not necessarily have to pay for all your purchases with the credit / debit card you choose as your token. You can also pay in cash or with other credit / debit cards.

2. If you do not have a credit / debit card or do not want to use your card as a token, you must remember to get an eTRS ticket from the retailer when you make a purchase. Scan your eTRS tickets one by one at an eTRS self-service kiosk if you want to request your reimbursement at the airport. You can then request your reimbursement according to the instructions at the kiosk.

1. At the airport

If you wish to check in your purchases, you will need to claim your VAT refund before you can check in your baggage. Once you have checked in your purchases, no refunds are possible.

This is because Singapore customs officials may want to see your purchases before approving the refund. You can request the reimbursement at the eTRS kiosk in the departure hall at the check-in (before departure control) at the airport.

If you want to carry your purchases in hand luggage, use it to go to the Transit Lounge in the departure area (after exit control) of the airport or cruise terminal and request a refund at the eTRS kiosk there.

2. At the eTRS self-service kiosk

Swipe your passport and the credit / debit card that you used as an eTRS token through the device in the kiosk. This will bring up all the details of your purchases. Alternatively, scan your eTRS tickets individually to view the details of your purchases.

After viewing the details of your purchases, follow the instructions on the eTRS kiosk to get a VAT refund. Tourists departing from Changi Airport will then be asked if they would like the refund to be made in cash or if they would prefer it to be posted to the credit card. When you depart from Seletar Airport, you will be asked whether the refund should be paid to you in the form of a bank check or whether it should be posted to your credit card. When you are done, the kiosk will print out a note for you. Read through to find out if you need to go to the customs inspection desk, where customs officers can ask you to inspect your purchases for a closer look.

It is important to get to the airport early so you have enough time to have your VAT refunded and so that your goods can be inspected.

3. Collect your refund

If you are departing from Changi Airport, you can choose to have the refund made to you in cash or posted to your credit card. If you are departing from Seletar Airport, you can have the refund paid out as a check or posted to your credit card.

Use the information slip to go to the central reimbursement counter in the Transit Lounge in the departure area if you would like to have your reimbursement paid out in cash.

If you have your refund posted to your credit card, you can go on board after completing your application at the eTRS kiosk. The money will be credited to the credit card you specified within ten days.

If you choose to have your reimbursement made out in the form of a cashier’s check, you must write your name and address on the notice and put it in the check-form reimbursement box. The bank check will be sent to you 14 days later.

MRT subway

All MRT stations are equipped with barrier-free devices such as ramps, elevators, toilets with wheelchair access for the elderly and disabled.

There are two wheelchair-accessible wagons in each train. Look for the sign with a wheelchair that is stuck on the train door.

Visually impaired passengers can use the Braille signs to find their way around the station elevators and the haptic surface indicators that lead from the entrance to the platform. The indicators also warn of the edge of the platform. In the train, station names and instructions for the connecting trains are announced at each stop.

Hearing impaired people can see the arrival times and destination stops of the coming trains on the display boards next to the platforms, Rail Travel Information System (RATIS). When traveling on the north-south and east-west lines, the SMRT Active Route Map Information Display System (STARiS) indicates the arrival station. The train doors have warning indicators that flash red when the doors close.

buses

Over half of Singapore’s public buses are barrier-free, and most of the bus stops are wheelchair accessible. For barrier-free buses, please look out for the blue sticker with a wheelchair on the front of the bus. Our helpful bus drivers are trained to help you get on and off.

There are special seats in the car for pregnant women and the elderly.

Haptic guidance systems have been installed for the visually impaired to help them find their way around the transfer stops.

Taxis

London taxis or all-in-one SPACE taxis offer enough space for a wheelchair. In addition, every collapsible wheelchair can be stowed in the trunk of a taxi. Taximeter prices may vary between the different taxi options, but there is no extra charge for wheelchairs.

Traveling with companion animals

Assistance animals, such as assistance dogs, are permitted on buses and in the subway, provided that the animal owners have proof of photo with them.

building

More and more buildings in Singapore are equipped with barrier-free devices. People with disabilities have barrier-free access to these buildings with their special elevators, parking lots and toilets.