Goods Passing Through Singapore: Need a Transhipment Permit?
Your goods only pass through Singapore. Do you need a transhipment permit, and whose job is it to file one? You may not need one at all: the Customs permit types page says no permit is required for non-controlled goods transhipped within the same Free Trade Zone (FTZ) (Singapore Customs). Where a permit is needed, Customs requires the Transhipment Agent, the party arranging the move, to obtain it (Singapore Customs). The bill of lading, the goods and the route decide whether your shipment needs one.
Rules checked against Singapore Customs and AskGov pages on 7 November 2026.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
|
In this article |
Do your goods count as transhipment? Check the bill of lading
Transhipment goods start outside Singapore, end outside Singapore and pass through in between, and their supporting documents have to show it (Singapore Customs). So the first test is on paper: who does the bill of lading, air waybill or manifest name? Customs lists three scenarios, each with its port of loading and port of destination outside Singapore:
Scenario A: a through document (bill of lading, air waybill or manifest) naming no local consignee or notifying party. Everyone on it is overseas.
Scenario B: an overseas shipper. The document names a local shipping agent, NVOCC (Non-Vessel Owning Common Carrier), air cargo agent or freight forwarder as consignee or notifying party, arranging the move for that overseas party.
Scenario C: a local shipper. The document names an overseas party or one of those local agents as consignee or notifying party (Singapore Customs).
Customs treats any transaction outside these scenarios as imports and/or exports. Such goods still need the right import and export permits, even if they stay inside the Free Trade Zone (Singapore Customs). See when goods are imported rather than passing through and re-export permits.
So read the bill of lading before anyone talks about permit codes.
Do you need a permit? Goods and route decide
Once the document test is met, the goods and the route decide. Where the same-FTZ exemption applies, there is no permit to file, so no one needs to be paid to file one. The first three rows below come from the Customs permit types page (Singapore Customs).
Route | Goods | Permit needed? | Declaration type |
Within the same FTZ | Non-controlled | No | None |
Within the same FTZ | Controlled, under a through bill of lading or air waybill | Yes | TTF (Through Transhipment Within Same FTZ) |
One FTZ to another | Any, under a through bill of lading or air waybill | Yes | TTI (Through Transhipment with Inter-Gateway Movement) |
FTZ to land checkpoint, or the reverse | Any | Yes | TTI, for this route since 1 January 2025 (Singapore Customs) |
Land checkpoint to land checkpoint | Not specified | Not stated | Not TTI: "TNP-TTI permits are only allowed for intermodal transhipment" (Singapore Customs) |
Scenarios B and C need not use a through document. Customs still requires a transhipment or movement permit between FTZs and for controlled goods in one FTZ (Singapore Customs), so ask the party arranging the move which declaration applies.
If your goods are dutiable, read two AskGov answers as well, because they word this differently. For air, Customs describes the exemption as covering goods that are "non-controlled and non-dutiable" and do not move between FTZs (AskGov). For a container of cigarettes under a through bill of lading, no permit is required "if there is no unstuffing of the container" and the transhipment stays within the same FTZ (AskGov).
Controlled goods need authorisation from the Competent Authority before they may be transhipped, by advance notification, licence or certificate approval. Customs points traders to its HS/CA Product Code Checker to see whether goods are controlled. For some goods, transhipment through Singapore is not allowed (Singapore Customs). See which authority controls your product.
Who obtains it? Customs points to the party arranging the move
The Transhipment Agent must have the permit, where one applies, before the transhipment. Customs defines that agent as the party arranging the transhipment, which can include a freight forwarder, NVOCC or shipping agent (Singapore Customs). So the practical question is who is arranging your move:
A forwarder, NVOCC or shipping agent. That party fits the Customs description, so ask it first who is applying. See freight forwarder or declaring agent: who does what.
Your own business. The FAQ in Circular 10/2024, a circular on land intermodal transhipments, lists what an entity applying for transhipment permits on its own needs. That is a UEN, an activated Customs Account, registration as a Declaring Agent and an ACRA business activity (SSIC) code under shipping, airline or freight (Singapore Customs). The procedures overview also lists registering as a Transhipment Agent through the Customs Documentation Enquiry Form (Singapore Customs). See filing your own permits or using a declaring agent.
An overseas seller or trading company without a UEN. Customs tells companies not to use their UEN to tranship goods that are not theirs. The exception is a company that is the handling agent for overseas customers with no UEN. A company doing so takes on responsibility for meeting all regulatory requirements (Singapore Customs). The pages linked here do not say whether such a seller or trading company can itself be a Transhipment Agent.
Want a quote for your declarations? Ask a Declaration Nexus declaring agent on WhatsApp. or call +65 6589 8122 · email enquiry@declarationnexus.com |
Need help with a permit or customs clearance? Talk to a Declaration Nexus declaring agent on WhatsApp for a quick answer. or call +65 6589 8122 · email enquiry@declarationnexus.com |
Can you appoint a declaring agent? What Customs says, permit by permit
Customs words this differently from page to page. Some wording covers transhipment permits in general. Other wording names TTF and TTI permits. Here is each wording, with its date.
Transhipment permits in general. Customs' registration overview (updated 17 February 2026) addresses declaring entities who intend to "Appoint a Declaring Agent to apply for Customs import, export and transhipment permits or certificates through TradeNet" (Singapore Customs). AskGov has a similar line (AskGov). The best-practice list in the procedures overview (updated 29 June 2026) says to give supporting documents to "your declaring agents and freight forwarders" (Singapore Customs).
TTF. Module 5 of the Customs procedures guide (updated 1 January 2025) says: "Only a transhipment agent is allowed to apply for this permit." (Singapore Customs)
TTI. Module 5 has the same sentence for this permit (Singapore Customs). Circular 10/2024 (10 December 2024), paragraph 3, reads: "Declaring Agents are required to be updated as a shipping agent, air cargo agent or freight forwarder with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) via the ACRA’s BizFile, comply with the Terms and Conditions for Declaring Agents before obtaining the TNP-TTI permit and is the party who arranges for the transhipment of goods through Singapore." (Singapore Customs)
The pages linked here do not say how the general wording and the TTF and TTI wording fit together, and the 29 June 2026 overview does not restate paragraph 3. Do not assume either way. For your own shipment, find the likely declaration type in the table above, then ask the party arranging the move who is applying. For a question on the wording itself, the circular gives customs_documentation@customs.gov.sg as its contact (Singapore Customs).
What to have ready before anyone files
A required permit has to be in place before the transhipment happens. With inter-gateway movement, that means before the cargo leaves the first FTZ or land checkpoint for the second (AskGov). Have these ready:
The papers: bill of lading or air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list and Delivery Note. Circular 10/2024 names these as what Customs generally requires for a TTI permit via land checkpoints (Singapore Customs).
The product details: HS code, quantity and description, declared correctly (Singapore Customs).
For controlled goods: the documents the Competent Authority asks for. These vary, so check with that authority directly (Singapore Customs).
For TTI: a security deposit. The circular says yes when asked whether one is required (Singapore Customs).
Between checkpoints. Containers with inter-gateway movement have 24 hours to reach the exit checkpoint for clearance (Singapore Customs).
Validity. Customs gives approval date plus 21 working days as the typical period for goods under a through bill of lading or air waybill (Singapore Customs). An unused permit involving inter-gateway movement may need cancelling or extending (Singapore Customs). See amending or cancelling a permit.
Records. Declaring Agents and Transhipment Agents keep the related documents for at least 5 years from permit approval (Singapore Customs).
Customs fee. Customs puts the cost of a typical TradeNet permit application at about S$3.19. That figure applies to traders submitting their own applications. It leaves out service fees charged by forwarders or other third parties (Singapore Customs).
Send us the bill of lading
Declaration Nexus is a Singapore customs broker and declaring agent. We prepare and file the TradeNet permit.
Send us the bill of lading or air waybill, the product description, the HS code if you have one, and the route, and tell us what you're trying to work out. We'll tell you what we can do for you.
Ask Declaration Nexus on WhatsApp (+65 8786 3987) or see our transhipment permit page.
Need a declaring agent in Singapore?
Speak to a Declaration Nexus declaring agent about your next permit or clearance. Call: +65 6589 8122 WhatsApp: +65 8786 3987 Email: enquiry@declarationnexus.com Office: 60 Paya Lebar Road, Unit 07-54 Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051 |
Our Customs Permit Services
 | Import / Export Permit · most relevant Price: request a quote Permit applications for goods imported into or exported from Singapore. |
 | Price: request a quote Permits for goods passing through Singapore on their way to another country. |
 | Price: request a quote Permits and paperwork when cargo cannot be loaded onto its intended vessel. |
 | Price: request a quote Permits to export goods that were earlier imported into Singapore. |
 | Price: request a quote Permits for goods hand-carried through a Singapore checkpoint. |
 | Price: request a quote Permit support for businesses operating under the MES. |
Need a declaring agent in Singapore?
Speak to a Declaration Nexus declaring agent about your next permit or clearance. Call: +65 6589 8122 WhatsApp: +65 8786 3987 Email: enquiry@declarationnexus.com Office: 60 Paya Lebar Road, Unit 07-54 Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051 |
Our Customs Permit Services
 | Transhipment Permit · most relevant Price: request a quote Permits for cargo transferred through Singapore between vessels or transport modes. |
 | Price: request a quote Permit applications for goods imported into or exported from Singapore. |
 | Price: request a quote Permits and paperwork when cargo cannot be loaded onto its intended vessel. |
 | Price: request a quote Permits to move goods from Singapore onward to other countries. |
 | |
 | Price: request a quote Permit support for businesses operating under the MES. |
Frequently asked questions
Is duty or GST charged on transhipped goods?
No. Customs states that transhipping any goods attracts neither duty nor GST (Singapore Customs). Goods outside the three document scenarios are treated as imports and/or exports, so check that test first (Singapore Customs).
Can goods be repacked during inter-gateway movement, or used in Singapore during transhipment?
Customs lists two things not to do. One is re-packing or re-labelling goods during inter-gateway movement. The other is using transhipment procedures for unauthorised purposes. One example is temporarily bringing goods from an FTZ into customs territory for an exhibition or other use (Singapore Customs).
Who submits the transhipment permit for strategic goods?
AskGov says an individual who tranships a strategic good must obtain a Strategic Goods permit. Where more than one carrier is involved, submitting the transhipment permit falls to the company issuing the air waybill. Every party handling the goods remains responsible for making sure a valid permit covers them (AskGov).
Transhipment rules, permit types and who may apply are set by Singapore Customs and can change. Check the linked official page, or ask Customs, before your goods move.
Related guides
PUBLISHED BY Declaration Nexus Team Declaring agent and customs broker at Paya Lebar Square, Singapore |
Have a customs question? WhatsApp the Declaration Nexus team at +65 8786 3987. |
PUBLISHED BY Declaration Nexus Team Declaring agent and customs broker at Paya Lebar Square, Singapore |
WRITTEN BY · SEO & GEO BY  SingRank Team Written by the SingRank Team together with the Declaration Nexus team. SEO & GEO by SingRank.com · singrank.agency |
Last updated 8 November 2026. Have a customs question? WhatsApp the Declaration Nexus team at +65 8786 3987. |
