2026 Singapore Fines Tourists Should Know: Vapes S$10,000, MRT Snacks S$500 and 12 More
Vape fines jumped to S$10,000 in May 2026, and buses got new eating rules in September. Every fine a Filipino tourist can trip over, with peso amounts.
The Singapore fines that catch tourists most often are small habits from home: a sip of water on the MRT (up to S$500), a cigarette outside a marked smoking corner (S$200 on the spot), a dropped tissue (S$300), or an undeclared pack of cigarettes at the airport (S$200 per pack). Vapes are the big one in 2026. Since 1 May 2026, the maximum fine for using or carrying one is S$10,000.
Every amount below comes from a Singapore government page or the law itself, as of Oct 2026. Peso figures use about ₱49 to S$1 (Oct 2026).
Quick facts
Biggest trap in 2026: vapes and e-cigarettes. Up to S$10,000 (about ₱490,000) per person since 1 May 2026, and repeat offenders on a tourist pass get banned from coming back.
On trains: no eating or drinking (up to S$500), no smoking (up to S$1,000), no flammable goods (up to S$5,000).
On buses: eating, drinking, feet on seats and loud audio became offences on 23 September 2026 (up to S$500).
Smoking: only in marked smoking areas. S$200 composition, up to S$1,000 in court.
Littering: S$300 composition for a first offence.
At the airport: no duty-free cigarettes at all. S$200 per pack if you do not declare them. Chewing gum and vapes cannot come in.
Drinking outdoors: not allowed in public places from 10.30pm to 7am.
What "composition" means
Many Singapore offences can be settled by paying a composition sum instead of going to court. Singapore Customs explains it this way: you pay the amount offered, or the case goes to court, and serious cases go straight to court. The composition is usually far lower than the court maximum. This guide lists both where the source gives both.
Pay on time. Customs says late payment can lead to a court charge.
Singapore's Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act took effect on 1 May 2026. Under it, the maximum fine for individuals who buy, use or possess a vaporiser rose from S$2,000 to S$10,000, as of Oct 2026.
The government's Stop Vaping page spells out the rules for foreigners:
Your vape is seized and you get a Notice of Composition.
Short-Term Visit Pass holders who reoffend are banned from re-entering Singapore after they leave.
Anyone caught with an etomidate vape (a "Kpod") or who tests positive for etomidate may be deported and banned.
Etomidate products carry a fine of up to S$20,000, up to 10 years' jail, or both. ICA lists e-cigarettes among prohibited imports, so a vape in your luggage is an offence the moment you land.
Undeclared cigarettes: S$200 per pack
Singapore Customs gives no duty-free concession on cigarettes and tobacco. Every stick you bring in owes duty and GST, even a pack with the Singapore Duty-Paid Cigarette mark.
The composition amounts as of Oct 2026:
Offence
Composition per pack of 20 sticks or part of one
First offence
S$200 (about ₱9,800)
Second offence
S$500 (about ₱24,500)
Third offence
S$800 (about ₱39,200)
So two undeclared packs on a first offence cost S$400. Customs also says packs without Singapore's standardised packaging cannot come in and are disposed of at the checkpoint. You can declare and pay up to three days before arrival through the Customs@SG web app.
Chewing gum: not allowed in
ICA lists chewing gum among prohibited goods. Singapore Customs allows only gum approved by the Health Sciences Authority as oral dental or medicinal gum. A pack of ordinary gum in your bag is a prohibited import.
Liquor over your allowance: from S$50
Duty-free liquor is allowed only within set limits and only for your own use. For dutiable goods other than cigarettes, Customs sets a minimum composition of S$50 (about ₱2,450), as of Oct 2026. Our duty-free allowance guide has the litre limits.
Large amounts of cash
ICA says anyone carrying more than S$20,000 (or the same amount in foreign currency) in cash or bearer negotiable instruments into or out of Singapore must submit a declaration (Form NP 727) to the Singapore Police Force. Read our guide to undeclared cash at the checkpoint before carrying pocket money for a family.
Fines on the MRT and buses
On trains: S$500 to S$5,000
The Rapid Transit Systems Regulations set these maximum penalties, as of Oct 2026:
On the MRT or LRT
Maximum penalty
Eating or drinking
S$500 (about ₱24,500)
Smoking
S$1,000 (about ₱49,000)
Bringing animals
S$500
Bringing dangerous goods
S$5,000 (about ₱245,000)
Spitting, littering or soiling
S$5,000
Causing nuisance
S$500
Misusing an emergency safety device
S$5,000
The rule covers a sip of water or a candy. The signs in stations show it with a burger, drink and chewing gum icon. LTA says staff can issue a Notification of Offence for nuisance behaviour, and train operators may remove commuters or call the police for serious cases.
Station signs also show a "No durians" symbol. We did not find a fine amount for durians in the regulations, so leave the durian at the hawker centre.
On buses: up to S$500 since 23 September 2026
New LTA regulations took effect on 23 September 2026 for public buses, bus interchanges and terminals. These are now offences with a maximum penalty of S$500, as of Oct 2026:
Eating or drinking on board
Putting your feet on seats
Playing audio at loud volume
Littering
Soiling a bus or interchange, or causing obstruction or danger, carries up to S$5,000.
Under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act, NEA says a person caught smoking in a prohibited place pays a composition of S$200 (about ₱9,800), or a fine of up to S$1,000 if convicted in court, as of Oct 2026.
Places that catch tourists:
Orchard Road: the public areas of the Orchard Road precinct are a No Smoking Zone. You can smoke only in Designated Smoking Areas.
Parks and beaches: since 1 July 2022, smoking is banned in all public parks and gardens and on 10 recreational beaches. Sentosa's three beaches have designated smoking areas nearby.
Reservoirs and nature reserves: already smoke-free before 2022.
Look for a "Designated Smoking Area" sign before you light up.
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Littering: S$300
NEA gives a composition of S$300 (about ₱14,700) for a first littering offence, as of Oct 2026. In court, the maximum is S$2,000 for a first conviction, S$4,000 for a second and S$10,000 after that. The court can also order a Corrective Work Order, where offenders clean public areas for up to 12 hours.
A tissue, a receipt or a cigarette butt counts. Hold it until you find a bin.
Spitting and not flushing: up to S$1,000
Singapore's Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations ban spitting in any street, public vehicle or public place. The same rules require you to flush a public toilet after using it. A first conviction under these regulations carries a fine of up to S$1,000 (about ₱49,000), as of Oct 2026.
Jaywalking: S$50, per one law firm
Under the Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules, jaywalking means crossing within 50 metres of a pedestrian crossing without using it, or crossing on a red man. Singapore Legal Advice, a law firm guide updated in July 2025, says people caught jaywalking are fined S$50 (about ₱2,450). We could not confirm the current amount on a Traffic Police page, so treat that figure as indicative.
Drinking alcohol outdoors at night: up to S$1,000
The Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act bans drinking in all public places from 10.30pm to 7am every day. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops can still serve you within their licensed hours.
Little India and Geylang are Liquor Control Zones with longer no-drinking periods, including whole weekends. The Singapore Police Force says offenders in these zones face a fine of up to S$1,500 (about ₱73,500), and repeat offenders up to S$3,000 or up to 4.5 months' jail, or both. MHA says penalties inside the zones are one and a half times those elsewhere, which puts the general first-offence maximum at S$1,000. Police usually take down your details and tell you to dispose of the drink first; ignoring them can bring a composition fine or arrest.
Feeding wildlife and pigeons: up to S$10,000
NParks says feeding wildlife is illegal under the Wildlife Act, with a maximum fine of up to S$10,000 (about ₱490,000). That includes the monkeys at MacRitchie and the pigeons at hawker centres.
Fireworks: up to S$50,000
The Singapore Police Force classes fireworks as explosives. Illegal possession, discharge or import can bring up to three years' jail and a fine of up to S$50,000. Leave the lusis and kwitis for New Year in the Philippines. Misusing sparklers can also lead to charges under the Penal Code.
Offences with jail, not just fines
Overstaying your visit pass
ICA calls overstaying a serious offence. The penalty is up to six months' jail and at least three strokes of the cane, or a fine of up to S$6,000. Offenders are deported and barred from re-entering Singapore. Check your pass end date the day you land. Our guide on how long Filipinos can stay in Singapore explains extensions.
Do not take any work while on a visit pass.
Drugs, including cannabis legal elsewhere
The Central Narcotics Bureau says Singapore has zero tolerance for controlled drugs, and the law applies even to trace amounts and edibles. For cannabis alone:
Consumption: at least one year's jail, up to 10 years, with a fine of up to S$20,000
Trafficking, import or export above set thresholds: the death penalty (more than 500 grammes for cannabis)
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Do not carry anything for anyone you do not know, and never accept a package to bring through the airport.
Fines at a glance
Offence
Amount (as of Oct 2026)
In pesos (about)
Vape possession or use
up to S$10,000
₱490,000
Undeclared cigarettes, first offence
S$200 per pack
₱9,800 per pack
Eating or drinking on the MRT
up to S$500
₱24,500
Eating or drinking on a bus
up to S$500
₱24,500
Smoking in a prohibited place
S$200 composition, up to S$1,000 in court
₱9,800 to ₱49,000
Littering, first offence
S$300 composition
₱14,700
Spitting or not flushing
up to S$1,000
₱49,000
Drinking in public, 10.30pm to 7am
up to S$1,000; up to S$1,500 in Little India or Geylang
No. ICA lists e-cigarettes as prohibited imports. Since 1 May 2026, the maximum fine for buying, using or possessing a vape is S$10,000. Foreigners have the vape seized and receive a Notice of Composition, and Short-Term Visit Pass holders who reoffend are banned from re-entering Singapore.
How much is the fine for eating on the MRT?
The Rapid Transit Systems Regulations set a maximum penalty of S$500 for eating or drinking on the MRT and LRT, as of Oct 2026. The rule covers drinking water and candy. Since 23 September 2026, eating or drinking on public buses also carries a maximum penalty of S$500.
Can I bring cigarettes into Singapore duty-free?
No. Singapore Customs gives no duty-free concession for cigarettes or tobacco. Declare and pay for every pack, or face a composition of S$200 per pack for a first offence, S$500 for a second and S$800 for a third, as of Oct 2026. You can declare up to three days before arrival online.
Is chewing gum illegal in Singapore?
Bringing it in is. ICA lists chewing gum as a prohibited import, and Singapore Customs only allows gum approved by the Health Sciences Authority as oral dental or medicinal gum. Throw ordinary gum away before you land, including any packs in your children's bags.
Where can I smoke in Singapore?
Only in Designated Smoking Areas, marked with a sign. Smoking is banned on Orchard Road outside those areas, in all public parks and gardens, on 10 recreational beaches and on public transport. NEA's composition is S$200, or up to S$1,000 in court, as of Oct 2026.
Can I drink beer outside at night in Singapore?
Not between 10.30pm and 7am in public places, under the Liquor Control Act. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops can serve you within their licensed hours. Little India and Geylang have longer no-drinking periods, including weekends, and a fine of up to S$1,500 there.
ICA, Response on overstaying penalties (Feb 2023): ica.gov.sg)
ICA, Cross-border cash and bearer negotiable instruments: ica.gov.sg
CNB, Singapore's anti-drug laws on cannabis: cnb.gov.sg
Updated 17 Oct 2026: first published.
Top photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a vape to Singapore as a tourist?+
No. ICA lists e-cigarettes as prohibited imports. Since 1 May 2026, the maximum fine for buying, using or possessing a vape is S$10,000. Foreigners have the vape seized and receive a Notice of Composition, and Short-Term Visit Pass holders who reoffend are banned from re-entering Singapore.
How much is the fine for eating on the MRT?+
The Rapid Transit Systems Regulations set a maximum penalty of S$500 for eating or drinking on the MRT and LRT, as of Oct 2026. The rule covers drinking water and candy. Since 23 September 2026, eating or drinking on public buses also carries a maximum penalty of S$500.
Can I bring cigarettes into Singapore duty-free?+
No. Singapore Customs gives no duty-free concession for cigarettes or tobacco. Declare and pay for every pack, or face a composition of S$200 per pack for a first offence, S$500 for a second and S$800 for a third, as of Oct 2026. You can declare up to three days before arrival online.
Is chewing gum illegal in Singapore?+
Bringing it in is. ICA lists chewing gum as a prohibited import, and Singapore Customs only allows gum approved by the Health Sciences Authority as oral dental or medicinal gum. Throw ordinary gum away before you land, including any packs in your children's bags.
Where can I smoke in Singapore?+
Only in Designated Smoking Areas, marked with a sign. Smoking is banned on Orchard Road outside those areas, in all public parks and gardens, on 10 recreational beaches and on public transport. NEA's composition is S$200, or up to S$1,000 in court, as of Oct 2026.
Can I drink beer outside at night in Singapore?+
Not between 10.30pm and 7am in public places, under the Liquor Control Act. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops can serve you within their licensed hours. Little India and Geylang have longer no-drinking periods, including weekends, and a fine of up to S$1,500 there.
