GENERAL PERMIT

One of the many great things about filming in Singapore is that you do not need a general film permit. The official rule is as follows:

“Filming general shots along public streets or walkways is allowed if the filming does not cause obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.” [Source: IMDA]

However, to shoot, you will be required to have public liability insurance. We have this insurance and will provide it to you as part of our standard insurance package with a coverage of up to one million SGD. If you need higher coverage, we can help you to secure the appropriate insurance. 

No matter whether public or private, you will need to apply for the respective location permits for every location. We will, of course, manage all the permits for you and make sure you are covered. 

You can find more information on location permits below in the dedicated section.

DRONE PERMIT

Filming with a drone is generally allowed in Singapore. However, regulations are tight, and you will need to apply for a drone permit as soon as you use your drone commercially. You can use a foreign or domestic drone pilot.

Suppose you want to use a foreign drone pilot. In that case, you will need to obtain an operator permit to allow your drone operator to fly in Singapore and apply for drone permits. We do not recommend you to go that route as it is a lengthy and pricey process. We recommend you use a local drone operator. We are happy to give you some great recommendations from our pool of drone specialists.

For every flight and location, we need a dedicated drone permit. We will help plan your drone flights and file the necessary paperwork with the local authorities. Mind you that flying without an operator or valid location permit can result in fines and potentially even jail.

VISA ON ARRIVAL



Singapore is a very tourist-friendly country. As such, most people do not need a visa to enter the country, i.e., they will receive a visa on arrival when they cross the border. You can find a list of those countries that need a visa below.

For those who can come on a visa on arrival, you will receive a 14 or 30 day “social visit pass” or “short-term visit pass” upon immigration. This is the official term for a tourist visa in Singapore.

VISA REQUIREMENTS/CRITERIA

To enter with a visa on arrival, you will need to fulfill the following criteria:

• Have a passport from a country that is eligible for a visa on arrival
• Your passport needs to be valid for at least six (6) months from the day of arrival
• Confirmed onward/return flight ticket
• Sufficient funds to pay for your stay in Singapore (usually not checked)

Please note that women who are six, or more than six months pregnant, will need to apply for a visa before entering Singapore!




WORK PERMIT/EXEMPTION


Once you have a visit pass (a tourist visa) to enter Singapore, it does NOT entitle you to work in Singapore. Also, not for filming, not even for a day.

“Foreigners can enter Singapore and perform certain activities for short durations (less than 60 days) without a Work Pass. […] Foreigners performing Work Pass Exempt Activities [note: filming is such an exempt activity] are required to submit an e-Notification to inform MOM before engaging in these activities. They can perform these activities for the duration of their short term visit passes subject to a maximum of 60 days. Beyond that, they will need to obtain a Work Pass. Those carrying out Work Pass Exempt Activities without notifying the MOM can be prosecuted under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.” [Source: IMDA]

Please note that a lot of fixers do not provide you with that notification. You will need to have a local producer like Wave Films to help you register you and your team AFTER you arrive in Singapore but BEFORE you start working.

Failing to do so can carry tremendous penalties:

“A fine between $5,000 and $30,000, or imprisonment for up to 1 year, or both. For subsequent convictions, offenders face a mandatory imprisonment and a fine between $10,000 and $30,000.” [Source: Employment of Foreign Manpower Act]

Part of our production service is providing you with this exemption notification so that you are eligible to work in Singapore for the duration of your production.

NOTIFICATION OF WORK PERMIT EXEMPTION

When you work with us, you do not have to worry about the work permit application. We will do all the necessary paperwork on your behalf. We will help you facilitate the notification process and make sure your entire team has the correct paperwork before starting filming on location. 

The following jobs fall under the work permit-exempt activities (there are more activities, but those are the ones relevant to Film in Singapore, for a complete list, please check here).

“Involvement as an actor, model, director, member of the film crew or technical crew, or photographer for: Location filming leading to TV or movie production. Excludes business-to-individual services such as videography or photography for weddings. [And] Fashion shows.” [Source: Ministry of Manpower]

IF YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR  A VISA BEFORE COMING TO SINGAPORE

updated official list issued by ICA (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority) here.

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• China (People’s Republic – PRC)
• Egypt
• Georgia
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Lebanon
• Libya
• Mali
• Moldova
• Morocco
• Nigeria
• North Korea (DPR)
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Tunisia
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen

Should you or your crew possess a passport of one of these countries, please highlight this to us immediately. So we can guide you through the proper procedure to have a visa ready by the time you need it.




VISA APPLICATION PROCESS


Generally, processing time takes around three days and costs 30 SGD (approx. 23 USD or 20 EUR). We would advise you to apply for the visa at least 2-4 weeks before the planned shoot in Singapore. You can read up on the entire process on the ICA website here.

This is ONLY NECESSARY if you or your crew hold a passport issued by one of the countries listed above. All other nationalities can enjoy visas on arrival, which is free of charge.

As we already mentioned in the general permit section, Singapore is fantastic because you do not need a general filming permit. So if you only have a small shoot in one location, you will only need to apply for a permit in that location.

LOCATION PERMITS ARE NECESSARY

Location permits, however, ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. In general, you can film almost anywhere in Singapore. Even if a location might seem hard to get, we will always try to make the impossible possible.

Singapore is a very densely populated country/city, which means that pretty much every square inch belongs to someone. i.e., even though “Filming general shots along public streets or walkways is allowed if the filming does not cause obstruction to vehicular or pedestrian traffic,” often enough, a place that might “seem public” is actually owned and governed by a government authority.

PLEASE ALLOW SOME TIME TO GET LOCATION PERMITS

Therefore, it is crucial to speak to us early enough to make sure we can clear all the locations for you in time. Depending on where you want to shoot, processing location permits can be as fast as one day, or it can take two to four weeks.

LOCATION COSTS

Location costs can vary greatly. Depending on the location itself, the kind of shoot, the size of the production, and of course, what actually needs to happen on the location.

Some locations will be possible to be obtained for free or for a minimal fee. Some private commercial properties are often also interested in providing their property for exposure (if the production can offer such).

Private residential properties usually start at around 200 USD/day. They then can go up to the thousands, depending on the location.

Some publicly governed properties might also charge by the hour. You can see there are many possible scenarios.

Location permits for iconic and touristy places can be pretty expensive and sometimes very tedious to apply for.

We can help you to find the right locations at the right price point for your production. You can also check out the location section on this website for more information and inspiration.

Singapore has three options of bringing equipment into the country: by road, by plane or by ship. The easiest way to import items is by using an ATA Carnet:​

EQUIPMENT IMPORTATION WITH AN ATA CARNET

Singapore is part of the ATA carnet customs standard. Therefore, bringing in equipment on temporary importation is straightforward as long as you use the ATA carnet documents. You can use a carnet for up to six months. Once six months are up, you can try to apply for an extension.

Under the ATA carnet, the following items are permitted for temporary import:

• Cinematographic/musical equipment
• Costumes, scenery & other stage properties
• Press and broadcasting equipment

Note: Please note that aside from drugs, explosives (including SFX materials) also radio-communication equipment operating in frequency bands 880-915 MHz, 925-960 MHz, 1900-1980 MHz, and 2110-2170 MHz are considered controlled goods and will require an additional permit BEFORE importation even when traveling on an ATA carnet.

NO ATA CARNET?

Should you be unable to obtain an ATA carnet, we can import the equipment using the “Temporary Importation Scheme.” Similar to importation using an ATA carnet, items can be imported for up to six months, after which we can request an extension of the Temporary Import Scheme.

The Temporary Importation Scheme requires an application before importation in Singapore. Please speak to us early enough about your importation plans. We can help you with the paperwork and make sure everything is in order before crossing the border with your cargo.

We will need to prepare the following paperwork (no worries, we will guide you through the process):

• Cover letter stating:
  • Purpose for temporary import
  • Duration of import
  • Venue where the goods will be used
• Confirmation that the item cannot be sourced locally
• Detailed technical specification of the goods
• CA approval letter (where applicable)
• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
• Any other documents as specified by Singapore Customs

To secure the temporary importation, we will need to guarantee the cargo with an amount equal to 50% of the potential GST (VAT, currently at 9%) of the goods. This means we will need to deposit 3.5% of the potential sales value of the imported goods.

Alternatively, you can also consider renting the equipment locally.

LOCAL EQUIPMENT RENTAL

Generally, it would be best if you consider renting equipment locally whenever possible. We have a large variety of equipment readily available for all kinds of productions, from large-scale movies to reality shows and small documentary productions. We can source almost any type of equipment in Singapore.

Should anything be unavailable in Singapore, we can also source it regionally with our strategic equipment partners in Malaysia and Thailand. They can deliver by truck to Singapore and can provide a broad range of additional equipment.

CREW

Singapore offers a great range of professional Film and TV crew. All year round, many productions are being shot in Singapore, TV series, commercials, corporate shoots, feature films, and documentaries. 

One major advantage with Singaporean crew is that EVERYBODY speaks English. 

Contact us with your production requirements, and we are happy to provide you precisely the crew you need.

CAST

Being such a diverse and multi-racial country, filming in Singapore can offer you many casting options. The three main races you can find in Singapore are Chinese (74%), Malays (13%), and Indians (9%), with other races, including many Eurasians, Europeans, and Americans, making up the remaining 4%.

We work closely with a range of professional casting directors and all the top talent and model agencies. 

We can do an on-location casting with your team being present in the studio or via e-casting and demo tapes so you can select the talent before coming to Singapore.

Singapore has plenty of hotels to offer across all price categories. However, being a small and densely populated city-state, hotel rooms are not exactly cheap.

SHORT PRODUCTION PERIOD

If you are in Singapore for a short time, you will most likely stay in a hotel. Most of the hotels are located in the central part of the city, allowing you to reach any corner of the country quickly.

For hotels, you can find hotels easily on your hotel booking website of choice with a great variety of options, styles, and price ranges. An average hotel night in a single room will cost you at least 100 USD/night. Please note that most hotel rooms are tiny if you go very cheap and sometimes do not even have a window!

On the other hand, we also have many luxury hotels in Singapore to provide your VIP cast or crew an unforgettable experience. 

We have a range of partner hotels that can give you preferential prices. They can also provide other benefits like discounted meeting rooms, which you could use as an office space. We recommend you to check with us before booking a hotel.

LONG PRODUCTION PERIOD

Should your production take one month or more, you can consider staying in a short-term rental or serviced apartment. It will be cheaper than a hotel on a nightly basis and offer you the amenities you would want when staying a little longer in one place: more space, better internet, kitchen facilities, etc.

We can recommend and book comfortable accommodation to make both your work and leisure more enjoyable.

Due to its small size, transportation is effortless. Singapore keeps a quota on the number of cars they permit on their roads. Therefore, you will hardly encounter any major traffic jams.

VAN RENTAL

Production vans for any filming activity in Singapore are typically Toyota Hiace, either as passenger or goods vans.

The typical Hiace passenger van can carry up to 13 passengers. It can only be driven by drivers with a vocational driving license. With a regular driving license, drivers are only allowed to carry up to 7 passengers.

Beyond that, we can arrange a variety of other vehicles, from VIP limousines to 50-seater buses. 

For the transportation of equipment or other goods, most crew will drive their vans. There is also a range of different vans and trucks available to hire for any need you might have.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Singapore has a highly convenient public transport system connecting every part of Singapore by bus or MRT (subway). You can purchase a top-up card (called EZ-Link in Singapore) to access any bus or subway. With a PayWave enabled credit card, you can also simply use that for payments.

If you prefer direct point-to-point transport, simply hail one of the many taxis available in Singapore. Or even more conveniently, use Grab or Gojek (the Southeast Asia version of Uber) to book a ride on the fly. You can even book vans through the Grab app.

Singapore is probably at the forefront of technological advancement. The telecommunications and internet infrastructure is no exception. Internet speeds are generally very fast, with even private households connected to up to 1 Gbps.

Almost in the entire country, you can connect to a high-speed 4G mobile network. Even on the subway, you can enjoy fast 4G speeds. Mobile sim cards are readily available at the airport and offer different packages. But for 30 SGD (22 USD or 20 EUR), you get 12 days of validity for the sim card (can be extended), 100 GB free data, and unlimited local calls and SMS. There is absolutely no need for high roaming charges.

If you want to connect your other gadgets, there are also plenty of free WiFi options across the city.

Singapore is located 1° north of the equator. Therefore, both day and night cycles and the “seasons” are pretty equal throughout the year. The tropical climate can sometimes be challenging for anyone filming in Singapore. Heat and humidity might take some getting used to.

SUNRISE/SUNSET

You have approximately 12h of DAY and 12h of NIGHT in Singapore. The sun usually rises around 7 am and sets around 7 pm. The shortest day is 12:03h long (Winter Solstice on 22nd December), and the longest day 12:11h long (Summer Solstice on 21st June).

SINGAPORE CLIMATE

The climate in Singapore is tropical, and as such, it is humid and hot. You will usually encounter a lot of rain in Singapore. On average, it rains every second day, with the rainiest days between November and January. February is classically the driest month. Temperatures are averaging around 31/32°C (87-90°F) during daytime and 25/26°C (76-78°F) during nighttime.

Below you can find the current 7-day weather forecast for Singapore:

SINGAPORE WEATHER