Entering Singapore

I recently traveled from Japan to Singapore. I was attracted to the amazingly to the technology news and really nice pictures of buildings. I booked a one-way flight through Google Flights and AirAsia.

Singapore immigration is extra strict. I got a heads up from the Japanese security that I should book an exit ticket or Singapore will not let me in. I promised them that I will book one on the way if they let me through. And so they let me through and I booked a one-way flight back to Tokyo after 90 days of stay in Singapore asap. Flight tickets are cheap anyway if you pick a good date and are okay with long travel times.

The flight was terrible as I got a headache from missing dinner and the airplane had a crying baby and no media entertainment. It was hell 😑. I tried to sleep and write my blog on the phone as much as possible. I got maybe 2 hours of sleep that night. Writing is a good way to tire yourself out, I recommend it.

On the way to Singapore I find out that they have Death Penalty for peddling drugs into the country. I don’t do drugs and I don’t like them so it was not a problem for me. Interesting laws like this is exactly why I travel, some big laws can changes the entire atmosphere and culture of the country.

At Singapore immigration they asked me why I wanted to stay 90 days in the country and if I was working in the country. I said I was a tourist. I have an online job in Sweden but because the money flows from Sweden into Singapore I consider myself a tourist because Singapore benefits from me spending my Swedish money in Singapore. Working online like I do is a legal gray zone at the moment so I say that I am a tourist. They put me in a very nice waiting couch with several other suspicious travellers. They told me Singapore is a very expensive country are you really okay with spending 90 days of money living in hotels? I said yes I am and if it really is that awful then I will book an earlier exit ticket somewhere else. They asked me to show me my credit cards and cash, I showed them They asked me what I was doing in Sweden, I said I work as a programmer. They asked me if I was on vacation for 90 days, I said I work online to my job in Sweden. I don’t lie, especially not to the law, my approach is to only answer when the right question is asked to avoid wasting time, it did not seem to work this time. It did work in Japan though, perhaps it simply is more common to stay 90 days in Japan. Next they searched my bags and cellphone and made me wait for 1 hour while holding my passport the whole time. It felt unpleasant but I have no criminal record in any country, my travel bags are filled with clothes and tourist merchandize from Japan, my phone only got tourist pictures and work emails on it.

Worst case scenario they deny me entry and I am forced to buy an exit ticket to another country. Again flight tickets are cheap and I have no reason to specifically visit Singapore other than touristing.

Eventually they let me in and I picked up my travel bag in lost and found. I don’t recommend anyone to lie to the law. Why make yourself a criminal when you intend to be a peaceful tourist. Consider instead to stay 30 days or less to avoid problems. I took a taxi to my hotel. In hindsight there was no reason for me to stay more than two weeks. End of story.