Carrying cash from Japan to Singapore
Two separate rules apply to any cash journey: one where you leave, one where you arrive.
Do you need to declare?
Yes: and on both legs of the journey. Leaving Japan, Japan Customs requires a declaration above JPY 1,000,000. Entering Singapore, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority requires a declaration above SGD 20,000. The two rules are independent: satisfying one does not satisfy the other.
The two legs
| Leg | Limit | Form | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaving Japan | JPY 1,000,000 | Declaration of Carrying of Means of Payment | Japan Customs |
| Entering Singapore | SGD 20,000 | CBNI declaration (via the Singapore Arrival Card or the official app) | Immigration & Checkpoints Authority |
The same declaration is required on departure. It can be filed on paper at the airport or online through NACCS.
Required when the total value EXCEEDS S$20,000, exactly S$20,000 does not trigger it. The duty applies whether the cash is yours or carried for someone else.
If you do not declare
Japan: Penalties under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.
Singapore: An offence under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992.
Neither threshold on this route is a cap: you may carry more, but above it the duty is to report the cash, not to keep under the figure. Failing to report is the offence.
Currencies
Japan uses JPY; Singapore uses SGD.
Sources: rules as of 22 September 2026. This is general information, not legal advice; always check the official authority before travelling.