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.
There is no limit on how much you may legally carry in either direction, the duty is to report it, not to keep under it. 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.