Importing e-cigarettes and vaporisers into Singapore: what is required?
Prohibited. There is no permit, licence, or personal allowance that makes this legal.
The short answer
| Short answer | Prohibited. There is no permit, licence, or personal allowance that makes this legal. |
|---|---|
| Competent Authority | Health Sciences Authority (HSA) |
| Type of requirement | Prohibition — import, sale, possession and use are all offences |
Importing e-cigarettes and vaporisers into Singapore
E-cigarettes, vaporisers, pods, and their components are prohibited in Singapore. Unlike most regulated goods, there is no application to make and no quantity that is acceptable — the prohibition covers import, distribution, sale, possession, and use. This catches travellers and new residents constantly, because these products are sold openly almost everywhere else.
What is typically involved
Requirements depend on the specific product, so treat this as the shape of the process rather than a checklist for your particular case. Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is the authority on the detail.
- There is no import route. No licence or permit is available.
- The prohibition extends to components, refills, pods, and accessories.
- Possession and use are separately prohibited, not just import and sale.
- Ordering online for personal delivery is still importing.
What catches importers out
These are the recurring surprises in this category — the points where an assumption carried over from another market causes a problem here.
- Overseas retailers ship to Singapore addresses without warning buyers — the consignee carries the consequence.
- Carrying a device in hand luggage on arrival is an offence, not a customs formality.
- Marketplaces sometimes list these products with Singapore delivery options; the listing is not permission.
- Products marketed as "heat-not-burn" or by other names are covered by the same framework.
Official sources
Control status depends on the specific product, and requirements change. These are the authorities that decide — confirm your particular goods with them before shipping.
Last reviewed August 2026. This page describes the general framework for this category of goods. It does not determine whether your specific product is controlled — only the relevant Competent Authority can do that.
Questions we get asked about this
Can I bring my own vape into Singapore for personal use?
No. Possession and use are prohibited alongside import and sale. There is no personal allowance. Leave the device behind rather than arriving with it.
What if I ordered one online before I knew?
The consignment will not be released and there may be consequences for the importer of record — which is you if it is addressed to you. If something is en route, seek advice rather than hoping it goes unnoticed.
Are nicotine pouches and heated tobacco treated the same way?
A range of imitation tobacco and smokeless products fall under prohibitions in Singapore. Product names and marketing categories change faster than assumptions do, so check the current position with HSA for the specific product rather than reasoning by analogy.
More in Do you need an import permit?
Prohibited Goods
Some goods cannot be imported into Singapore at all, at any quantity, with any permit.
Chewing Gum
Prohibited, except for dental and medicinal gum supplied through regulated channels.
Meat & Seafood
Yes — and additionally, the overseas producing establishment usually has to be accredited.
Plants & Seeds
Yes — plant material generally needs an import permit and a phytosanitary certificate from origin.
Pets & Live Animals
Yes — a licence, vaccination and testing schedule, and usually quarantine on arrival.
Animal Feed & Pet Food
Yes — feed and pet food are regulated, with requirements varying by ingredient origin.
Related pages
Prohibited Goods
Some goods cannot be imported into Singapore at all, at any quantity, with any permit.
Tobacco & Cigarettes
Yes — a licence, substantial duty, and strict packaging rules. Some tobacco products are banned outright.
Customs and import coordination
Help understanding what a shipment needs before it clears — permits, declarations, and the information a Declaring Agent will ask for.
TradeNet permit guidance
Plain-language guidance on the TradeNet permit process — what a UEN and Customs Account are for, and how a Declaring Agent fits in.
Have a shipment that fits this?
Start the guided enquiry and describe it in plain terms. We will tell you what is involved — including if the answer is that you do not need us.