singaporecity360° Tourist tax refund (GST)
Spend over S$100 and you can claim back most of Singapore's 9% GST when you fly home. Here's how, without the queues.
Singapore adds 9% GST to what you buy — and as a tourist you can claim most of it back when you leave by air. Spend at least S$100 at a shop in the scheme, ask for an eTRS refund with your passport, then scan your receipts at a kiosk at Changi before you fly. You won't get the full 9% (a small fee is taken), but on a big buy it adds up.
Four steps to your refund
It's easier than it sounds — the shops and the airport kiosks do most of the work. Just remember to ask at the till, and leave time at the airport before you fly.
The rules that matter
Five things decide whether your claim goes through. Miss the air-only one and you lose the lot.
| Minimum spend | S$100 including GST — you can combine up to 3 receipts from the same shop on the same day |
| Where you claim | Only when leaving by AIR from Changi or Seletar — not by land to Malaysia |
| When | Scan at the airport kiosk before you fly; claim within 2 months of the purchase |
| The goods | Must leave Singapore with you, unused, within 12 hours of approval |
| The refund | To credit card, Alipay, or cash (at Changi) — minus a small handling fee |
From the IRAS Tourist Refund Scheme guide (current 2026 edition). Refunds cover goods you take home — not hotels, meals or anything used up in Singapore.
Three places, three approaches
Not every shop is in the refund scheme — and one famous mall needs a wary eye.
Orchard Road malls
Fixed prices and almost all in the tax-refund scheme — ask for eTRS at the till and you’re set.
Bugis Street
Cheap and fun for haggling, but many small stalls aren’t GST-registered, so there’s often nothing to refund.
Sim Lim Square (electronics)
Great prices if you know your stuff — but it has a history of tourist scams. Agree the full price in writing and ignore anyone who says "claim the GST at the airport" as part of the deal.
Five things worth doing
- Carry your passport when you shop — the shop needs it to start the refund.
- Concentrate big buys in one store — combining same-day receipts helps you clear the S$100 minimum.
- Leave 45–60 minutes at Changi for the kiosk — don’t rush it at the last minute.
- If your buys are in checked luggage, claim before you check in; Customs may want to see them.
- Pick Alipay for an instant refund — a card refund can take about ten days.
Frequently asked
How much GST can I get back?
Singapore’s GST is 9%, and as a departing tourist you can claim most of it back — but not all. A handling fee is taken off, so the money you actually receive is a bit less than 9%. On a big purchase it’s still well worth doing.
What’s the minimum I have to spend?
S$100 including GST. You can combine up to three receipts from the same shop on the same day to reach it, so a few purchases in one store can still qualify.
Who can claim the refund?
Tourists who are 16 or older, are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents, and are not departing as crew. You also can’t claim if you’ve spent long stretches recently working or studying in Singapore. A normal holiday visitor qualifies.
How do I actually claim it at the airport?
Ask the shop for an eTRS refund and show your passport when you buy. At Changi, scan your passport at an eTRS self-help kiosk before you fly. If your items are in checked luggage, do this in the check-in hall before immigration; if they’re in your hand luggage, do it after immigration in the transit area. Keep the goods handy in case Customs wants to see them.
Can I get the refund if I leave by bus to Malaysia?
No. The tourist refund only works when you leave by air from Changi or Seletar Airport. Crossing overland to Malaysia doesn’t qualify.
How do I receive the money?
You choose at the kiosk: back to your credit card (takes about ten days), instantly to Alipay, or as cash (at Changi). All options have the handling fee deducted.
What we won't guess at
One number gets quoted a lot online that we won't print, because it isn't official.
- The exact refund percentage
After the handling fee you get less than 9% — but the operators don’t publish one fixed figure, so we won’t invent one. The kiosk shows your real amount.
- Old eligibility "rules"
Some sites list extra tests (like "not employed here in 6 months") that aren’t in the current IRAS guide — ignore them.
- Sim Lim prices
Vary wildly and change daily — we point you there with a warning, not a price.
Grounded in the IRAS Tourist Refund Scheme guide (2026 edition), Changi Airport and Singapore Customs, on 2026-08-07. The airport kiosk is the final word on your refund.