Declarant

Application Process

The Key Personnel or Authorised Personnel of a DA can register an individual as a Declarant at the point of DA Account application or separately afterwards.

The individual will receive an email requesting him to sign and acknowledge a set of Terms and Conditions for Declarants. The individual must ensure that he understands his roles and responsibilities as a Declarant before he signs and acknowledges on the Terms and Conditions for Declarants.

The individual must also enrol for and pass the Customs Competency Test for Declarants (SC 401). Upon registration and closing of the test session, we will send an invoice to the email address indicated in the application form. Payment must be made through AXS/e-AXS before the due date indicated in the invoice. Upon successful payment, we will send a confirmation of the registration to the same email address indicated in the application form. This is to ensure that Declarants possess adequate knowledge on Customs’ documentation and procedures to better advise their clients.

To prepare for the Customs Competency Test, the individual should:

Familiarise themselves with the various permit types and procedures available on Singapore Customs website;
Familiarise themselves with Customs’ Schemes, Licences and Framework (E.g. TradeFirst, Overseas Vendor Registration Regime on Low-Value Goods).
Look out for compliance best practices on Singapore Customs website;
Complete the e-learning module on Singapore Customs website;
Attend courses such as SC101 and SC102 courses conducted at Nanyang Polytechnic or Republic Polytechnic. Please note that it is optional to sign up for these business courses and it is not a requirement for SC 401 test-takers to attend any of the business courses before taking the test.

If a Declarant has changed employment and wish to be registered under another DA, he will not be required to take the competency test again. However, Declarants with poor compliance records with Singapore Customs may be required to re-take and pass the competency test to maintain their Declarant registration status.

More information on Customs Competency Test for Declarants (SC 401)

Enrol for the competency test here.


Format	50 multiple-choice questions
Venue	Singapore Customs Academy
Duration	1.5 hours (weekdays)
Style	Open-book
Passing Mark	70% (i.e. 35 out of 50 questions)
Scope	1. Introduction to Customs Procedures - Overview of Customs import, export and transhipment procedure - Registration procedures - Controlled / Prohibited / Dutiable items - Customs duty, excise duty and Goods and Services Tax - Duty / Tax rates and calculations 2. Permit Application - Different types of permit application - Relevant permit conditions - Amendments and cancellations of customs permit - Refunds 3. Valuation - Introduction to WTO Valuation Agreement - Methods of valuation - International Commercial Terms (incoterms) - Common valuation issues 4. Classification - Purpose of Harmonized System (HS) - Structure of HS - General Interpretation Rule 5. Rules of Origin (ROO) - Purpose of ROO and Certificate of Origin (CO) - ROO methodology - CO application procedures - Free Trade Agreements 6. Specialised Procedures - Temporary importation / exportation procedures - ATA Carnets - Manifest procedures - Duty Exemption / GST Relief - Strategic Goods / Chemical Weapons Convention - Licensed Warehouse Scheme - Zero-GST Warehouse Scheme - Other Customs Schemes and Licences - Overseas Vendor Registration Regime on Low-Value Goods
Things to Bring	Test participants are required to bring their own stationery (e.g. calculator, pens) and internet devices such as laptop, tablet or mobile phone to access the online answer sheet and Customs website.
Results	Results will be emailed to all test participants about two weeks after the test date. Those who have passed the test will receive an E-certificate.
Fee Payable	$29.96
Refund Policy	Please ensure that you have carefully reviewed the test details, dates and availability before registering for the Customs Competency Test. For any cancellations and no-shows, please take note of the following: 1. Participants who cancelled their test registration are not eligible for a refund. 2. Participants who did not attend the test, or failed to show up, are not eligible for a refund. If participants are unable to attend the test date they booked, a new booking will be required.

Renewal / Update / Termination Process

For Declarants who are Work Pass holders, the DA’s Key Personnel and Declarant will receive email notifications from Singapore Customs to update the new work pass expiry date of the Declarant before the expiry date of the Declarant’s Work Pass.

The Key Personnel or Authorised Personnel can log in to update the Declaring Agent Account (or the Declarant can update his/her Work Pass expiry date) by uploading a copy of the Declarant’s new Work Pass and updating the Declarant’s new Work Pass expiry date (note: the DA must first renew the Declarant’s Work Pass before its expiry with the Ministry of Manpower).

The Key Personnel or Authorised Personnel can log in to update the entity’s Declarants’ particulars and contact details or terminate Declarants who are no longer applying for permits or who have left the company. Please note that the termination of registered Declarants will result in the termination of their TradeNet IDs.