Just search the country's name and "Customs" or "Bureau of Customs" and that should turn up some useful info. Also, the U.S. State Department information sheets on countries sometimes note particularly strict regulations.

I just got back from a trip to Vietnam: not only is porn banned but also "reactionary" political or literary materials. It's even illegal to import pornography into the U.S. -- you can legally possess it but you cannot bring it in from abroad. The customs declaration form used by CBP clearly states that "obscene articles" are generally prohibited from entry.

The Philippine Bureau of Customs also imposes a wide variety of restrictions on literature, films and other media that can be brought into the country. "Obscene" depictions are banned as are seditious materials or printed materials describing how or where to get an abortion.

I would especially not recommend testing these laws in the Muslim world or in Singapore where you would be especially unlikely to catch a break.

let´s say any kind that is legal for sale in most western countries.

great information. For example what they would do to someone who has it in Singapore?
It´s a pity that nobody can give more input on practical cases.

In 2002 I travelled to Cuba on vacation. In my bag I had a stack of Lad Mags (Maxim / FHM & their ilk) as gifts to help grease the wheels with the bartenders, pool boys etc. Cuban customs (a man and a woman) carefully flipped through them all to make sure they weren't porn, then admitted me & my magazines once they confirmed there was no nudity.

What's ironic is most of the women at the pool and beach at my Cuban resort hotel were topless...

The reason no one can give you first-hand knowledge in Singapore is probably because they have since been executed.

Source: http://www.ifaq.gov.sg/mda/apps/fcd_faqmain.aspx

Excellent. The term "import" includes also porn for personal use, right? That would be, any kind of west-legal porn, in any amount entering Singapore?
I think many people don´t know about this rules, do you think that they would ask for that penalty fee to a tourist that happens to carry some in his bag?
Why it´s so hard to find any real example on the newspaper?

:eek: "Not knowing" is no legal excuse!
I don't want to know how many tourist are on the death row in singapore or have been executed, who didn't know (and porbably just took a parcel from somebody to bring it into/out of the country)... :(

so:
Absolutely! Definitely!


I just picked the SIN example, as it was the most easy to find via the wikipedia entry. Just check some of the references.

I have a funny question - Who the hell will bring porn to travel?

Don't bring anything stupid - problem solved.

This is what I was thinking also.

Liberia.

They also ban pornographic actors/actresses.

Many people. Some people travel to some countries to spend there one month. Many people only have one computer, so they take everything with them!
Do you think it´s very bizarre carrying some with you anywhere you go? I don´t think so. Many peole carry it on their cellphones! will they also punish you?

in Singapore, so many people are on transit it´s very hard to believe that they will enforce this. Porn is not cocaine guys...

I find it extremely valuable to read Flyertalker's experiences and opinions when I'm choosing airlines, hotels, mileage programs etc. It's also very entertaining to exchange views on many topics. Learning about other people's personal experiences and points of view is terrific in so many ways ...

However, I wouldn't rely on a Flyertalk forum to diagnose a medical condition and I wouldn't rely on Flyertalk to provide up-to-date, factual information about what is required to enter a country or what one is allowed to carry when entering a country. Why? Because the information isn't the most trustworthy and the potential for trouble if I make a wrong decision related to my health or compliance with national laws is rather high. I think it's best to seek that information from websites maintained by the immigration and customs authorities of the country in question. (Or professionally maintained databases that draw data from those sources).

Transit passengers do not pass through ICA checkpoints unless you fly through Budget terminal.

As a rule, Singapore is pretty unimpressed with the "I'm a Western tourist and didn't know that was illegal" defense. Note that ICA and Customs brag about how much they interdict of untaxed alcohol and cigarettes (duty free allowance = 0) from Malaysia so the fact that "porn is not cocaine" doesn't matter much to Singapore authorities.

On the other hand, I'm not aware of SG Customs browsing through people's phones and laptops, though, unless there are special circumstances.

^