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I am from Yemen and I am studying in Malaysia.

well the iPhone 7 is coming out soon and I am planing to buy it from Singapore, they do have istudio in the airport so I though if i book a round flight with airasia, go get my iPhone from the airport and go back without even getting inside Singapore, I just need the phone that's it .

So can I do that ? .. Won't there be any problems when i come back to Malaysia because I have no entry stamp in Singapore or whatso ever ?

Will Malaysia let me out event tho i don't have Singapore visa ?

lambshaanxy
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Madyan Malfi
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2 Answers2

41

I think that if you try this, you will be denied boarding at check-in.

There are two reasons for this:

First, airside transit without visa is intended for traveling from one country through the international transit area of a second country en route to a third country. Returning to the country of origin is not intended. Timatic, the system which airlines use to verify passenger documents, notes this.

Transit Without Visa (TWOV): Passing through an international transit area of the airport in order to board a connecting (or to proceed by the same) flight, without entering the country (i.e. clearing immigration).

Unless stated otherwise, passengers wishing to TWOV must: - be en-route to a third country (e.g. itinerary TYO-LON-TYO is not considered TWOV);

(In this case, it is not "stated otherwise" anywhere.)

Second, passengers flying on low cost carriers such as Air Asia cannot transit airside in Singapore. You would be required to clear immigration and check in lansdide for your return flight. Timatic also notes this.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa): - Transit passengers holding 2 separate tickets can check in for the connecting flight in the international transit area, except when arriving/departing on a budget carrier. Budget carriers are: Air Asia (AK), Indonesia AirAsia (QZ), Thai AirAsia (FD), Air India Express (IX), Cebu Pacific Air (5J), Firefly (FY), Jetstar (JQ), Jetstar Asia (3K), Jetstar Pacific (BL), Lion Air (JT), Scoot (TZ), Spring Airlines (9C), Tigerair (TR) and VietJet Air (VJ).

Timatic output for your proposed itinerary

You will need a visa to visit Singapore, which as a resident of Malaysia ought not be too difficult to get on your own. If you have friends who are Singapore citizens or permanent residents, they can also apply for the visa on your behalf.

For returning to Malaysia, you need to ensure that your student pass/visa are still valid, or that you've obtained a re-entry permit.

Michael Hampton
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17

While the authorities at Singapore might be okay with your plan, the airlines are unlikely to let you board without a Singaporean visa, as outlined in the other answer. However you might still pull it off:

  1. Buy a ticket from your city in Malaysia to a different country via Singapore, e.g. Cambodia which has a visa on arrival available for Yemeni citizens

  2. In addition, buy a ticket from Singapore to Malaysia within 24 hours of the first flight's arrival

  3. On arriving to Singapore, discard the second leg of your first ticket, buy the iPhone and fly back on the second ticket

  4. Both tickets have to be on a non-budget airline, so that you qualify for transit without a visa

Be aware that this would make the journey not worth the price savings, as the first ticket would cost at least a couple hundred dollars. You might also pull it off by having a fake second leg (e.g. a non-paid reservation), but the success of that plan would depend on how through your documents are checked by the airline.

Overall I'd recommend getting a visa and seeing Singapore in the process.

JonathanReez
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