Singapore
Singapore has full freedom of panorama and no general right against being photographed, but protected security sites are strictly off-limits.
Guidance, not legal advice
Permit
Conditional
Issuer: Site operator for commercial shoots at managed attractions; no permit for personal street photography
Cost: No permit for personal or hobbyist photography; commercial shoots at managed sites need advance approval and fees
Personal photography in public needs no permit. Commercial shoots at managed sites such as Gardens by the Bay need advance approval. Under the Infrastructure Protection Act, photographing gazetted Protected Areas and Places is a criminal offence.
Drone / airspace
Drones over 250g must be registered with CAAS and, from Dec 2025, carry Broadcast Remote ID
Permits apply near airports and no-fly zones; drones are banned at Gardens by the Bay. For depth, see Drone Authority.
Street / public space
Yes: there is no general legal right against being photographed in a public place and no codified right of publicity
Harassment, voyeurism, trespass, and defamation laws still apply to misuse.
Freedom of panorama
Full
Section 265 of the Copyright Act 2021 permits making and publishing photographs of buildings, sculptures, and works of artistic craftsmanship in public places, with no non-commercial limit. You can photograph and sell images of the Merlion, the Supertrees, and the Marina Bay Sands exterior.
Practical notes
- Never photograph military installations, checkpoints, or gazetted Protected Places; breaching posted signage is a criminal offence.
- Iconic landmarks are fine to shoot and sell, but commercial shooting inside managed attractions needs an advance operator permit.
Sources
Keep shooting
Knowing the rules is half the job. The craft side: