Key Takeaways· Singapore uses Type G three-pin 13 A sockets on a 230 V, 50 Hz supply, so Indian plugs need an adapter but Indian 230 V appliances need no voltage converter. · Flights departing Singapore allow at most two power banks per passenger, carried in the cabin, and the power banks must not be charged on board. · A plug adapter does not change voltage, so a device rated only for 110 to 120 V, such as some appliances bought in the US, still needs a converter. |
The Singapore plug type is Type G, the three rectangular-pin 13 A fused plug, on a 230 V, 50 Hz supply, so an Indian traveller needs a travel adapter for Singapore but no voltage converter for Indian 230 V devices (Consumer Product Safety Office, accessed 2026-09-17; SP Group rate schedule, accessed 2026-09-17). India also runs at 230 V and 50 Hz, on Type C, D and M plugs (Wikipedia, Mains electricity by country, accessed 2026-09-17). The electricity is the same on both sides; only the shape of the socket changes.
This guide is maintained by Zurich Kotak General Insurance, an IRDAI-registered general insurer in India and part of the Zurich Insurance Group.
Last verified: 2026-09-17.
Indian passport holders need a Singapore visa before they fly: there is no visa on arrival, and the application goes in through an authorised visa agent appointed by the Singapore mission for your state. See our guide to the Singapore visa for Indians and check ICA’s website before you book.
Singapore and India compared
The only difference that matters between an Indian socket and a Singapore socket is the plug shape; voltage and frequency match.
| India | Singapore |
Plug and socket types | C, D and M | G for most appliances; M for high-power appliances such as air-conditioners; C for low-power double-insulated appliances, through a fused adaptor |
Voltage | 230 V | 230 V |
Frequency | 50 Hz | 50 Hz |
Adapter needed from India? | Not applicable | Yes, Type G |
Converter needed for Indian 230 V devices? | Not applicable | No |
Sources: the Consumer Product Safety Office (CPSO), consumerproductsafety.gov.sg , page last updated 2026-07-10; SP Group for 230 V and 50 Hz; Wikipedia for India, whose standard is IS 1293:2019.
Why an Indian plug will not fit a Singapore socket
Singapore’s standard socket takes three rectangular pins, and Indian plugs have round pins, so none of them goes in without an adapter. CPSO calls Type G “particularly important” for appliances with metal bodies, which are earthed through the plug’s earth pin. Three details catch Indian travellers out:
· The sockets are shuttered and switched. CPSO describes Singapore’s mains socket-outlets as “switched shuttered” (CPSO, list of controlled goods, accessed 2026-09-17), and in British-style sockets the earth pin opens the shutter (Wikipedia, accessed 2026-09-17). If a charger seems dead, check the socket’s own switch.
· Two-pin plugs need a fused conversion plug. CPSO: “Do not force the 2-pin plug into a 3-pin socket without a proper adaptor.”
· Round-pin Type M sockets are not for your chargers. CPSO says Type M serves “energy-intensive appliances such as air-conditioners” and is installed by qualified electrical workers.
Device by device: adapter only, or a converter too?
Every Indian device needs a Type G adapter in Singapore; a converter is needed only for a device that cannot take 230 V. Read the INPUT line on each label before you pack.
Device | What to look for on the label | Type G adapter | Voltage converter |
Phone charger or USB power adapter | INPUT 100 to 240 V on many chargers | Yes | No, if the label covers 230 V |
Laptop charger | INPUT 100 to 240 V; Indian bricks often have a round three-pin plug | Yes, an earthed one | No, if the label covers 230 V |
Hair dryer, straightener or curler bought in India | 220 to 240 V and the wattage | Yes, rated for the load | No |
CPAP machine | The power supply’s INPUT range | Yes | No, if the label covers 230 V; see the HSA rule below |
Electric kettle or travel iron bought in India | 220 to 240 V and the wattage | Yes, rated for the load | No |
Anything labelled 110 to 120 V only | A single low voltage | Yes | Yes, a step-down converter |
With hair dryers and kettles, the risk is current, not voltage. Divide the wattage by 230: a 2,000 W hair dryer draws about 8.7 A. The Type G plug is rated at 13 A, but a travel adapter can be rated lower, so check its label and never run two heating appliances through one adapter.
CPAP and other medical devices
A CPAP machine needs only a Type G adapter if its power supply accepts 230 V, but Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA) requires approval before you bring in a medical device for personal use. HSA’s page says: “You will need to apply for an approval from us before bringing a medical device into Singapore for personal use.” The exception is a device already in use when you arrive, “such as implanted devices or those already in contact with your skin or eyes” (HSA, travelling with medical devices, last updated 2026-04-30, accessed 2026-09-17 on hsa.gov.sg ).
HSA requirement | What it means for you |
Apply before travel | At least 10 working days before your expected arrival |
Supporting document | A letter from your attending doctor confirming the need |
Quantity | Each approval covers up to three months’ supply |
At the airport | No declaration, but keep the approval email for checks |
Transit only | No approval needed if you stay within the transit zones |
For the flight, CAAS lists CPAP devices among the battery-powered medical devices that may be hand-carried or checked in within its battery limits (CAAS, Pack for your flight, accessed 2026-09-17); using one on board is your airline’s call. For medicines, see medicines to carry while travelling abroad .
Which adapter to buy, and where
Buy one earthed, fused Type G adapter in India before you fly; for several devices, plug an Indian extension board into it and keep the total load within the adapter’s rating. A universal adapter with USB ports suits multi-country trips. Avoid a plastic dummy earth pin for anything with a metal body.
If you buy in Singapore, look for the SAFETY Mark. CPSO says 13 A and 15 A mains plugs “must be affixed with the SAFETY Mark”, its controlled-goods list includes multi-way adaptors and power adaptors (chargers), and for chargers it says “Always check that adapters carry the SAFETY Mark before purchase” (CPSO, power adaptors, accessed 2026-09-17). The Singapore Tourism Board describes Mustafa Centre in Little India as selling “beauty products, jewellery, groceries and electronics” (Visit Singapore, accessed 2026-09-17).
Travelling to Singapore? Get covered before you fly. Travel insurance for Singapore is worth arranging alongside the adapter, because a visa pays nothing towards a hospital bill in Singapore.
Hotels and charging on the go
Pack your own adapter rather than relying on the hotel. Many front desks lend a few, but stock is limited on the night you land. For the rest of your budget and packing, see Singapore trip cost from India .
Power banks on flights to and from Singapore
On flights departing Singapore you may carry at most two power banks, in cabin baggage only, and you must not charge them on board. From 2026-04-15, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) allows “a maximum of two power banks per person on board flights”; passengers with more “will be required to dispose of the excess power banks before the flight”. Power banks “must also not be charged on board the aircraft”, and passengers “are advised not to use power banks to charge their devices during the flight” (CAAS media release, 2026-04-06, accessed 2026-09-17 on caas.gov.sg ).
Power bank rating | CAAS rule on flights departing Singapore |
Up to 100 Wh (about 27,000 mAh) | Allowed in cabin baggage; two per person at most |
Over 100 Wh, up to 160 Wh (about 27,000 to 43,000 mAh) | Only with your airline’s approval, arranged in advance; same two-per-person limit |
Over 160 Wh | Not allowed |
In checked baggage | Not allowed |
Source: CAAS, Pack for your flight (last updated 2026-05-08), and the release above. Keep each power bank in its packaging or a separate pouch, or tape over its terminals.
Flying out of India, a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) circular of 2025-11-11 asked airlines to tell passengers to “carry power banks and spare batteries only in hand baggage”, that “using or charging power banks is not permitted during flight”, and not to put them in overhead bins (Business Standard, 2026-01-04, accessed 2026-09-17). Airlines may be stricter still, so check yours.
Where travel insurance fits
Travel insurance is not mandatory for a Singapore visa or for entry, but it is strongly recommended because medical treatment for visitors is expensive. Non-residents pay unsubsidised private rates in Singapore.
Zurich Kotak’s Smart Travel plans cover Singapore under the Asia geography, on two tiers: Excel, with sum insured up to USD 100,000, and Prime, up to USD 500,000. The Asia plans accept travellers up to age 70, with no Senior Citizen plan on this geography; travellers aged 71 or over can read about travel insurance for senior citizens . Loss of Personal Belongings, an optional cover you can add to a Smart Travel policy, extends to mobiles, laptops, tablets, e-readers and cameras lost to theft or robbery, at depreciated value and with a cap where bills cannot be produced, so keep your invoices. Baggage and trip delay are covered up to plan limits, and claims go through Europ Assistance India and are settled within 15 days of complete documents. See travel insurance for Singapore once your dates are fixed.
FAQs
Q: What plug type is used in Singapore? A: Singapore uses Type G, the three rectangular-pin 13 A fused plug, for most appliances, on a 230 V, 50 Hz supply. Type M round-pin sockets serve high-power appliances such as air-conditioners, and two-pin Type C plugs connect through a fused conversion plug.
Q: Do I need a voltage converter for Singapore from India? A: No, not for Indian 230 V devices. India and Singapore both run at 230 V and 50 Hz, so a Type G plug adapter is enough. You need a converter only for a device labelled 110 to 120 V only.
Q: Will my Indian phone and laptop chargers work in Singapore? A: Yes, with a Type G adapter, if the charger’s INPUT line covers 230 V; many chargers are labelled 100 to 240 V. Use an earthed adapter for a laptop brick with a three-pin plug.
Q: How many power banks can I carry on a flight from Singapore? A: Two per person, in cabin baggage only. Up to 100 Wh is allowed, over 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh needs your airline’s approval, and over 160 Wh is not allowed. You must not charge a power bank on board.
Q: Can I take my CPAP machine to Singapore? A: Yes, but HSA requires approval before a medical device is brought into Singapore for personal use, unless it is already in use when you arrive. Apply at least 10 working days before arrival with a letter from your doctor. The machine needs only a Type G adapter if its power supply accepts 230 V.
