Tobacco Retail Licence: Application and Renewal (HSA)
Any physical outlet selling tobacco products by retail in Singapore needs a Tobacco Retail Licence from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). The licence is tied to one specific outlet — operators running multiple locations must apply separately for each.
Note: the governing law was renamed from the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act to the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act (TVCA), effective 1 May 2026, alongside tougher enforcement provisions targeting vaporisers. The underlying retail-licensing framework is unchanged, but references should now point to the TVCA.
Who Applies
- Registered companies authorise a person in a managerial position to apply via CorpPass or SingPass (Business User)
- Sole proprietorships/partnerships and hawkers apply via personal SingPass
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| New application (S$60 non-refundable application fee + S$340 licence fee) | S$400 |
| Renewal, each subsequent year | S$300 |
| Amendment (company name, outlet name, or product type change) | S$60 |
| Cancellation fee (if letting licence lapse without 45 days' notice) | S$60 |
New applications are paid in two stages: S$60 at submission, then the S$340 balance once HSA approves. Payment for new applications and renewals is via GoBusiness — credit card is confirmed as accepted, and HSA's renewal guidance also lists eNets as an option (worth confirming current accepted methods at the time you pay, since HSA's pages aren't fully consistent on this).
Validity and Renewal
Licences are valid for 12 months from approval and must be renewed before expiry. GIRO account holders don't need to submit a renewal application — fees are auto-deducted around a month before expiry (keep sufficient funds ready). If you intend to let a licence lapse rather than renew, notify HSA at least 45 days before expiry, or the S$60 cancellation fee applies.
It's an offence to start selling tobacco products before the licence is actually issued — being mid-application is not sufficient cover.
Key Conditions
- Point-of-sale display ban — tobacco products must be kept out of sight in plain, undecorated storage, out of the direct line of sight of the public (specialist tobacconists have narrower exemptions)
- MLA warning notice — a prescribed notice stating that sale to persons below the Minimum Legal Age is prohibited must be prominently displayed
- Health warning labels — all tobacco products sold must carry the mandatory, up-to-date graphic health warnings
- No sale to persons below the MLA, and no imitation tobacco products or products exceeding the 1.0mg/10.0mg nicotine/tar yield limits
- No cigarette packs sold with fewer than 20 sticks, and no tobacco products given away as free gifts, samples, or prizes
Penalties
Penalties vary by specific offence rather than a single blanket figure:
Selling without a valid licence: Fine up to S$5,000 (first offence), up to S$10,000 (repeat) — fine only.
Selling to persons below the MLA: Fine up to S$5,000 (first), up to S$10,000 (repeat), plus licence suspension (6 months first offence) or revocation (second offence).
Point-of-sale display ban breaches: Fine up to S$10,000 and/or imprisonment up to 6 months (first offence), up to S$20,000 and/or 12 months (repeat).
Licences can also be suspended or revoked for non-compliance independent of any court penalty.
Applying for a Tobacco Retail Licence or need help with renewal?
We prepare and submit your application under the correct applicant type, help you understand and stay compliant with display and labelling conditions, set up GIRO for renewals, and track your licence expiry — liaising with HSA on your behalf throughout.