SingaporeSmall Claims Court Limit in Singapore
The maximum claim amount in Singapore's Small Claims Tribunals is S$20,000 (or S$30,000 for claims arising from contracts with approved dispute resolution clauses).
What the Law Says
The jurisdictional limit for the Small Claims Tribunals (SCT) in Singapore is set under the Small Claims Tribunals Act and its subsidiary legislation. The SCT handles civil disputes involving relatively small sums, with simplified procedures and no lawyers permitted (except in limited circumstances).
Under section 5(1) of the Small Claims Tribunals Act (Cap. 301A), the SCT may hear and determine claims where the amount claimed does not exceed S$20,000. This is the standard jurisdictional ceiling.
However, section 5(2) provides an exception: if the claim arises from a contract that contains a term requiring parties to resolve disputes through the SCT or another approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process — and that term has been certified by the Commissioner for the SCT — the limit increases to S$30,000.
Statutory TextThe Tribunal may hear and determine a claim where the amount claimed does not exceed $20,000… or, where the claim arises from a contract containing a term referred to in subsection (2), $30,000.
— Small Claims Tribunals Act (Cap. 301A), s 5(1)–(2)
What to Do
Check your contract for an SCT/ADR clause certified by the Commissioner — if present, you may claim up to S$30,000.
File your claim online via the Community Mediation Centres (CMC) portal or at the SCT counter within 6 months of the cause of action (e.g., breach of contract or unpaid invoice).
Ensure your claim falls within SCT’s subject-matter jurisdiction (e.g., sale of goods, services, rental deposits, minor property damage); exclude matters like defamation, employment disputes, or intellectual property.
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-10-03.