Knowing the validity period for RF certification in Singapore will help you be prepared when renewal is required. If you miss this deadline, your product will lose its legal status.
Of the five types of certification available in Singapore, not all have an expiration date. One type of certificate does not expire. This is certainly convenient, as it eliminates the need for renewal.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the validity period for RF certification in Singapore. Understanding this will ensure your products remain compliant and can be legally marketed. You can also watch the full video to learn about the requirements in detail.
Five Registration Types
Before understanding the validity period for RF certification in Singapore, you need to start by understanding the types of registration. There are five types of registration in Singapore, and one type does not require renewal.
- Enhanced Simplified Equipment Registration (ESER): Applies to low-power, short-range devices.
- Simplified Equipment Registration (SER): Applies to mobile terminals and broadband access equipment such as 3G cell phones, LTE devices, and ADSL equipment.
- General Equipment Registration (GER): Applies to high-risk equipment such as base stations, repeaters, and walkie-talkies. This is the most comprehensive type.
- General Equipment Registration by Certification Bodies (GER-CB): Similar to GER, but certification is handled by a certification body recognized by IMDA.
- Confirmation of Conformity (COFC): A voluntary certification type for exempted equipment such as fax machines and standard telephones.
You need to know the type of registration to determine whether the certificate needs to be renewed or not. This will also affect the renewal schedule and renewal fees.
Validity Period for RF Certification in Singapore
The validity period of RF certifications in Singapore is governed by the Telecommunications Equipment Registration Guidelines. These regulations specify that all IMDA certificates are valid for five years from the date of issuance, with the exception of one type of certificate.
ESER certificates have no expiration date. This means that they do not require renewal and remain valid indefinitely for the product’s lifespan.
For other types of registration (SER, GER, GER-CB, and COFC), the certificate is valid for five years. The validity period—whether five years or indefinite—depends on the selected pathway.
Technical specifications in Singapore are updated periodically. It is possible that regulatory changes may occur within the five years. Therefore, recertification is required.
What Happens When The Certificate Expires?
You are already aware that the validity period for RF certification in Singapore is five years. When the validity period expires, there is no grace period or extension.
On that date, your IMDA certificate expires, and you can no longer legally market or use your product in Singapore. Therefore, you need to renew the certificate.
The renewal process is the same as the initial application process. You’ll need the same documents, use the same portal, and pay the same processing fee.
During the renewal process, your product will be reviewed to ensure it still meets the latest technical standards. Products that met the standards five years ago may need to be reevaluated.
The Certification Process
If you’ve forgotten the IMDA certification process, we’ll try to remind you of the summary. This will help you complete the recertification.
The lead time for RF certification in Singapore is three days. On the first day, you need to submit all required documents and make the payment through the GoBusiness Licensing Portal. Make sure all documents are accurate and complete.
On the second day, IMDA will evaluate the documents that have been submitted and paid for. On the third day, a decision will be made as to whether your product has passed the evaluation or not.
Products that pass the evaluation will immediately receive a certificate. The certificate’s issuance date marks the start of your five-year validity period.
Plan your renewal process starting from that date. Don’t wait until the certificate has expired to start preparing.
