• Section 26(1) of the PDPA provides that an organisation shall not transfer any personal data to a country or territory outside Singapore except in accordance with requirements prescribed under the PDPA to ensure that organisations provide a standard of protection to personal data so transferred that is comparable to the protection under the PDPA.
• Section 26(2) of the PDPA provides that the PDPC may, on the application of any organisation, by notice in writing exempt the organisation from any requirement prescribed pursuant to section 26(1) in respect of any transfer of personal data by that organisation.
• An exemption granted under section 26(2) may be granted subject to such conditions as the PDPC may specify in writing and may be revoked at any time by the PDPC.

• Pursuant to section 62 of the PDPA, the PDPC may, with the approval of the Minister, by order published in the Gazette, exempt any person or organisation or any class of persons or organisations from all or any of the provisions of this Act, subject to such terms or conditions as may be specified in the order.

Persons or organisations that wish to apply for an exemption from any provision of the PDPA should first refer to PDPC’s Help for Organisations to consider if the issue can be addressed by any of the existing resources available on the PDPC’s website. Organisations that have queries concerning the interpretation and application of the PDPA should refer to the advisory guidelines and FAQs, or contact us through our Feedback Form. If the available resources do not address the compliance issue, organisations may submit an exemption request following the instructions below:

Application for an exemption should be submitted to the PDPC at corporate@pdpc.gov.sg with the following:

1. The provision(s) of the PDPA for which the exemption is sought
2. The period(s) for which the exemption is sought
3. Detailed explanation of the reasons for seeking the exemption from the PDPA provision(s), why non-compliance is necessary, and evidence supporting those reasons
4. Whether there are any alternative courses of action (i.e. apart from obtaining an exemption) that have been considered that would not lead to a breach of the provision(s), with explanations on why such alternatives are not feasible
   • For example, in the case of a section 26(2) application, detailed explanation of the reasons why the organisation is unable to rely on the avenues provided for in Part III of the Personal Data Protection Regulations 2014 to comply with section 26 of the PDPA.
5. In the case of a section 26(2) application, the identity of person(s)/organisation(s) or class of persons/organisations seeking the exemption, details of the type and volume of personal data intended to be transferred, and all relevant circumstances of the transfer
6. In the case of a section 62 application, the identity of person(s)/organisation(s) or class of persons/organisations seeking the exemption
7. Any other supporting information and documentation

Exemption requests will only be processed if the above information are provided. Organisations should provide exceptional and compelling reason(s), accompanied with evidence of the reason(s) why the organisation is unable to comply with the PDPA provision(s). When furnishing any information to the PDPC, an applicant may identify information that the applicant claims to be confidential information. Any such information should be clearly marked and placed in a separate annex and any claim for confidential treatment must be supported by a written statement giving reasons why the information is confidential. Please note, however, that the PDPC and its officers may disclose any matter, including matters that have been identified as confidential or matters relating to the identity of persons furnishing information to the PDPC, where necessary for the performance of their functions or discharge of their duties or where lawfully required by any court, or lawfully required or permitted under the PDPA or any other written law. In particular, please note that an exemption order made under section 62 will be published in the Gazette.