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Under a new Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) agreement, fully vaccinated travellers coming into Singapore from Germany and Brunei via designated flights need not serve a Stay-Home Notice (SHN), and will be required to take multiple Covid-19 PCR tests instead.

This kicks in from Sep. 8, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced on Aug. 19.

From Aug. 20, travellers from Hong Kong and Macao also do not need to undergo SHN if their Covid-19 PCR tests are negative due to a review in border measures.

The move to cautiously reopen Singapore's borders was made since over 75 per cent of Singapore's population is fully vaccinated, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

Travellers from Germany and Brunei via VTL

In lieu of SHN, travellers from Germany and Brunei are required to undergo several Covid-19 PCR tests under VTL.

These include:

1. A pre-departure test within 48 hours of the scheduled departure flight,
2. An on-arrival test at Changi Airport and,
3. Post-arrival tests on Day 3 and Day 7 during their stay at one of the designated clinics in Singapore.

Travellers under the VTL who do not complete the required PCR tests may be served with a SHN to be quarantined in a dedicated facility.

It is also a chargeable offence under the Infectious Diseases Act.

There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel under the VTL arrangement, and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsor.

However, travellers must be fully vaccinated, which means two weeks have passed after he/she has received the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or other World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing vaccines.

Travellers must also have remained in Germany or Brunei and/or Singapore in the last 21 consecutive days prior to their departure for Singapore.

They must also travel on non-stop designated VTL flights from their country of departure to Singapore, and these flights will only serve VTL travellers.

Here are the designated VTL flights from Brunei and Germany:

For Singaporeans and PRs

Fully vaccinated Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) in Germany and Brunei who are vaccinated in Singapore can show their vaccination status on the HealthHub app to the airline at check-in before departure for Singapore.

For those are vaccinated in Germany or Brunei, they can present proof of their vaccination, taken in their country, to the airline at check-in and to the Singapore immigration authorities on arrival at Changi Airport.

The VTL arrangement will come into effect for Singapore Citizens and PRs who enter Singapore on or after Sep. 8, 12:01am (Singapore time).

For Short-term visitors and Long-term Pass Holders

Short-term visitors and Long-Term Pass Holders on the other hand, will need to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) to travel to Singapore under the VTL.

Application for the VTP opens from Sep. 1, 12:01am (Singapore time) for entry into Singapore on or after Sep. 8.

Travellers will have to pre-pay for their Day 3 and Day 7 Covid-19 PCR tests as part of the VTP application.

Their vaccination status will then be checked for entry into Singapore.

Short-term visitors who require a visa for travel to Singapore must separately obtain a visa.

CAAS advises these visitors to do so after receiving their VTP approval and before departing for Singapore.

They must also purchase travel insurance, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for Covid-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs, prior to travel to Singapore.

These visitors must also use the TraceTogether app in Singapore to facilitate contact tracing.

More details on the VTL can be found here.

Travellers from Hong Kong and Macao

From Aug 20, 2359 hours (Singapore time), travellers from Hong Kong and Macao need not undergo a SHN as these regions are being classified under Category 1 after a review on countries/regions classification was made on border measures.

Singapore Citizens, PRs and Long-Term Pass holders will instead need to undergo a Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival in Singapore.

If the result is negative, they will be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore.

These travellers need to have spent the last 21 consecutive days in Hong Kong or Macao. However, they need not be fully vaccinated.

Short-term visitors with travel history to Hong Kong or Macao in the last 21 consecutive days prior to their departure for Singapore can apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP).

This is for entry into Singapore on or after Aug. 26.

Short-term visitors will undergo a Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival at the airport and will be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore if their PCR test result is negative.

More details on the ATP can be found here.

Unilateral travel from Hong Kong and Macao only

Those in Singapore currently cannot travel to Hong Kong or Macao.

Transport Minister S Iswaran stated during the MTF press conference that both countries agreed that they will not be able to launch or sustain an air travel bubble.

"Both sides are focused on keeping our populations safe and minimising the risk of important cases. But our strategies differ, with Singapore now taking steps towards becoming a Covid-resilient nation," Iswaran said.

At the moment, travel will only be allowed unilaterally to visitors from Hong Kong and Macao.

However, the government "remains committed" to facilitating travel between Hong Kong and Singapore.

Update on border measures

The MTF has also reviewed the country/region classifications for our border measures.

Countries or regions will be classified in one of four categories, each with differentiated border measures, premised on a traveller’s 21-day travel history prior to their entry into Singapore.

If the traveller visits or transits through countries/regions in different categories, the most stringent set of requirements among those countries/ regions will apply.

Find out more about the classification here.

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