Singapore Introduces Vaccinated Traveler Lane
Singapore today announced that it would launch Vaccinated Traveler Lane (VTL) first for people vaccinated in Germany and Brunei and lift all entry restrictions from Hong Kong and Macao arrivals.
Singapore and Hong Kong have mutually decided to scrap the Travel Bubble that was never launched. Hong Kong aims for an elimination strategy while Singapore intends to minimize them.
Infographics for leisure and short terms visitors:
Infographics for Singapore citizens and residents
How Vaccinated Traveler Lane works?
Here's the announcement from CAAS:
Singapore Further Reopens Borders in Cautious, Step-by-Step Manner
Vaccinated Travel Lanes launched for travel from Germany and Brunei Darussalam
Border restrictions lifted for all travel from Hong Kong and Macao
With more than 75% of Singapore's population fully vaccinated, Singapore will make further moves to reopen our borders in a cautious and step-by-step manner.
Vaccinated Travel Lanes from Germany and Brunei Darussalam
2. From 8 September 2021, fully vaccinated travellers departing from Germany or Brunei Darussalam may enter Singapore without the need to serve Stay-Home Notice (SHN) under a new Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) arrangement. In lieu of the SHN, travellers must undergo multiple COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, including:
A pre-departure test within 48 hours of the scheduled departure flight;
An on-arrival test at Changi Airport; and
Post-arrival tests on Day 3 and Day 7 during their stay at one of the designated clinics in Singapore.
3. Travellers must have been fully vaccinated in their country of departure or Singapore. An individual is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after he or she has received the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or other World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing vaccines. 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 have remained in their country of departure 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 that will only serve VTL travellers.
4. Short-term visitors and Long-Term Pass Holders will need to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) to travel to Singapore under the VTL. Application opens from 1 September 2021, 0001 hours (Singapore time) for entry into Singapore on or after 8 September 2021. As part of the VTP application, travellers will have to pre-pay for their Day 3 and Day 7 COVID-19 PCR tests. Their vaccination status will be checked for entry into Singapore.
5. Short-term visitors who require a visa for travel to Singapore must separately obtain a visa. They are advised 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.
6. Fully vaccinated Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents do not need to apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL. For those who are vaccinated in Singapore, they can show their vaccination status on the HealthHub app to the airline at check-in before departure for Singapore. For Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who are not vaccinated in Singapore, they can present proof of their vaccination taken in their country of departure 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 Permanent Residents who enter Singapore on or after 8 September 2021, 0001 hours (Singapore time).
7. Travellers under the VTL will have to comply strictly with the conditions of travel. Those who fail to 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.
8. More details on the requirements of the VTL can be found in the Annex and at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/.
Opening to Hong Kong and Macao Travellers
9. 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) with immediate effect, for entry into Singapore on or after 26 August 2021. They 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. They will not need to serve a 7-day SHN with a COVID-19 PCR test before the end of the SHN period.
10. From 20 August 2021, 2359 hours (Singapore time), Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass holders who have spent the last 21 consecutive days in Hong Kong or Macao and returning to Singapore will similarly undergo a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival. If the result is negative, they will be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore. This is in lieu of a SHN.
11. More details on the conditions of the ATP, application requirements and process, and Frequently Asked Questions can be found at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/.
Update on Advisory for Travel Out of Singapore
12. The travel advisory (https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19-phase-advisory/) will also be updated to allow travel from Singapore to these destinations. Travellers are also advised to check the entry requirements imposed by these places and take the necessary precautionary measures.
Safeguarding Public Health
13. To safeguard public health in Singapore, all travellers entering Singapore must comply with the prevailing health and safe distancing measures in Singapore.
14. As the global COVID-19 situation evolves, we will continue to adjust our border measures with the appropriate safeguards to ensure public health and safety. This will enable us to transition safely and confidently towards a COVID-19 resilient nation.
Here's the information from Singapore Airlines:
Flying from Germany to Singapore via the VTL
Before booking a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flight from Germany to Singapore, please ensure that you meet all VTL eligibility criteria and required health measures. These include:
Being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or other World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing vaccines.
Being fully vaccinated in either Germany or Singapore, with the final dose completed at least 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore.
Having stayed in Germany and/or Singapore for at least 21 consecutive days before departure.
Taking a pre-departure Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 48 hours before flight departure, an on-arrival PCR test at Singapore Changi Airport, as well as up to two post-arrival PCR tests in Singapore.
Flying only on dedicated VTL flights.
Short-term visitors and Long-Term Pass holders travelling to Singapore are required to apply for a Vaccination Travel Pass (VTP) issued between 7 and 30 days prior to their intended date of entry into Singapore. Applications for the Vaccination Travel Passes open from 1 September 2021.
Singapore citizens and permanent residents are not required to apply for the Vaccinated Travel Pass, but must show their vaccination status on the HealthHub app or present proof of their vaccination taken in their country of departure at check-in.
Short-term visitors who require a visa for travel to Singapore must separately obtain a visa. They are advised to do so after receiving their VTP approval and before departure.
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.
You must have the intention to enter Singapore, as transit passengers are not eligible for the VTL flights and will not be allowed to board the designated VTL flights. Non-VTL travellers are also not allowed to board the designated VTL flights.
To view the full VTL requirements and health measures, please click here.
Flying from Singapore to Germany
Singapore residents can travel freely from Singapore to Germany without serving quarantine if you meet either of the following criteria:
Singapore citizen or PR who have stayed in Singapore for at least the past six months.
Fully vaccinated travellers who received their last required vaccination dose at least 14 days before the date of travel, and who have not stayed in an "area of variant of concern" during the last 10 days. They must carry proof of their vaccination status. For more information, please refer here.
Upon arrival in Germany, passengers aged 12 and above are required to present one of the following documents:
A valid electronic or physical copy of the Covid-19 vaccination certificate.
A negative Covid-19 Antigen test result. The test must be taken at most 48 hours before arrival.
A negative Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or POC-PCR test result. The test must be taken at most 72 hours before arrival.
Proof of recovery from Covid-19, which must be dated between 28 days and six months before travel.
For more information on the entry requirements to Germany, please refer here.
Singapore's Vaccinated Traveler flight schedule:
Select flights from Germany to Singapore are only available for those that take advantage of the Vaccinated Traveler Lane program.
The Covid-19 situation is relatively good in Germany, but the case number is much higher than in Singapore.
Singapore earlier in the week announced that it would start lifting entry restrictions from select arrivals on a trial basis to see if there is an effect on the number of infections.
I am surprised that they decided to move with the program this expediently, as most countries have been relatively slow.
If you are traveling from Germany and plan to spend more than a week in Singapore, you end up taking FOUR PCR-RT tests; one in Germany, one on arrival, and days 3 and 7.
Travelers from Hong Kong and Macao only need a PCR-RT test upon arrival to Singapore. There is no pretest or additional test requirements.
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