Singapore has had a Vaccinated Travel Lane in place with a limited number of countries since 2021, and there have been several extensions and changes to the program since its inception.
VTL expands to allow travelers from Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to enter from February 25 and Israel and the Philippines from March 5, 2022.
You can access Singapore’s page for Vaccinated Travel Lane here.
There is no longer a PCR-RT testing requirement at the airport upon arriving in Singapore from February 22, 2022, which is replaced with a supervised self-administered Antigen Rapid Test.
Also, self-administered tests on days 2 to 7 are no longer required either from the same day.
Long-term pass holders no longer need to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass.
The travel history of the Vaccinated Travel Pass is reduced from 14 to 7 days.
Announcement from Safetravel:
The following measures are applicable for VTL travellers entering Singapore from 21 Feb 2022, 2359h (SGT).
- Long-Term Pass holders (excluding Work Permit holders) are no longer required to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP).
- Assessed travel history will be reduced from 14 days to 7 days
- On-arrival Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at the airport will be replaced with a supervised self-administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) at a Quick Test Centre (QTC) or Combined Test Centre (CTC), to be completed within 24 hours of arrival in Singapore. Travellers who have prepaid for the PCR test can expect a refund from the Changi Airport Group (CAG) for their unutilised test (excluding the S$3 administrative fee) 7 days after their scheduled booking date.
- Unsupervised self-administered ARTs will no longer be required on Days 2 to 7 of arrival in Singapore.
VTL travellers who enter Singapore before 21 Feb 2022, 2359h (SGT) are required to continue with the existing testing regime (i.e. on-arrival PCR test and unsupervised self-administered ARTs from Days 2 to 7.
Vaccinated Travel Lane Countries:
Travellers may only have travelled to or transited via “Active VTL (Air) Countries/Regions” within the past 14 days (or 7 days, for travellers entering Singapore from 21 Feb 2022, 2359h), based on their date of entry into Singapore. The effective dates for VTLs which have yet to commence are stated below. For instance, travellers entering Singapore on or after 25 Feb can have travel history to the UAE within the past 7 days. Those entering Singapore prior to 25 Feb may not have travel history to the UAE.
SC/PRs with travel history to countries that are not listed within the “Active VTL (Air) Countries/Regions” will be subject to the prevailing health measures. All other travellers will be denied entry into Singapore.
Covid-19 Tests Required:
Travellers who are eligible for VTL (Air), and have obtained their Vaccinated Travel Pass if needed, should refer to this VTL (Air) traveller checklist for the full list of requirements to complete VTL (Air) travel.
Travellers arriving before 21 Feb 2022, 2359h will need to undergo the following COVID-19 tests:
- Pre-departure COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or professionally administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) taken within 2 days before departure for Singapore
- On-arrival COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival at Singapore Changi Airport (S$125, payment here)
- Unsupervised self-administered ARTs from Day 2 to Day 7 of their arrival if they need to leave their place of accommodation, in addition to fulfilling their pre-departure and on-arrival testing requirements.
Travellers entering Singapore from 21 Feb 2022, 2359h will only need to undergo the following COVID-19 tests:
- Pre-departure COVID-19 PCR or professionally administered ART taken within 2 days before departure for Singapore
- Supervised self-administered ART (S$15, payment onsite via cashless modes) at a Quick Test Centre (QTC) or Combined Test Centre (CTC) within 24 hours of arrival in Singapore
Fully vaccinated recovered travellers may qualify for exemption from COVID-19 tests. Please refer to this page for more information.
For their journey to Singapore, travellers must carry along an electronic or physical copy of the documents applicable to them, and be prepared to present them to airline staff and immigration officers. The table below summarises the key documents travellers have to bring along.
(Mobile users scroll right ☛ to view the table)
The following table is applicable to travellers entering Singapore from 21 Feb 2022, 2359h:
Conclusion
Singapore deferred adding UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to the program by a few months, but visitors from these countries are welcomed from February 25, 2022.
It is excellent that Singapore moves from an on-arrival PCR-RT test to an antigen one, and there is no longer requirement for additional tests on days 2 to 7. In addition, if you have recently had confirmed Covid-19, there are no tests required at all (read more here).
