Singapore makes it a lot easier for vaccinated travelers to visit

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Singapore has announced that it is making significant changes to its COVID-19 travel rules and that following a review of procedures, it will be discontinuing the use of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) as well as removing the need for vaccinated visitors to take an on-arrival test.

Singapore takes a huge step towards opening up

Select vaccinated travelers have been able to enter Singapore since October of last year but the rules and regulations surrounding travel into Singapore have been convoluted and more than a little onerous (see here for what has been required).

Now, however, Singapore is about to make things a lot simpler for vaccinated travelers following an announcement earlier today that as of 1 April 2022, it will be eliminating its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) and will no longer require vaccinated passengers to take a post-arrival Covid test when they land.

As of 1 April 2022, vaccinated travelers and children born in or after 2010 will be able to enter Singapore with the following:

• A visa (if required)
• A negative pre-departure test taken no more than two days before flight departure or proof of recovery from COVID-19.
• A completed electronic SG Arrival Card (SGAC)
• Proof of travel insurance that has a minimum coverage of S$30,000 (~US$22,100) for any COVID-19 related medical charges.

Note: Other restrictions may apply (e.g. if arriving from countries known to have yellow fever).

Acceptable proofs of COVID-19 vaccination include the following:

If vaccinated in Singapore:

• Vaccination certificate
• Vaccination status as shown in the HealthHub mobile application
• Vaccination status as shown in the TraceTogether mobile application

If vaccinated outside Singapore:

• A Digitally-verifiable vaccination certificate; or
• Vaccination certificate with the following details in English, or translated to English with the translation notarised:
  • • Name (per travel document used for entry)
    • At least one other personal identifier, e.g. date of birth or passport number (per travel document used for entry)
    • Country of vaccination
    • Name of vaccine(s) administered

Click here to see a list of accepted COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination certificates

Pre-departure testing requirements

Note: This applies to all visitors born before 2020 arriving by sea or air.

• COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction test (PCR test) at an internationally accredited or recognised lab/clinic/medical facility taken within 2 days of departure; OR
•  Antigen Rapid Test (ART) that is taken within 2 days of departure and is:
  • Administered by a trained professional; or
  • Self-administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) remotely supervised by an approved ART provider in Singapore (eligible travelers only)

All certificates of testing must include the traveler’s name, and date of birth or Passport number (per the passport used to travel to Singapore) and should show the date and result of the COVID-19 test.

Acceptable proofs of recovery from COVID-19 include:

• A medical discharge memo issued by the relevant state authority or licensed medical professional; or
• A result of a positive COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR Test) administered at an internationally accredited or recognised lab/clinic/medical facility; or
• Result of a positive Antigen Rapid Test (ART) administered by a trained professional

The document must contain the traveler’s name and their date of birth or Passport number (per the passport used to travel to Singapore) and it must also show that the date of infection fell between 7 to 90 days before the date of departure from Singapore.

Bottom line

Singapore has now announced that it’s taking a big step back to ‘normality’ by significantly reducing the number of hoops vaccinated passengers have to jump through to visit the island state. From 1 April 2022, VTLs will be a thing of the past and mandatory arrival testing will be discontinued too leaving just a pre-departure test as the major prerequisite to enter Singapore.