The travel industry came to a virtual standstill after the outbreak of Covid-19. One of the main strategies instigated to curtail the spread of the virus was restrictions on international and domestic travel. The resolution to encumber mobility had a massive impact on the demand for travel and tourism.
However, in November 2021, Singapore progressively reopened its borders to facilitate safe travels against the backdrop of Covid-19. The country introduced Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights to permit vaccinated persons to travel into its borders with reduced restrictions.
Here is everything the Singapore VTL entry rules say and how things have changed since the introduction.
What Exactly is the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL)?
The VTL program enables vaccinated persons to transit between Singapore and other nations without going through quarantine. Under the Singapore VTL scheme, travelers are not bound to the Stay-Home Notice (SHN) after arrival. Rather, they will have to submit to a PCR test upon arrival and present a negative Pre-Departure Test obtained within two days of departure.
Moreover, Travelers are required to board selected VTL flights and must come from one of the countries approved under VTL. Some ratified countries in the VTL scheme include Australia, France, Italy, and the United States.
VTL Essential Requirements And Qualifications.
There are several prerequisites that you must fulfill in order to be eligible to enter Singapore via the VTL. Quarantine and stay-home advisories have been replaced with a few process considerations to protect the safety of all travelers and the participating nations. Here are the eligibility requirements:
Full Vaccination.
Before catching a flight, you must be fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine for at least 14 days. Additionally, if you have survived Covid-19 and obtained a negative result at least a day prior to your trip, you should still get vaccinated. In conformity with the Singapore government’s definition, full vaccination consists of two doses of vaccines on the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL), including Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
Installing TraceTogether Application.
The TraceTogether App is a contact tracing application designed to help with the process of identification, evaluation, and management of those who have been exposed to a disease in order to curtail its spread. The TraceTogether app must be downloaded before traveling to Singapore. Moreover, the application is used to show proof of vaccination.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests.
When visiting Singapore, one is required to take several self-supervised PCR tests. PCR test should be taken two days before travel, upon arrival, and after arrival. Moreover, only PCR tests performed in medical facilities with international accreditation or approval are accepted. They must be acquired no later than 48 hours before your departure.
Travel Insurance.
Due to the potential risk for Covid-19-related medical issues, travel insurance has become more crucial, particularly for temporary visitors. Therefore, you must get the appropriate travel insurance before visiting Singapore. Visitors must obtain travel insurance with at least $30,000 in coverage. The insurance covers international medical costs, quarantine, repatriation, and trip cancellation due to Covid.
Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) updates.
As of April 1, Singapore has loosened restrictions and replaced VTP with Vaccinated Travel Framework. Under the framework, fully vaccinated travelers can access the county without the mandatory quarantine in specified ferries or flights. As a result, travelers can take any airline to Singapore. Moreover, the application for a VTP pass is no longer a requirement.
Additional changes seen in the Vaccinated Travel Framework include simplification of the risk classification of restricted travel territories to General Travel Category and Restricted Travel Category. Currently, most countries are in the General Travel Category, however, it’s important to confirm the information on the country you are travelling from. Moreover, fully vaccinated passengers and children below 12 can now enter Singapore without PCR tests. Furthermore, short-term visitors don’t need any travel insurance. Nonetheless, visa restrictions remain the same as they did before the pandemic; especially for visa-requiring countries.
The new Vaccinated Travel Framework makes it easier to travel to Singapore. Therefore, you can get back to planning your vacation without much hustle. As the pandemic gets contained, we expect more travel destinations to loosen restrictions. Singapore is leading the way with the Vaccinated Travel Framework. Nonetheless, COVID-19 is still a priority. Ultimately, everything will go back to how it was.
