Challenges for Travelers Vaccinated in the United States
One of the requirements to enter via the VTL route is to hold acceptable proof of vaccination. The challenge for travelers vaccinated in the United States is that the U.S. does not offer a national vaccination certificate and its local programs were not initially recognized by the Singaporean authorities, regardless of whether the local certificate has a scannable QR code or not.
Initial Requirements The Singapore government would only recognize vaccination proof from either an approved mobile application or a digital vaccination certificate that includes a scannable QR code.
New Requirements, effective November 13, 2021
The Singapore government has announced recently that if the vaccination record was issued in the US but the traveler is not able to produce an approved digital vaccine certificate the following are acceptable:
- The digital vaccination record that was retrieved from the individual’s state or local health authority’s public health database; OR
- Physical vaccination record and a verification letter that attests to the individual’s vaccination status. The letter must:
- Be signed by the vaccination provider;
- Contain the traveler’s name and at least one other personal identifier (e.g. date of birth or matching passport number);
- Confirm the name of administered vaccine for each dose; and
- Confirm the date that each dose was administered.
Singapore maintains a VTL with Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A joint VTL with Malaysia and a VTL with Finland and Sweden from November 29, 2021.
Erickson Insights
The VTL allows fully vaccinated with approved vaccines to travel quarantine-free. VTL travelers must hold an accepted proof of vaccination and meet the travel history and designated VTL flight requirements.