From December 2, 2021, the Government of Singapore is increasing public health mitigation efforts and testing requirements in response to the Omicron variant.
Key Changes
- Air travelers arriving via the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme will have to undergo supervised, self-administered antigen rapid tests (ARTs) at a Quick Test Centre on days 3 and 7 after their arrival. Currently, these travelers can enter without quarantine and have to take a COVID-19 swab test only before their departure for Singapore and after arrival.
- All air travelers entering, transferring, or transiting through Singapore must have tested negative in a pre-departure test within two days of leaving for Singapore. Currently, travelers from Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Taiwan only have to take a test upon arrival and do not have to do pre-departure tests.
- All travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival. This will affect non-VTL travelers entering Singapore who are not from Hong Kong, Macau, China, and Taiwan. Currently, they do not have to take a test upon arrival but have to test before the end of their stay-home notice period.
The Ministry of Health will also conduct a one-time PCR test for screening purposes for all travelers who arrived in Singapore between November 12 and 27 and had been in regions with known cases of the Omicron variant within 14 days of their arrival.
VTL Timelines
- Currently, Singapore operates a Vaccinated Travel Lane with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
- VTL flights from Thailand will begin on December 14 and with Cambodia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Turkey on December 16, 2021.
- VTL arrangements with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have been postponed indefinitely.
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.
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.