Written by Clare Chong

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Aug 19 that vaccination-differentiated border measures for travellers would be implemented in view of the increased vaccination rates in the population. The 21-day travel history of travellers into Singapore would be used to determine which category they belong to.

The 4 categories

Category I consists of places with the lowest risk of Covid-19 transmission and travellers from this category can enter Singapore without serving a stay-home notice (SHN) if they test negative for an on-arrival Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test. These places include:

• China (excluding Jiangsu province),
• New Zealand,
• Hong Kong and Macau.

Category II are placed with similar Covid-19 risk profiles to Singapore, such as:

• Jiangsu province in China,
• Australia,
• Brunei,
• Canada,
• Germany

These travellers will need to serve a 7-day SHN at an accommodation of choice while Singapore citizens, PRs and long-term pass holders may serve the SHN at their residence if conditions are deemed suitable.

Category III are destinations deemed to be at higher risk of Covid-19 infections and unvaccinated travellers in this category will have to undergo a 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities. Those who are fully vaccinated may apply to serve their 14-day SHN at a suitable accommodation of choice. Countries currently in Category III are:

• Belgium,
• Denmark,
• Japan,
• Luxembourg,
• Austria,
• Italy,
• Norway,
• The Republic of Korea (ROK),
• Switzerland  

The last category would apply to travellers from all other regions and countries (except Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, where entry is currently not allowed). They will all be required to undergo a 14-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities and be subjected to existing test regimes.

Travellers transiting through various countries across different categories would face the most stringent set of requirements that apply to that country/region. 

More good news for Business Travellers?

In addition to the above 4 categories, a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) for fully vaccinated travellers to enter Singapore with reduced border measures will be implemented in September.

Brunei and Germany will be the first countries to pilot VTL arrangements where vaccinated persons will undergo multiple COVID-19 PCR tests in lieu of SHN. Short term visitors and long-term pass holders will need to apply for a vaccinated travel pass (VTP) between 7 and 30 days prior to their intended date of entry into Singapore from 1 September onwards.

Returning vaccinated Singapore citizens and PRs will automatically qualify and will not need to apply for VTP. Changes to border measures will be updated on the SafeTravel website.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will also issue a tamper-proof vaccination sticker to be affixed onto the passport of incoming fully vaccinated travellers who received their WHO-Emergency Use listing vaccines overseas. Travellers would need to furnish a valid English-language vaccination certificate to ICA upon arrival. They will be eligible for vaccination-differentiated safe management measures when they show their passport with the issued sticker. 

Would these measures help boost business travelling in and out of Singapore?

With the gradual reopening of border measures, many business travellers would be able to travel in and out of Singapore more efficiently without incurring additional time and costs with the previous testing regimes. 

Do you think such moves would encourage more travellers to come to Singapore for business and work trips?