Starting 8 September, fully vaccinated Singapore residents will be permitted to travel to Germany and back for leisure without the need to serve Stay-Home Notice (SHN). Instead, they will be required to undergo four COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
This will be the first time people of Singapore can travel to a foreign land for leisure and not be quarantined since the Republic closed its borders in March last year.
This announcement was made after the Government revealed on Thursday (19 Aug) that a new scheme will come into effect to unilaterally open its borders to vaccinated travellers from certain selected countries, starting with Germany and Brunei.
Although Brunei has not opened its borders for leisure travel yet, Germany has already unilaterally opened its borders to Singapore, allowing travellers from Singapore to fly to Germany and return without the need to be quarantined.
They will instead be required to undergo several COVID-19 tests and a short period of self-isolation, replacing quarantine requirements.
In addition, Singapore will also unilaterally lift restrictions for inbound travellers from Macau and Hong Kong. This basically means that short-term visitors from these two countries, regardless of their vaccination status, can enter the Republic without serving SHN from 26 August onwards.
However, they will be required to be tested for COVID-19 and have insurance.
These latest moves come as vaccination rates in the country have seen an upward trend, with 77 per cent of Singapore’s population have been fully vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus as at Wednesday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) explained that this new travel development comes under a scheme called Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL), adding that travellers must go through multiple COVID-19 PCR tests.
They must first take a pre-departure test within 48 hours of the scheduled departure flight and on-arrival test at Changi Airport. Following that, they are also required to take post-arrival tests on Day 3 and Day 7 of their stay at any one of the designated clinics in Singapore.
Additionally, travellers must also have stayed in their home country of departure and/or Singapore in the last 21 consecutive days before their departure. Those entering Singapore must also travel on non-stop designated flights and these flights will only be for VLT travellers.
Under the scheme, short-term visitors and long-term pass holders will also have to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) to Singapore.
Besides that, short-term visitors must also buy travel insurance, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000, before travelling to Singapore.
VTP applications open from 1 September for entry into Singapore on or after 8 September.
However, CAAS said that fully vaccinated Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) are not required to apply for VTP to enter Singapore.
“For those who are vaccinated in Singapore, they can show their vaccination status on the HealthHub app to the airline at check-in before departure for Singapore,” it noted.
As for those who received their vaccine overseas, they must show proof of their vaccine at check-in and to the immigration officers on arrival at Changi Airport.
Separately, CAAS also stated that travellers with short-term travel history to Hong Kong or Macau in the last 21 consecutive before their departure for Singapore can apply for an Air Travel Pass with immediate effect. However, they will be entering Singapore on or after 26 August.
It will be mandatory for them to take a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival at Changi Airport and be allowed to carry on with their activities only if their test result is negative.
For Singapore citizens, PRs, and long-term pass holders who have spent the last 21 consecutive days in Hong Kong or Macau, the relaxed measures kick in at 11.59pm on Friday (20 Aug).
They will similarly undergo a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival, and be allowed to go about their activities if they test negative.
Netizens slam authorities for opening Singapore borders to unvaccinated individuals
Following the announcement of the latest measures, online users took to social media to slam the Government for opening Singapore’s borders to overseas travellers, regardless of their vaccination status.
Penning their thoughts in the Facebook page of The Straits Times, they said that this is bad news for Singapore, adding that every time news on reopening border or travel bubble surface, something bad will happen.
Others chided the Government for allowing travellers from Hong Kong and Macau to enter Singapore regardless of their vaccination status. They questioned why the exception, while stating that it is not wise to allow individuals who are not vaccinated to skip SHN.
One user wrote: “What is the point of going through all the different heighten measures then let Hong Kong & Macau ppl to come in without vaccination status & ask for trouble.
“We (have) gone through different measures & sacrifice just to let others come in unvaccinated. This is unacceptable”.
Few others questioned the double standard in play as people in Singapore have to be fully vaccinated before being allowed to dine in, whereas overseas travellers are allowed to enter the country even if they are unvaccinated.
They also questioned if these unvaccinated travellers will be permitted to dine in at restaurants in Singapore.
