Singapore: Authorities adjust COVID-19 pre-departure test requirements and border measures for some countries from 23:59 Sept. 9 /update 49

Event

Singapore will implement updated border measures and pre-departure test requirements from 23:59 Sept. 9. Authorities continue to classify locations into four categories in increasing order of strictness of border measures based on a traveler's 21-day travel history prior to arrival. All travelers from Category 2, 3, and 4 countries must present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 48 hours before departure from 23:59 Sept. 9. All entrants must continue to submit health declarations online within 72 hours before departure and undergo an on-arrival PCR test.

The government has adjusted the countries in some categories. Authorities will add Croatia, Egypt, Finland, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden to Category 3, while South Korea will be moved from Category 3 to 2. The categories are as follows:

• Category 1: Travelers do not need to take a pre-departure test. Entrants who test negative for COVID-19 upon arrival are exempt from quarantine. Authorities allow short-term visitors from these locations. The locations include Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China and Taiwan.

• Category 2: Travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours before departure, quarantine at their residence for seven days upon arrival, and take a COVID-19 test on arrival and before ending their quarantine. The locations include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and South Korea.

• Category 3: Travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours before departure. Upon arrival, unvaccinated travelers must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities, while vaccinated entrants can quarantine at their residence. Individuals must comply with COVID-19 testing requirements during quarantine. The locations include Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland.

• Category 4: Travelers must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities and take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure. Individuals must comply with COVID-19 testing requirements during quarantine. All other locations are under this category.

Foreign nationals without PR who have visited or transited Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka within the previous 21 days are barred.

Additionally, fully vaccinated individuals may travel to Singapore from Brunei and Germany without quarantine under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). Travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours before departure, upon arrival, and on days three and seven of their stay. Individuals must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) between seven and 30 days before entering Singapore, with the exception of returning citizens and residents.

Domestic Restrictions
Under the updated Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures, gatherings are capped at five vaccinated people; unvaccinated individuals should remain in groups of two. Officials allow five distinct visitors per household daily. Officials allow dine-in at hawker centers and coffee shops in groups of two regardless of vaccination status. All other food establishments may offer dine-in services to groups of five if all diners are vaccinated, as well as recovered COVID-19 patients or people with a valid negative COVID-19 test result. Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below from the same household may be included in the group of five diners.

Up to 50 percent of employees may work on-site. Essential services can continue to operate on-site with full staffing. Shopping malls may operate with an occupancy limit of 10 square meters (108 square feet) per person. Live performance, sporting, and religious events may accommodate up to 1,000 vaccinated attendees and up to 50 participants if unvaccinated; exemptions are in place for children aged 12 and below. Authorities continue to require people to practice health protocols, including wearing facemasks in public.

The Johor Causeway, which links Singapore to Malaysia, is open 07:00-19:00 daily. State carrier Singapore Airlines (SQ) and its subsidiaries, Scoot (TR) and SilkAir (MI), continue to suspend most flights but are resuming operations to several locations gradually. Foreigners flying from select cities with several airlines, including SQ, TR, and MI, can transit via Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

Travel Restrictions
Most short-term visa holders remain banned from entering, with exceptions for some humanitarian reasons. Citizens, permanent residents (PR), foreigners that work in Singapore, and their dependents can enter the country. Non-PR foreign nationals must receive official approval before travel. Work pass holders and their dependents with travel history to higher-risk locations may apply for entry approval if fully vaccinated; the exemption is not applicable for migrant domestic workers and S pass or work permit holders from the Construction, Marine Shipyard, and Process sectors.

Travelers from China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan can apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) for all purposes. Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGL), which allow official and business travel, are in effect with Brunei, as well as Chongqing, Shanghai, and Tianjin municipalities and Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces in China. Visitors under the program must have a local sponsor, undergo testing within 72 hours before departure and upon arrival, self-quarantine until receiving a negative test result, and adhere to controlled itineraries for the first 14 days. ATP and RGL applicants must have a minimum of SGD 30,000 travel insurance.

Singaporean citizens arriving from Malaysia by land can get tested upon arrival. Officials may deny entry to returning PRs who arrive without a negative PCR test result. Officials require travelers from Indonesia to undergo testing within 48 hours before departure and undergo on-arrival PCR and rapid antigen testing.

Advice

Consider postponing travel if affected by travel restrictions. Confirm flight status before checking out of accommodation and departing for the airport. Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Ministry of Health Singapore
TraceTogether Mobile Application
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority
Safe Travel Portal