Singapore: Authorities extend ongoing domestic COVID-19 restrictions through Nov. 21 /update 53

Event

Singapore has extended ongoing gathering and domestic restrictions through Nov. 21 amid increased COVID-19 activity. Social gatherings are capped at two people. Food establishments may offer dine-in services for groups of up to two fully vaccinated customers. Unvaccinated individuals cannot enter coffee shops, malls, attractions, and hawker centers. Households may receive two unique visitors a day. Companies must allow employees to telecommute to the extent possible, though essential services can continue to operate on-site with full staffing.

Live performances, sporting events, and worship programs can continue to accommodate up to 1,000 vaccinated attendees and up to 50 participants if unvaccinated. Authorities continue to require people to practice health protocols, including wearing facemasks in public.

Travel Restrictions
Most short-term visa holders remain banned from entering, with exceptions for some humanitarian reasons. Citizens, permanent residents (PRs), and foreigners who 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 government requires all work pass holders and their dependents, as well as student pass holders, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before arriving in Singapore from Nov. 1.

Fully vaccinated individuals may travel to Singapore from Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, U.K. and U.S. without quarantine under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). A VTL with South Korea would come into effect on Nov. 15. Travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours before departure and one upon arrival. Individuals must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) between seven and 30 days before entry, with the exception of returning citizens and residents. Short-term visitors must have a minimum of SGD 30,000 travel insurance covering COVID-19 medical expenses.

The Johor Causeway, which links Singapore to Malaysia, is open from 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).

Officials continue to classify locations into four categories in increasing order of strictness of border measures based on a traveler's 14-day travel history. Entrants must continue to submit health declarations online within 72 hours before departure and undergo an on-arrival PCR test. 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 or self-sourced accommodation for seven days upon arrival, and take a COVID-19 test on arrival and before ending their quarantine. The locations include Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, U.K., U.S., and Vatican City.

• Category 3: Travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours before departure. Upon arrival, travelers must quarantine for 10 days at designated facilities; vaccinated travelers may apply to serve their quarantine at their place of residence. Individuals must comply with COVID-19 testing requirements during quarantine. The locations include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, and Slovenia.

• Category 4: Travelers must take a COVID-19 PCR test 48 hours before departure, quarantine for 10 days at designated facilities, and comply with COVID-19 testing requirements during quarantine. All other locations are under this category.

The 10-day stay at dedicated facilities costs SGD 1,450.

Non-PR foreign nationals who have visited or transited Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka within the previous 21 days remain barred from entering.

Travelers from mainland 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 an on-arrival PCR test.

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