Singapore is dropping its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme and re-opening its borders to all vaccinated travelers and children 12 and under from April 1, 2022. This is not an April Fool’s joke.
Singapore Loosens Border Restrictions From April 1, 2022 – All Vaccinated Travelers Can Enter Without Quarantine
In a move that represents a substantial shift in COVID-19 policy, Singapore Airlines will welcome vaccinated travelers with only a negative test starting at 11:59PM on March 30, 2022. No quarantine after arrival or rapid antigen test within 24 hours will be required.
Travelers will not have to receive authorization for entry in advance, travel quotas will be scrapped, and passengers transiting from high-risk nations will no longer be cordoned into holding areas at Singapore Changi Airport (as I was when transiting from Bangkok to Los Angeles…).
> Read More: My Singapore Transit Was Not What I Expected
Dubbed the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF), Singapore’s Health Ministry hinted that even pre-departure testing may be dropped in the coming weeks:
“We will continue to monitor the local and global Covid-19 situations and consider removing the pre-departure test requirement in the coming weeks.”
While some exemptions exist, unvaccinated travelers aged 13 and over will not be allowed to enter Singapore. Those exemptions include:
- long-term pass holders medically ineligible for vaccines
- long-term pass holders aged 13 to 17, and long-term pass holders
- short-term visitors with other valid entry approvals
Exempted passengers will be forced to quarantine for seven days after arrival, officially called a seven-day stay-home notice (SHN).
Explaining the change in policy, Transport Minister S. Iswaran noted:
“This shift to the Vaccinated Travel Framework is a decisive step for Singapore and an important signal to the world – that Singapore has fully reopened its borders, that we are reconnecting with the world, and reclaiming Changi’s status as an international aviation hub.”
Masks will still be required indoors, including in Hawker Centres, but will be optional outdoors.
CONCLUSION
Singapore will largely revert to its pre-pandemic opening, with vaccinated travelers needing only a single pre-departure test. Speaking as a traveler, it is wonderful news to see Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam re-open. Recognizing that we must now live with COVID-19 is pivotal for striking the right balance between safety and the economic and social tradeoffs that pursuing a guarded approach entail.
(H/T: SINJim)
Don’t forget Cambodia in this list
“Speaking as a traveler, it is wonderful news to see Malaysia, Singapore”.
They are following the “science” because vaccinated passengers cannot transmit Covid, right? And I thought Singapore was a smart country.
They also just got rid of mandatory mask wearing outdoors. Science!
It’s not transmission mind you, they couldn’t give an arse on transmission. All they want is you to stay away from their hospitals as healthcare there is heavily subsidised, which by the way is the right thing to do for your citizens. Science says you don’t get sick enough to go to hospital with vaccines. Get used to it.
LOL!!! Which science? How many people are now in hospitals with or without having a Covid vaccine? I can give you at least 5 close friends that were tripled vaccinated and felt like they were hit by a bus after getting Covid. I can also tell you dozens of cases of people that got Covid before vaccines even existed and didn’t even sneeze. That includes myself and my entire household as we all got Covid way before vaccines and were forced to watch Netflix for 2 weeks because we were way too dangerous to go outside. We never felt anything. Go figure. It all depends on who writes the science.
Thailand is still requiring quarantine on arrival until you test negative.
Requiring any mitigation (“vaccines,” masks, tests, etc.) is unacceptable. Singapore is a fascist state, but a reasonably well-run one. It is disappointing to see it continue to follow the Science instead of actual science.
I don’t quite follow your comments. Even if Singapore were fascist (which it isn’t…there are regular elections and the opposition party continually gains seats), how much better run would Singapore need to be to go from being “reasonably” well run to “well run”?
This is unconscionable. They are essentially trading lives for S$. The pandemic is only just beginning, follow the $cience.
Covid is about as likely to be dangerous as AIDS. They are both the same kind of virus anyway.
To my married friends that visit these countries and who may have forgotten the practice I say, just wear the appropriate masks on both ends, and you are likely protected from either.
And like that award travel to Singapore vanished overnight. Yesterday was figuring out flights out of Australia and lots of options but didn’t want to risk separate bookings. Tonight, nothing.
Does vax include non boosted?