FROM Apr 1, fully vaccinated travellers travelling between Singapore and Malaysia by land will be allowed to enter either country without needing to take a Covid-19 test or quarantine.

The new rules will apply to all categories of travellers and modes of transport via the land border, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a joint statement on Thursday (Mar 24).

This means that in addition to designated vaccinated travel bus services, fully vaccinated travellers may cross the land borders via private vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles. Singapore and Malaysia are also progressively restoring other modes of transport, including cross-border public bus services.

Non-fully vaccinated children aged 12 and below will also be able to enter Singapore without tests or quarantine, said Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a press statement.

With the move, fully vaccinated travellers will not need to apply for entry approvals such as Vaccinated Travel Passes to enter Singapore. But they must still have with them valid travel documents, such as their passports and Vehicle Entry Permits (VEP), before arriving at the checkpoints. 

Travellers may also submit their digital vaccination certificates in advance on the Vaccination Check Portal on the SafeTravel website.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 8.30 am

Asean Business

Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies.

Sign Up

Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles must receive VEP approval from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) before they travel, while those without Autopass cards must collect their cards at LTA's Johor Bahru Service Centre before entering Singapore.

Those with existing valid VEPs can continue to cross from Apr 1, said LTA in a separate release.

"The prime ministers recognise the good progress that both countries have made in vaccinating their respective populations and managing the Covid-19 pandemic," said the statement, adding that both leaders also noted the progress made in resuming cross-border travel through the Vaccinated Travel Lanes by air and land.

"Singapore and Malaysia enjoy deep, warm and multi-faceted relations, as well as strong people-to-people ties. Today's announcement is a significant milestone in our transition towards living with Covid-19," said PM Lee.

Said Ismail: "(The move) will certainly contribute to the recovery efforts with positive impacts on the economies and livelihoods of the people of both countries".

Anticipating a surge in travellers looking to travel via the land borders, MTI urged the public "not to rush to travel if they have no urgent need to do so".

"This will allow travellers with a more essential need for travel, such as for employment or to reunite with their families, to do so more smoothly as we reopen our borders with Malaysia," the ministry added.

READ MORE: 

• Vaccinated travellers to enter Singapore quarantine-free without need for VTLs from April

• Singapore homes to see firm rents, more leasing deals when border with Malaysia reopens further