Singapore to start vaccinated travel lanes with Germany and Brunei from Sept 8

WITH over three-quarters of the population fully vaccinated, Singapore is cautiously moving to re-open borders through the introduction of vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) with two countries next month as a starting point.

The VTLs will be launched with Germany and Brunei, which will allow arriving travellers to do away with serving a stay-home notice (SHN) period.

In addition, Singapore will unilaterally open its borders to travellers from Hong Kong and Macau with immediate effect, without the need for them to undergo SHN upon arrival in Singapore. However, travellers departing from Singapore bound for Hong Kong or Macau will still need to serve the prevailing quarantine requirements imposed in Hong Kong and Macau.

Starting Sept 8, fully vaccinated travellers departing from Germany or Brunei may enter Singapore under the VTL. In lieu of an SHN, they must take multiple Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, including a pre-departure test within 48 hours of the departure flight, an on-arrival test at Changi Airport, and post-arrival tests at designated clinics in Singapore on days 3 and 7.

Prior to this, Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs) could already travel to Germany without quarantine but the new VTL arrangement restores two-way quarantine-free travel between Singapore and Germany.

“We are starting with two countries, with designated flights and a set of essential safeguards,” said Transport Minister S Iswaran, speaking at a virtual briefing on Thursday. “This will allow us to learn from the experience and enhance our processes, before any further expansion of the scheme.” Germany and Brunei were selected based on overall risk and operational assessments, he also said.

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Under the scheme, travellers must have remained in their country of departure and/or Singapore for the last 21 consecutive days before their departure for Singapore – which means that travellers do not have to spend a full three weeks in Germany or Brunei. They must also travel on direct and designated VTL flights from their country of departure to Singapore.

Short-term visitors and long-term pass holders will have to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) to travel to Singapore under the VTL, and those who require visas for travel to Singapore will have to obtain them separately. Application for the VTPs, which are free, will open from Sept 1.

In addition, travellers must purchase travel insurance with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for Covid-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs ahead of their trip to Singapore, as well as use the TraceTogether app in Singapore to enable contact tracing.

Those who fail to undergo the required PCR tests may be served with a SHN to be quarantined in a dedicated facility. It is also a chargeable offence under the Infectious Diseases Act.

Fully vaccinated Singaporeans and PRs, on the other hand, do not need a VTP to enter Singapore.  

Terence Fan, assistant professor at Singapore Management University, noted that while the VTL is a measured and careful first step, it will facilitate short-term business travel as well as leisure travel.

He said: “It’s a blueprint for how we can open up. They will see how many people come, see what the incidence rate of Covid cases are like. If (things are) steady, they will gradually open up more.”

He also pointed out that it could be a way for eligible travellers stuck abroad to return to Singapore sans quarantine - by spending time in Germany beforehand.

Describing the requirements - such as the multiple PCR tests - as onerous, independent analyst Brendan Sobie of Sobie Aviation said: “It’s a small step forward, but everyone is hoping for a broader reopening with less restrictions and with countries where it’s feasible to have two-way travel.”

He does not expect significant volumes of traffic due to the restrictions and small number of dedicated flights. He also reckons that air fares for the VTL flights could end up high due to a lack of competition since VTL travellers cannot opt for a flight with a stop-over.

As a start, there will be seven designated VTL flights weekly from Germany to Singapore, operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Lufthansa, which works out to up to 2,000 travellers weekly.

Meanwhile, there will be three designated VTL flights per week from Brunei, operated by SIA and Royal Brunei Airlines.

When it comes to restarting international travel, the Asia-Pacific risks being left behind, warned deputy director-general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata), Conrad Clifford, adding that the new VTL could serve as an example.

He said: “A data-driven approach using vaccination and testing can manage the risk of Covid-19 when reopening borders to international travel. Singapore has shown leadership in demonstrating that it is safe to reopen international travel without quarantine. I hope other Asia-Pacific states will take similar steps with their borders.”

Meanwhile, from 2359 hours on Aug 20, Singaporeans, PRs and long-term pass holders who have spent the last three consecutive weeks in Hong Kong or Macau may return to Singapore without having to serve SHN, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement. However, they will have to take a PCR test when they land in Singapore and produce a negative test result before they can go about their activities.

Similarly, short-term visitors who have spent three consecutive weeks in Hong Kong or Macao can now apply for an Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore on or after Aug 26.

While serving SHN is not required, they will need to do a PCR test upon arrival and self-isolate until they produce a negative test result. Other requirements include purchasing Covid-19 insurance, boarding a direct flight, as well as using the Trace Together app.

Mr Iswaran also said on Thursday that Hong Kong and Singapore have agreed not to pursue further discussions on the long-awaited Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB) at this point.

“Our strategies differ, with Singapore now taking steps towards becoming a Covid-resilient nation. Against this backgroup, my Hong Kong counterpart Secretary Edward Yau and I have discussed and concluded that we will not be able to launch or sustain the ATB in its present form,” Mr Iswaran added.

Read more:

• Singapore to recognise approved overseas vaccinations for all travellers; weighs booster shots

• Singapore to trial allowing fully vaccinated Covid-19 patients to isolate at home instead