Foreign travellers from Brunei, New Zealand can apply for air travel pass from Sept 1: CAAS

FOREIGN travellers who are not Singapore citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders can apply for an air travel pass from Sept 1 to enter Singapore on or after Sept 8.

Travellers must apply for the air travel pass between seven and 30 calendar days before their intended date of entry in Singapore, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement on Tuesday.

On Aug 21, Singapore's multi-ministry task force said the Republic would lift its border restrictions to allow visitors from Brunei and New Zealand to enter Singapore and be subject to a Covid-19 test upon arrival, in lieu of a stay-home notice (SHN).

The move is a first step towards reviving the Singapore air hub in a safe way while minimising risks to public health, CAAS said.

The air travel pass will allow foreign travellers to be contacted if there are changes to Singapore's health and border measures. The pass will also help manage the number of incoming visitors.

Air travel pass applicants must have spent the last 14 consecutive days in Brunei or New Zealand before departing for Singapore. They must also travel from these countries on direct flights to Singapore without transit.

Upon arrival in Singapore, these travellers must undergo a Covid-19 test at the airport in lieu of an SHN. They will then need to take private transportation, a taxi, or a private hire car from the airport to their declared place of accommodation and remain isolated at the same place until the test result is confirmed to be negative.

Only after being informed of their negative test results - which will be out after 48 hours - travellers will be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore. They must be responsible for their medical bills if they need medical treatment for Covid-19 while in Singapore, CAAS said.

Foreign travellers will need to download the TraceTogether app on their mobile devices and keep it activated during their stay in Singapore. They cannot delete the TraceTogether app 14 consecutive days after leaving Singapore.

Should they subsequently test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days after leaving Singapore, they are required to upload the data in the app upon request by the Republic's Ministry of Health.

The single-entry air travel pass can be applied for at no charge at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg.