Malaysia, Singapore to allow cross-border travel for emergencies & compassionate reasons from 17 May 2021

Further details and requirements will be announced by the relevant immigration authorities.

From 17 May 2021 (Monday), Singapore and Malaysia will allow cross-border travel for compassionate and emergency reasons, both countries' Foreign Affairs Ministers have announced.

In a joint statement following an in-person meeting in Singapore on Sunday (2 May 2021),  Malaysia's Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, and Singapore's Dr Vivian Balakrishnan both noted their agreement on the Procedures and Entry Requirements for Death and Critically Ill Emergency Visits between Singapore and Malaysia - an agreement provides a framework to facilitate travel between the two countries for compassionate and emergency reasons.

Details on the procedures and entry requirements will be released by the Department of Immigration of Malaysia and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.

Speaking on the agreement at a doorstop following the meeting, Minister Balakrishnan said: "This is a scheme which is needed because of the extensive ties of kinship between Malaysia and Singapore – parents, grandparents, uncles, aunties, and cousins. When family crises occur, people want to get together.

"Therefore, bearing in mind this very special and close relationship between the people of Singapore and the people of Malaysia, it is necessary to have schemes like this. We will announce further details on the types of tests and quarantine arrangements, which will be necessary in order to operationalise this scheme."

Details on the procedures and entry requirements will be released by the Department of Immigration of Malaysia and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.

Minister Hishammuddin also shared: (The) Reciprocal Green Lane and the Periodic Commuting Arrangement was also discussed. The Air Travel Bubble will require further negotiations between the transport ministries on both sides. Mutual recognition of vaccination certificates, recognition digitally, is underway. MySejahtera and TraceTogether will need to be compatible." 

https://www.facebook.com/Vivian.Balakrishnan.Sg/posts/10157600204866207

Apart from the above, both ministers also "welcomed the agreement reached by the Singapore Smart Nation and Digital Government Office and the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, on the mutual technical verification of health certificates issued in Singapore and Malaysia."

The statement added: "The two Ministers agreed that Singapore and Malaysia would continue to make progress on their respective national vaccination programmes to vaccinate long-term residents, including Malaysians residing in Singapore, and Singaporeans residing in Malaysia.

"The two Ministers agreed to continue discussions on further border re-opening measures, which should be premised on the COVID-19 situation in both countries, and the health and safety of both peoples."

Lastly, Minister Hishammuddin and Minister Balakrishnan welcomed the resumption of in-person official exchanges between both sides, following Minister Balakrishnan’s visit to Kuala Lumpur in March 2021 and Minister Hishammuddin’s visit to Singapore in May 2021. They also agreed on the importance of convening the 10^th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat in Singapore later this year, once the pandemic situation improves. 

Lead image / Minister for Foreign Affairs, Singapore, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan's Facebook page