Singapore launches sea VTL with Bintan & Batam, extends air VTL to all Thai cities and Hong Kong, and more

Singapore will also lift the 50% cap on the daily number of VTL travellers entering the country by air, and progressively restore the VTL quota from 5,000 to 15,000 by 4 March 2022.

Among a series of updates shared on Wednesday (16 February 2022), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore has announced new Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with Hong Kong, Israel, and the Philippines, as well the extension of the VTL with Thailand to all Thai cities beyond Bangkok.

Singapore will also be lifting the 50% cap on the daily number of VTL travellers entering the country by air, and progressively restoring the VTL quota from 5,000 to 15,000 by 4 March 2022, it said.

Here is the full rundown on the latest VTL updates in Singapore:

VTLs with Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

The VTLs with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, which were scheduled to start on 6 December but later deferred, will now be launched.

Singapore will also cease the current unilateral opening (UO) with Hong Kong and instead, extend the VTL to the region, following the Ministry of Health’s review of the public health situation there. With this, travellers from Hong Kong will now have to be fully vaccinated to be able to enter Singapore quarantine-free. 

In line with these two updates, travellers from these countries/regions be able to enter Singapore on or after 25 February 2022, and Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) applications will open on 22 February 2022 at 1000 hours (Singapore time).

Additionally, with the cessation of the UO arrangement with Hong Kong, applications by short-term visitors for the Air Travel Pass (ATP) for travel from Hong Kong to Singapore will cease from 17 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore time).

Thus, those with travel history to Hong Kong holding a valid ATP may enter Singapore up till 24 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore time), while existing ATPs for entry into Singapore after 24 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore time) will be rescinded.

Those who have not applied for an ATP before 17 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore time) but need to travel to Singapore before 25 February 2022 urgently may write to the Safe Travel Office here.

VTL with Thailand

The CAAS also announced that Singapore will be expanding the existing VTL with Thailand beyond Bangkok, to include flights from all cities in Thailand. 

VTLs with Israel and the Philippines

Adding to the list, Singapore will be launching new VTLs with Israel and the Philippines, to "establish two-way quarantine-free travel" with both countries.

With this, travellers from these countries will be able to enter Singapore via the VTL on or after 4 March 2022. Meanwhile, VTP applications for both will open on 1 March 2022 at 1000 hours (Singapore time).

VTL with Malaysia

Separately, Singapore and Malaysia have also announced that the sale of bus and air tickets for both the Singapore-Malaysia land and air VTLs will be restored. Head on here for the full update.

Recap: key conditions to note on the VTL, as shared by CAAS

The VTL is for entry into Singapore. All travellers entering Singapore under the VTL must comply with the prevailing VTL requirements stated on the SafeTravel website. Travellers are advised to check the entry requirements imposed by the respective VTL countries/regions, which may vary across countries/regions and may change as the COVID-19 situation evolves.

In tandem with the "rationalisation of community measures", the following changes will also apply for travellers entering Singapore from 21 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore Time):

• Travel history requirements will be reduced from 14 to seven days.
  • VTL travellers must have remained only in (including any transit stops) one or more of the VTL countries/regions, or a country/region in Category I of MOH’s Country/Region Classification for Border Measures in the last seven consecutive days prior to departure to Singapore. If the traveller has been in Singapore within those last seven days, his/her stay in Singapore can be counted towards fulfilling this seven-day travel history requirement.
    
    
• Long-Term Pass Holders (except work permit holders) will no longer have to apply for a VTP to travel to Singapore on a VTL flight.
  • Currently, all short-term visitors and long-term pass holders are required to apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL. For entry into Singapore from 21 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore time), only short-term visitors and work permit holders eligible to travel on VTL will have to apply for a VTP to travel to Singapore on a VTL flight.
  • Fully vaccinated Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, all other long-term pass holders and In-Principle Approval (IPA) holders, and children aged 12 years and below in the calendar year do not need to apply for a VTP to enter Singapore under the VTL. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel under the VTL arrangement and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsor.

In general border updates, in tandem with the other adjustments to travel measures, the CAAS will also be removing the pre-departure test requirements for all passengers transferring or transiting through Singapore. "This will help reduce cost, improve convenience and enhance Singapore’s attractiveness as a transfer/transit hub," it noted.

The changes will apply to all flights arriving in Singapore from 21 February 2022, 2359 hours (Singapore Time), regardless of whether the flight is a designated VTL flight.

In similar updates, Singapore will be launching the first VTL arrangement via sea (VTL (Sea)) from Batam and Bintan in Indonesia, as part of its efforts to gradually restore transport connectivity.

Announcing this also on Wednesday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said fully-vaccinated travellers from Batam and Bintan may enter Singapore under the VTL (Sea) from 25 February 2022, and applications for the Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP (Sea)) will open on 22 February 2022, 1000 hours (Singapore time).

Currently, Indonesia allows travellers from Singapore to travel under its travel bubble to Nongsapura International Ferry Terminal (NIFT) in Batam and Bandar Bintan Telani Ferry Terminal (BBTFT) in Bintan, without the need for quarantine. Singapore will now offer VTL (Sea) from Batam and Bintan to facilitate bi-directional quarantine-free travel.

As a start, the VTL (Sea) will allow up to 350 travellers weekly from NIFT in Batam, and another 350 travellers weekly from BBTFT in Bintan to Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT). The designated VTL (Sea) ferry services between TMFT and NIFT/ BBTFT will be operated by regional ferry operators Batam Fast and Bintan Resort Ferries respectively.

All travellers entering Singapore’s TMFT under the VTL (Sea) with Batam and Bintan must comply with VTL (Sea) travel requirements, which is aligned with prevailing requirements for travel under VTL (Air):

•  Travel history
  • VTL (Sea) travellers must have remained only in (including any transit stops) one or more of the VTL countries including Indonesia, or a country/region in Category I of the Singapore Ministry of Health’s Country/Region Classification for Border Measures in the last seven consecutive days prior to departure for Singapore. If the traveller has been in Singapore within those last seven days, his/her stay in Singapore can be counted towards fulfilling this seven-day travel history requirement.
    
    
• Testing
  • All VTL (Sea) travellers must take two COVID-19 tests:
    • A pre-departure test, which must be a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or professionally administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART), within two days[2] before departing for Singapore and obtain a negative test result.
    • An on-arrival supervised ART test at Quick Test Centres or Combined Test Centres within 24 hours of arrival and remain self-isolated until their test result is confirmed to be negative.
  • Children aged two years and below in the calendar year are not required to undergo these tests.
    
    
• Vaccination
  • All VTL (Sea) travellers must be fully vaccinated, and produce a physical or digital proof of vaccination recognised by the Singapore authorities. The following proofs of vaccination are accepted for travel under the VTL (Sea):
    • Vaccination certificates issued in the EU DCC format by the EU Member States or by non-EU Member States that have joined the EU DCC system; or
    • A digital proof of vaccination issued in any VTL country or Singapore, that can be recognised by the Singapore authorities.
  • To facilitate a smooth arrival process in Singapore, all VTL (Sea) travellers are strongly encouraged to submit their health declaration via the SG Arrival Card e-service prior to departure for Singapore.
    
    
• Designated VTL (Sea) ferry services
  • Travellers entering Singapore under the VTL (Sea) must travel only on designated VTL (Sea) ferry services from NIFT/ BBTFT to TMFT.

The MPA also detailed the additional entry requirements that apply to short-term visitors:

• Short-term visitors will need to apply for a VTP (Sea) to enter Singapore under the VTL (Sea). Fully-vaccinated Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, Long-Term Pass Holders (except work permit holders)[6] and children aged 12 years and below in the calendar year do not need to apply for a VTP (Sea) to enter Singapore under the VTL (Sea).
  
  
• Short-term visitors who require a visa for travel to Singapore must separately obtain a visa. These travellers are advised to apply for their visa after receiving their VTP (Sea) approval and before departing for Singapore. They must also:
  • Purchase travel insurance, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19 related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs, prior to travel to Singapore,
  • Show proof of a hotel booking confirmation and payment for the duration of their stay in Singapore,
  • Present a return ferry ticket corresponding to the duration of their hotel stay in Singapore, and
  • Use the TraceTogether app in Singapore to facilitate contact tracing.

Details of the VTL (Sea) requirements in Singapore and applications for the VTP (Sea) will be available on the SafeTravel website from 22 February 2022.

ALSO READ: 3 things to note if you want to travel under the Singapore-Indonesia travel bubble

Image / 123RF