Ready to travel on a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) with the kids? Here’s what you should know
When new Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) were announced, there was much excitement in the air! No more quarantine or stay-home notice (SHN)? Get us on a flight ASAP! If you have been struggling with keeping abreast of all the VTL updates and travel requirements as you plan your public holidays or the next school break, we are here to help. The biggest recent VTL news is that the requirements for returning to Singapore have become clearer and no quarantine/SHN is required – Singaporeans, Permanent Residents (PR), long-term pass holders or short-term visitors (including unvaccinated children) simply need to test negative on the PCR test taken 48 hours before departing for Singapore, and the on-arrival PCR test at Changi Airport. Those entering Singapore VTLs no longer need to have ARTs every day (just perform the self-administered ARTs on the days you wish to go out from days 2 to 7 of your arrival). As long as you test negative on these tests and have a valid Vaccination Travel Pass (more on that below), you’re free to resume regular life in SG!
Is your head already spinning with all this info? Get ready, because we have to admit there’s a lot to digest.
Click below to jump to…
Who qualifies for the VTL?
List of VTL Countries
VTL Flights
What you need before you fly: Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) & more
Number of PCR tests needed, listed by country
Things to note before returning to Singapore
Who qualifies for the VTL?
All individuals fully vaccinated against Covid-19 are allowed to travel on the VTL. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they have received both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or other vaccines listed under the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use list (EUL), such as Sinovac and AstraZeneca.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 years old and below (born in or after 2009) who are Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass holders or short-term visitors can travel on the VTL as long as they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated traveller.
You must have remained in any of the vaccinated travel lane countries or Singapore in the last 14 days before returning to Singapore.
VTL countries
Ongoing
Australia (New South Wales and Victoria)¹
Brunei
Canada
Cambodia
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Italy
Malaysia²
Maldives
Netherlands
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Turkey
UK
USA
Deferred until further notice
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
¹From 8 Nov, Australia will only allow fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents into the country.
From 21 Nov, New South Wales and Victoria, Australia will begin to allow all vaccinated travellers from Singapore.
²Travel to and from Malaysia on the VTL applies only to both air travel and land travel.
VTL flights
For safe re-entry to Singapore on the VTL, you must be flying on a designated VTL flight to qualify for no quarantine. Travellers departing from VTL countries/regions may transit via any of the VTL countries/regions, subject to the transit country/region’s VTL being in effect. Travellers to Singapore must have only been to their VTL country/region of departure and/or Singapore, in the last 14 consecutive days before departure for Singapore. This means that on your journey to Singapore, you cannot transit in a non-VTL country/region in order to qualify for the VTL. Check out the full designated VTL flight list here.
What you need before you fly
The documentation needed to enter and get around in your destination country depends from country to country, so make sure to check what’s required before you leave Singapore. For acceptable proofs of vaccination issued in any VTL country/region, click here. The documentation and passes listed below are those needed to enter Singapore via the VTL.
Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)
Applications for a VTP must be made between 3 and 60 calendar days prior to your intended date of entry into Singapore. There will be no charge for each application. Children will not need to apply for a vaccinated travel pass.
When the application is approved, the VTP will be sent to you via email. It’s valid for single entry into Singapore anytime from your intended date of entry and up to 6 calendar days after.
You must comply with the conditions of the VTL, and the prevailing immigration requirements of the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for your re-entry in Singapore. Among the conditions are negative PCR tests, having the TraceTogether app on your phone and valid travel insurance (with a minimum coverage of $30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs in Singapore).
Visa (for short-term visitors)
Visitors, who require a visa to enter Singapore, must separately obtain a valid visa. Visitors are advised to do so after receiving their VTP approval and before departing for Singapore. Such visitors are encouraged to apply for their VTP early. If visitors have already been issued with a visa that is still valid or if they are eligible for the visa-free transit facility, they need not apply for a visa.
SG Arrival Card
All travellers are required to submit their electronic SG Arrival Card prior to arrival in Singapore. You must submit your health, travel history, and accommodation declarations electronically via the SG Arrival Card e-service no earlier than 3 days prior to their date of arrival in Singapore.
Number of PCR tests needed varies by country
Children aged two and below will not have to undergo pre-departure and on-arrival COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. For arrival into Singapore, you must test negative on a PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure, at an internationally accredited or recognised laboratory, clinic, or medical facility. Upon arrival at Changi Airport, you must again test negative on another PCR test. Registration and payment for this on-arrival test ($125) can be done online.
Applicable for VTL (Air) travellers entering Singapore from 23 January 2022:
All travellers will only be required to undergo daily unsupervised self-administered ARTs from Day 2 to Day 7 of their arrival if they need to leave their place of accommodation, in addition to fulfilling pre-departure and on-arrival testing requirements. Those who test positive on the unsupervised self-administered ARTs no longer need to undergo a confirmatory PCR test but should instead abide by the relevant COVID-19 recovery protocol. Fully vaccinated recovered travellers may qualify for exemption from COVID-19 tests.
Here is the list of PCR tests needed, according to each country on the VTL list (credit: 8days):
Malaysia: 4 tests
1) PCR test in Singapore 48 hours before departing for Malaysia
2) PCR test required on arrival in Malaysia.
3) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Malaysia 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
India: 3 tests
1) PCR test in Singapore 72 hours before departing for India
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in India 48 hours before departing for Singapore
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Cambodia: 4 tests
1) PCR test in Singapore 72 hours before arriving in Cambodia
2) ART test required on arrival.
3) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Cambodia 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Germany: 2 tests
1) Proof of vaccination (must be one of those listed on the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut website) or proof of recovery is enough to enter Germany by air travel.
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Germany 48 hours before departing for Singapore
2) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Canada: 3 to 4 tests
1) Pre-departure PCR test in Singapore maximum 72 hours before departure of last direct flight to Canada.
2) No on-arrival tests in Canada for vaccinated travellers, but mandatory randomized arrival tests may be required. Travellers who provide proof of recovery are exempt from arrival testing.
3) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Canada 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Denmark: 3 to 4 tests
1) ART (48h) or PCR (72h) in Singapore before departing for Denmark
2) On-arrival test in Denmark may be required.
3) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Denmark 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
France: 3 to 4 tests
1) ART/PCR test in Singapore 48 hours before departing for France
2) No on-arrival tests in France for vaccinated travellers, but mandatory randomized arrival tests may be required.
3) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in France 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Italy: Travellers entering Italy from Singapore currently cannot enter as tourists, regardless of vaccination status.
1) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Italy 48 hours before departing for Singapore
2) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Netherlands: 3 tests
1) PCR test taken within 48 hours or ART taken within 24 hours before departure for Netherlands
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Netherlands 48 hours before departing for Singapore
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Maldives: 3 tests
1) PCR test taken within 96 hours before departure from the first embarkation point to Maldives.
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Maldives 48 hours before departing for Singapore
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
South Korea: 6 to 7 tests
1) Pre-departure PCR test before leaving Singapore: 48 hours before departure
2) In Korea: On-arrival test at Incheon Airport
3) Day 3 and 5 self-administered ART test required. Day 6 or 7 PCR test required if staying more than 8 days. Arrival day is counted as Day 0.
4) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Korea 48 hours before departing for Singapore
5) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Spain: 2 tests
1) Proof of vaccination or proof of recovery is enough to enter Spain by air travel.
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Spain 48 hours before departing for Singapore
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Sri Lanka: 3 tests
1) PCR test in Singapore 72 hours before departure for Sri Lanka
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Sri Lanka 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Switzerland: 2 tests
1) Proof of vaccination or proof of recovery is enough to enter Switzerland by air travel.
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Switzerland 48 hours before departing for Singapore
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Thailand: 4 or more tests
1) PCR test in Singapore 72 hours before departure for Thailand
2) On-arrival PCR test required in Thailand.
3) Post-arrival tests may be required, depending on entry pass.
4) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Thailand 48 hours before departing for Singapore
5) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Turkey: 2 tests
1) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Turkey 48 hours before departing for Singapore
2) On-arrival test in Singapore.
United Kingdom: 3 tests
1) Day 2 test in the UK (from £1.25 or S$2.30 for a self-swab at a facility). Book a test before you fly. Day of arrival is counted as Day 0.
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in UK 48 hours before departing for Singapore.
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
United States: 3 tests
1) Pre-departure test in Singapore: professionally administered ART/PCR test, within one day before departure.
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in US 48 hours before departing for Singapore.
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Australia: 3 or more tests
1) Pre-departure test in Singapore: ART (24h) or PCR test (72h) before departure for Australia.
2) On-arrival and post-arrival test requirements differ by state.
3) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Australia 48 hours before departing for Singapore
4) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Finland: 2 tests
1) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Singapore 48 hours before arriving in Finland
2) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Finland 48 hours before departing for Singapore
3) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Sweden: 2 tests
1) Professionally administered ART/PCR test in Sweden 48 hours before departing for Singapore
2) On-arrival test in Singapore.
Self-isolation upon arrival in Singapore
Upon arrival in Singapore, you must be in self-isolation until you receive a negative on-arrival COVID-19 PCR test result. This means that after your on-arrival COVID-19 PCR test, you must commute directly to your declared self-isolation accommodation using private transport, taxi, or private hire car.
You must isolate alone or with vaccinated household members sharing the same travel history, arrival date and self-isolation requirement. If there are other occupants in the accommodation who do not share the same travel history, arrival date and self-isolation requirement, you must self-isolate in an enclosed room with an en-suite toilet.
If you have any issues or questions that fellow travellers may be able to help with there is a very helpful Facebook Group called Travelling in and out of Singapore however for all official information always check the official websites for confirmation on certain measures (as requirements are always subject to change).
We hope this helps you understand what’s required for travel on the VTL with your kids! Good luck, and (can’t believe we finally get to say this) SAFE TRAVELS!