COVID-19: A look at travel options available to Singapore residents

SINGAPORE — With the imminent start to the air travel bubble arrangement between Singapore and Hong Kong, Singapore residents have more options to travel to foreign countries and regions amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is a list of the available travel arrangements as of Wednesday (11 November):

AIR TRAVEL BUBBLE

• With Hong Kong (starting on 22 November)

• For residents, as well as people who have stayed in Singapore and/or Hong Kong for at least 14 days.

• No restrictions on the purpose of travel, and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.

• Travellers must travel on designated flights, with a maximum of 200 passengers per flight. They must also take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and be tested negative within 72 hours before departure from Singapore.

• They will also have to take another PCR test upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, and wait for their test results before leaving the airport. When returning to Singapore, they would have to take another PCR test in Hong Kong within 72 hours before departure.

• If the COVID-19 situation deteriorates in either Singapore or Hong Kong, the travel bubble arrangements will be suspended.

RECIPROCAL GREEN LANE (RGL)

• With Malaysia, Brunei, Japan, Indonesia. Singapore also has an RGL agreement with Germany, but has yet to announce the start of the travel arrangement with the European country.

• For residents, as well as people who have stayed in Singapore or those countries for at least 14 days.

• For travels on business or official purposes to these countries for up to 14 days. The visit must also be applied for by a company or government agency, and travellers must abide by their declared itinerary.

• Travellers must take a PCR test and be tested negative within 72 hours before departure from Singapore. Upon arrival, they must take another COVID-19 test and isolate themselves for one to two days until their test results are out.

• They must travel to the country on a direct flight without transit, and download the destination country’s relevant contact tracing application upon arrival.

FAST LANE

• With China, South Korea

• Similar to the RGL, this arrangement allows residents to go on short-term visits for essential business or official reasons applied for by a company or government agency.

• However, the Fast Lane allows visitors to stay longer than 14 days, depending on their visa or visit pass. During the first 14 days, they must abide by their pre-declared itinerary.

• The arrangement applies to only five provinces and municipalities in China – Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. However, visitors can travel for business or official reasons to other regions within China after 14 days, based on domestic travel restrictions.

PERIODIC COMMUTING ARRANGEMENT (PGA)

• With Malaysia

• Residents from both countries can travel for longer-term work and business-related travel across the border.

• Applications must be submitted by their companies, and the travellers must remain on the other side of the border for at least 90 days.

• In addition to health screenings, travellers will have to serve a seven-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN). They can travel using only the two land border crossings at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.

• When the travellers complete their 90 days of visit and travel back home for a short-term home leave, they can apply for a waiver for their SHN, and take a swab test upon arrival instead, at their own cost.

Unilateral opening of Singapore’s borders

Besides these travel arrangements, Singapore has also allowed unilateral opening of its borders to travellers from these countries: mainland China, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei and Vietnam.

Prior to departing for Singapore, the visitors must download and register for the TraceTogether app on their mobile devices. They must keep it activated during their stay in Singapore, and not delete it for 14 consecutive days after leaving.

All inbound travellers who are not citizens or permanent residents, and are not from these “lower-risk” countries or regions, will be required to take a PCR test within 72 hours of departing for Singapore, with effect from 17 November.

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