Land VTL with Malaysia 'in a few weeks' as Singapore launches VTLs with India, 4 others

SINGAPORE — A vaccinated travel lane (VTL) over land with Malaysia may open "in a few weeks' time", as Singapore announced plans to launch VTLs with five more countries, bringing the total number of countries under the scheme to 21.

Speaking at a virtual media briefing by the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19, MTF co-chair and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong told reporters that discussions with Malaysia on the matter have progressed well. "Many families have been separated from one another for a long time because of border restrictions. We hope this land link arrangement will allow many of them to be reunited and they will be one of our priorities," said Gan.

The news follows the launch of a joint Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) for travel between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from 29 November. When launched, there will be six designated services daily between the two airports. More details will be released by authorities by this weekend.

Meanwhile, travellers from Indonesia may enter Singapore under the VTL from 29 November. Transport Minister S Iswaran added that authorities aim to start two daily VTL flights each from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai by the same date.

Travellers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may enter the city-state from 6 December.

The conditions for the new VTLs are the same as those for existing VTLs, and are for entry into Singapore only.

Iswaran urged travellers to closely monitor the situation in the countries they are visiting and be well-informed and updated on their latest public health and border measures.

He warned, "Careful and calibrated reopening of our borders also means being prepared to make the necessary adjustments to, and even curtail, the VTL arrangements if warranted by the public health risk assessment."

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