Travelling via VTL Singapore and not sure about the rules? Find the latest VTL travel requirements for air, land, and sea travel here.
By now, you probably know that you can travel overseas from Singapore without needing to be quarantined via the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL). Fully-vaccinated travellers can fly to selected VTL destinations via the VTL (Air), across the Causeway to Malaysia via the VTL (Land), and to Indonesia via the VTL (Sea).
However, the emergence of the Omicron variant as well as rising COVID-19 cases both locally and globally have seen changes made to the VTL scheme.
As such, you may be confused with the latest VTL requirements in Singapore, especially if you’re looking to travel soon and haven’t been keeping tabs.
[Updated on 24 March] As announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, existing VTLs will be removed from 1 April 2022 as Singapore reopens its borders for international travel. A new framework known as the vaccinated travel framework will be in place instead.
Under this framework, all fully vaccinated travellers, including children aged 12 and below, will be able to enter Singapore with just a pre-departure PCR test two days before flying. On-arrival ART will no longer be required.
Additionally, visitors do not need entry approvals or serve a stay-home notice.
Unvaccinated long-term and short-term visitors aged 13 and above are still not allowed to enter Singapore, unless they are medically ineligible for vaccines or have valid entry approval for compassionate reasons.
This group of travellers would still need to take a pre-departure test within two days before departure for Singapore, serve a 7-day stay-home notice, and take a PCR test after their isolation period.
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VTL (Air): what is it and which countries are available?
The VTL (Air) allows quarantine-free air travel from Singapore to selected VTL destinations and vice versa.
At the time of writing, there are currently 30 VTL countries/regions, and new VTLs with Greece and Vietnam will also be available from 16 March onwards.
Additionally, there will also be new air VTLs to Penang, Malaysia; Bali, Indonesia; and two-way, quarantine-free travel to European countries with direct flights to Singapore from 16 March.
| VTL countries | From 16 March |
| Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, Maldives, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States | Greece and Vietnam |
To travel via VTL (Air), you must meet the various vaccination requirements and eligibility conditions as the rules are slightly different in Singapore and other countries.
VTL (Air): eligibility and requirements
Departure from Singapore
There are no specific entry requirements for travellers who want to travel from Singapore. However, the entry requirements for each country — including vaccination certificates and pre-departure tests — varies from one another.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you check the requirements of the destination country beforehand (see the current list of VTL countries and the testing requirements below).
For example, travellers to Malaysia are required to take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test two days before flying and must also undergo another PCR test upon arrival. By contrast, the UK will no longer mandate fully-vaccinated travellers to take COVID-19 tests from 11 February onwards.
If you need to take a PCR test to travel, you may book an appointment at one of these MOH-approved clinics. Note that you would need to pay for the tests out of your own pocket and can’t use any government subsidies to offset the cost.
You will receive a digital certificate of your test results issued by Notarise via email, and you can use the QR code within the certificate for boarding and imigration clearance (TraceTogether may not be acknowledged by foreign authorities).
You can read more about the departure requirements here.
Entry requirements to Singapore
- Hold an accepted proof of vaccination
- Meet the minimum doses and interval period required based on the type of vaccine that you took
- Have a digital vaccination certificate in English from Singapore or a VTL country
- For short-term visitors and Long-Term Pass holders: you must apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) at least three days before your arrival in Singapore (you may also need to upload your vaccination certificate QR code on the VTP (Air) application portal).
- Short-term visitors must also apply for travel insurance (see below)
- Produce a negative result from a professionally-administered PCR or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) test within two days prior to your departure to Singapore
- Must have only have a travel history to a VTL destination (including Singapore) in the past 14 days
- Download the TraceTogether app for contact tracing while in Singapore
- Apply for entry visa (if required)
Short-term visitors travelling to Singapore are also required to purchase travel insurance with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs in Singapore.
You must purchase this prior to your departure to Singapore, and bring the digital or physical copy of your travel insurance with you to facilitate your entry into Singapore.
Can’t decide which travel insurance to buy? Read our overview of all the travel insurance available, or find and compare travel insurance deals here.
Meanwhile, employers of Work Pass, Training Work Permit, and S Pass holders are required to purchase travel insurance for their employees before they can enter Singapore. You may refer here for the list of insurance and coverage offered.
Likewise, Long-Term Pass Holders (e.g. Employment Pass) are also encouraged to purchase medical insurance to cover any medical expenses for COVID-19 within 14 days of arrival.
Travel insurance isn’t mandatory for SCs and SPRs as they have access to Government subsidies and MediShield Life to help offset any medical bills should they contact COVID-19, but you may also purchase it if you want extra protection.
Non-Malaysian males on Work Permit and S Passes in the construction, marine shipyard or process (CMP) sector, as well as workers staying in dormitories aren’t eligible to travel to Singapore via VTL (Air).
However, employers of workers in the CMP may apply to MOM for entry approval, while employers of all other workers can apply under the Work Pass Holder General Lane (WPHL) to gain entry into Singapore.
VTL (Air): vaccination requirements
- The traveller's name with date of birth or passport number
- A negative COVID-19 test result
- The date and time of the COVID-19 test; and
- The name of the testing institution conducting the COVID-19 test
Upon arrival in Singapore, travellers must also take another PCR test and travel directly to their place of accommodation, remaining there until the PCR test is negative.
Fully-vaccinated travellers from 23 January onwards are also no longer required to take ARTs every day. Instead, you’d only need to swab yourself (and test negative) if you wish to head out from your place of residence from days two to seven of your arrival.
For more information on the eligibility and requirements, you may refer to ICA’s VTL overview page
What if I'm unvaccinated?
Only unvaccinated SCs, SPRs, and long-term pass holders who have received entry approval via the SC/PR Familial Ties lane may travel to Singapore, but can only travel on a non-designated VTL flight and must serve a Stay-Home Notice (SHN).
What if I was vaccinated overseas?
If you didn’t take your vaccines in Singapore, you must show your vaccination certificate from the country that you were vaccinated in, and upload your QR code during your VTL application. You may see the full list here.
The certificate must be in English and be reflected on either the TraceTogether or HealthHub app, which you can attach digitally to your SG Arrival Card up to three days prior to arriving in Singapore. You can also show your vaccination certificate to the imigration officer.
Short and long-term visitors may also be required to self-verify the QR codes in their vaccination certificates by verification tools provided, and the full instructions can be found here.
The following vaccination proof of these formats from these countries are allowed:
| Country | Format |
| Singapore | Vaccination on TraceTogether or HealthHub app; vaccination certificate issued by MOH For Long-Term Pass Holders or Short-Term Visitors with records in Singapore’s National Immunisation Registry, successful verification of their records on the Vaccinated Travel Pass (Air) application portal |
| Australia | International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (QR code in ICAO Visible Digital Seal for Non-Constrained Environments (VDS-NC) format) issued by any VTL (Air) country/region |
| Brunei | Proof of vaccination on the BruHealth app |
| Cambodia | COVID-19 Vaccination Card issued by the Ministry of Health / Ministry of Defence in Cambodia |
| Canada | SMART Health Cards (SHC) issued by any Canadian province |
| European Union Member States or non-EU countries | EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) of vaccination |
| Fiji | COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by Republic of Fiji |
| Hong Kong | COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination Record retrieved from the iAM Smart app |
| India | International Travel Certificate in the Digital Infrastructure for Vaccination Open Credentialing (DIVOC) standard, available on the Co-WIN platform |
| Indonesia | Proof of vaccination on the PeduliLindungi app |
| Malaysia | Digital Certificate for COVID-19 Vaccination downloaded or shown on the MySejahtera app |
| Maldives | COVID-19 Digital Certification downloaded from the Health Protection Agency Maldives’ website |
| Philippines | COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (VaxCertPH) issued by the Department of Health |
| Qatar | COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate downloaded from Qatar Ministry of Public Health’s website |
| Republic of Korea | Static vaccination certificate QR code on the COOV app or COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) downloaded from the KDCA website |
| Saudi Arabia | Proof of vaccination (e.g. COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate) on Tawakkalna app |
| Sri Lanka | Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination issued by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health |
| Thailand | International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand |
| Vietnam | Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination |
| United Kingdom | National Health Service (“NHS”) COVID Pass of vaccination; or Northern Ireland COVID certificate issued by Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland (e.g. found on the CovidCert Northern Ireland (“NI”) app) One QR code per dose; or Digital vaccination record retrieved from the public health database of the local health authority (for children aged 13 to 15) |
| United States | SMART Health Cards (SHC) issued by CommonTrust Network issuers (listed here and here) or Vaccination Credential Initiative issuers Digital vaccination record retrieved from the public health database of the state or the local health authority; physical vaccination record and a letter signed by the state, local health authority or vaccination provider to attest to the passenger’s vaccination status; the attestation letter should contain: the passenger’s name and at least one other personal identifier such as the date of birth or passport number corresponding exactly with the information in the passenger’s passport used for entry into Singapore;the name of the vaccine administered for each dose; and the date when each dose was administered. |
More information on accepted vaccination certificates and how to upload your vaccination QR code can be found here.
How long will my vaccination status last in Singapore?
Depending on the type of vaccine you took, your vaccination status in Singapore will be valid for 30 to 180 days from the day you arrive in Singapore.
If you plan to travel to Singapore for more than four months, you must take a third dose if you had taken Sinovac/Sinopharm vaccines, or take a serology test at a clinic if you had received non-Sinovac/Sinopharm vaccines.
Can unvaccinated children travel via VTL (Air)?
Unvaccinated children 12 years old and below can travel via VTL (Air) and do not need to apply for a VTP, or have a vaccination certificate.
However, they must be accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult who meets all the VTL travel requirements. Children 12 years and below aren’t required to take a PCR/ART prior to arriving in Singapore, but must take a PCR test upon arrival in Changi Airport.
Unvaccinated children 13 years and above won’t be eligible for VTL (Air) and must quarantine themselves upon returning to Singapore.
What if I test positive for COVID-19?
If you test positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Singapore, you will have to undergo the recovery protocol immediately.
You can self-quarantine at your place of residence or at a hotel for 72 hours, and can only leave if you produce a negative ART result three days later. Telemedicine services will be accessible if required.
On the other hand, if you’re assessed to be ineligible for home recovery, you will be sent to a medical facility (e.g. hospital) for medical care until you’re fit for discharge.
You may refer to MOH’s COVID-19 Recovery Protocol for more details.
Contacted COVID-19 before you received the full dose? You may still travel to Singapore provided that you took at least one of the vaccine doses at least 28 days after your first diagnosis of COVID — you’ll still be considered as fully vaccinated.
VTL (Air): which countries require vaccination certificate and travel insurance?
The VTL landscape is always changing, so to help you keep up to speed with things, here’s an overview of the basic vaccination requirements and whether travel insurance is required:
| Country | Travel insurance required? | Testing requirements for vaccinated individuals |
| Australia | No | - ART test taken within 24 hours before departure, or PCR test taken three days before departure. Required for all travellers aged five and above - Requirements for each state differs from one another, which you may refer here |
| Brunei | No | - Fully-vaccinated travellers can enter Brunei but must provide a negative PCR test result 48 hours before departure - Travellers must also take a PCR test upon arrival in Brunei International Airport, and self-quarantine until obtaining a negative test result |
| Cambodia | No | - Present a medical certificate certifying a negative COVID-19 test result not longer than 72 hours prior to departure from your home country - Provide a valid vaccination certificate listing the make of vaccine and date(s) of vaccination - Take an on-arrival antigen rapid test and wait for about 15 to 20 minutes for the result at the port of entry. Once a negative result is obtained, you can proceed with your itinerary without any further quarantine |
| Canada | No | - Pre-entry test result (PCR) taken 72 hours prior to departure |
| Denmark | No | - Pre-entry test results of PCR (taken 72 hours before departure) or ART (taken 48 hours before departure) - Denmark currently imposes a 6-day quarantine due to Singapore as a high-risk country, so you must present a negative test result after six days |
| Fiji | Yes | - Pre-entry result taken 48 hours before departure - Proof of vaccination is required - Travellers must produce proof of a minimum three nights pre-paid accommodation at a Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) certified property and CFC transport from the airport - On day 2 of arrival, you must take an approved Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at your hotel and can only venture out once you obtain a negative test result on day two |
| Finland | No | - Pre-entry test results of PCR or ART taken without 48 hours of departure |
| France | No | - Pre-entry test results of PCR or ART taken without 48 hours of departure - Provide proof of vaccination - A sworn statement certifying the absence of COVID-19 symptoms and contact with a positive COVID-19 case |
| Germany | No | - No pre-entry test for fully-vaccinated travellers - No need to travel on VTL flights to Germany - Proof of vaccinated from Singapore required |
| Hong Kong | No | - Must be fully-vaccinated at least 14 days before departure - Must take a PCR test within three days before departure - Undergo a compulsory 7-day quarantine, and take a self-administered test on days 3 and 5 |
| India | No | - Pre-entry test results of PCR taken within 72 hours of departure - 2% of randomly-selected passengers will undergo a PCR test upon arrival - Travellers must also submit a health declaration and must undergo home quarantine for seven days and take a PCR test on the 8th day |
| Indonesia | Yes (minimum coverage of S$30,000) | - Fully-vaccinated travellers must take a pre-departure PCR test 72 hours prior to departure and test negative, and again upon arrival - Must present a physical or digital card/vaccination certificate at least 14 days before departure - The vaccination certificates must be acknowledged by the Health Ministry of Indonesia - Travellers must also present booking confirmation and payment of travel bubble travel packages in Lagoi Bintan Resort or Nongsa Sensation area |
| Italy | No | - As Singapore is now in the ‘E’ list, entry into Italy is only allowed for these specific reasons: work, health reasons, study, absolute urgency, and to return to one’s residence |
| Malaysia | Yes (minimum coverage of RM100,000 for medical expenses related to Covid-19) | - Take a professionally-administered PCR test or ART two days before departure for air travel - Take a PCR test upon arrival at KLIA/KLIA 2 (VTL Air), or at Larkin Sentral Terminal |
| Maldives | No | - Travellers must have a negative PCR test 92 hours before departure |
| Philippines | No | - Take a RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to departure (children aged 3 and below are exempted) |
| Netherlands | No | - All travellers must produce a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before departure |
| South Korea | No | - Travellers can travel to South Korea without the need to serve quarantine. However, you must take a pre-departure and on-arrival COVID-19 test |
| Spain | No | - Proof of a negative nucleic acid amplification (NAAT) test, taken within the previous 72 hours, must be provided on departure. A negative rapid antigen test can be presented instead, taken within the previous 48 hours of departure |
| Sweden | No | - The Swedish Government has paused all non-essential travel from countries outside the EU, including Singapore - Entry may be granted subject to the submission of declaration forms, self-quarantine, and pre-departure and post-arrival testing |
| Switzerland | No | - An ART taken within 24 hours or PCR performed no more than 72 hours before departure for unvaccinated individuals who are 16 and over |
| Thailand | Yes (minimum coverage of THB 1.75 million or US$50,000) | - Obtain a negative PCR test result within 72 hours before travelling - Under the Sandbox Programme, foreign travellers can visit Phuket quarantine-free, but must produce a negative PCR test at designated locations upon arrival, and take a second PCR test on days 5-6. |
| Turkey | No | - No pre-departure testing required if you present a valid vaccination certificate, with your final dose 14 days before arrival in Turkey |
| UAE | No | valid vaccination certificateLearn more here |
| United Kingdom | No | - No pre-departure or on-arrival testing required for fully-vaccinated travellers. Self-quarantine is also not required - Unvaccinated travellers must take a COVID-19 test two days prior to departure and when you arrive, with a negative result |
| United States | No | - Required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more than one day before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past three months before boarding a flight to the U.S for all passengers two years or older |
To learn about the latest entry requirements and guidelines for VTL travel, head on over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site here.
VTL (Land): What is it and which countries are available?
As the name suggests, the VTL (Land) allows quarantine-free travel between Singapore and Malaysia via the Johor-Singapore Causeway, and is open to fully-vaccinated citizens, Permanent Residents, and Long-Term Pass Holders in both countries.
Currently, travellers can only travel between Woodlands Checkpoint to Bangunan Sultan Iskandar in Johor via bus services operated by two providers: Transtar Travel and Causeway Link.
Travellers from Singapore may board a bus from Queen’s Street Terminal or Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange, and disembark at Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal.
Read on to find out more about the requirements and eligibility conditions for VTL (Land).
VTL (Land): eligibility and requirements
Entry requirements to Malaysia
As mentioned above, the VTL (Land) scheme is available for fully-vaccinated travellers who are:
- Singapore or Malaysia Citizens
- Singapore or Malaysia Permanent Residents
- Long-Term Pass Holders in Singapore or Malaysia
In addition, you must fulfil these vaccination requirements:
- Have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate recognised by the Health Ministry of Malaysia
- Take a professionally administered pre-departure PCR, ART, or Rapid Testing Kit (RTK) two days prior to the departure date, and use the QR code in the digital certificate for boarding and imigration clearance
- Remained in Singapore or any VTL country in the last 14 days before departing to Malaysia
- Take a professionally-administered RTK test at Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal upon arrival
- Purchase a Travel/medical Insurance that has a minimum coverage of RM100,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs before departing to Malaysia
- Register at MySafeTravel portal and upload your vaccination certificate
- Download the MySejahtera app for contact tracing
- Upload your digital vaccination certificate QR Code onto the MySejahtera app
- Print your vaccination certificate with QR code
Note that from 3 March 2022 onwards, travellers to Malaysia are no longer required to take daily ARTs and PCR tests, and will only need to take a pre-departure PCR two days before departure, and an on-arrival ART (at Larkin Bus Terminal) or PCR test (at KLIA).
You must meet the vaccination requirements above and register on the MySafeTravel portal before you can proceed to purchase bus tickets, which you can purchase online on the Causeway Link and Transtar Travel websites.
Although the quota for air and land VTLs were previously capped at 50%, the quotas have been fully restored from 16 February onwards.
Can unvaccinated children travel to Malaysia via VTL (Land)?
Yes. Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below can travel to Malaysia via VTL (Land) without a proof of vaccination but must take pre-departure and on-arrival COVID-19 tests (children two years old and below are exempted).
They must also be accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult with a vaccination certificate recognised by the Health Ministry of Malaysia.
Entry requirements to Singapore
Only the following groups of travellers can enter Singapore via the VTL (Land):
- Singapore or Malaysia Citizens
- SPRs
- Long-Term Pass holders in Singapore (Work Pass, Student’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass)
Similar to the VTL (Air), non-Malaysian males on Work Permit and S Passes in the CMP sector, and workers living in dormitories aren’t eligible to travel via VTL (Land). Employers of CMP workers must obtain entry approvals from MOM, while all other employers may apply under the WPHL.
Malaysian males Work Permit holders are allowed to travel via the VTL (Land), but must isolate themselves in a dorm if they test positive for the on-arrival ART.
In addition, travellers to Singapore via VTL (Land) must fulfil these vaccination requirements/conditions:
- Hold an accepted proof of vaccination
- Be fully-vaccinated and meet the minimum required doses at least two weeks before arrival in Singapore
- Remain in Malaysia, Singapore, or any other VTL country in the past 14 days
- Take a PCR test or ART clinic/medical facility recognised by the Malaysia Health Ministry two days before departing to Singapore. The PCR test must be in English and contain the following: a negative test result, the traveller’s name, date of birth and passport number, date and time of the test, and name of the institution conducting the COVID-19 test
- Arrive in Singapore from Malaysia via the designated bus services by Transtar Travel or Causeway Link
- Undergo an a supervised ART within 24 hours of arrival at Queen Street Terminal or Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange
- Download the TraceTogether app for contact tracing
- For short-term visitors (travellers who are not SCs, SPRs, or Long-Term Pass holders), you must purchase a suitable COVID-19 travel/medical insurance with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 against COVID-19 medical expenses. You must bring the electronic or physical copy of your insurance plan with you to facilitate your entry into Singapore
- Short-term visitors and Work Permit holders are also required to apply for VTP to enter Singapore, and upload the QR code in your vaccination certificate during the application if you were not vaccinated in Singapore. Long-Term Pass holders do not need to apply for a VTP
- Submit your health declaration on your SG Arrival Card before you arrive in Singapore. For SCs/SPRs who were not vaccinated in Singapore, you must submit your vaccination certificate as part of your SG Arrival Card submission
Can unvaccinated children travel to Singapore via VTL (Land)?
Yes. Unvaccinated children 12 years old and below can travel via VTL (Land) and do not need to apply for a VTP or have a vaccination certificate. However, they must be accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult VTL traveller. The child must also be either a Singaporean, SPR, Malaysian, or a Singapore Long-Term Pass holder.
In addition, they must also take professionally-administered, pre-departure and on-arrival PCR tests/ARTs, and must also undergo self-administered ARTs on days two to seven of their arrival should they need to leave their place of residence. Children aged two and below are not required to take any COVID-19 tests.
VTL (Sea): what is it and which countries are available?
Fully-vaccinated travellers between Singapore and the islands of Bintan and Batam in Indonesia, will be able to travel via the VTL (Sea) from 25 February onwards.
Travellers can travel between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Nongsapura International Ferry Terminal (NIFT) in Batam and Bandar Bintan Telani Ferry Terminal (BBTFT) in Bintan without needing to be quarantined. The ferry services will be operated by Batam East and Bintan Resort Ferries.
For now, there will be a cap of 350 travellers from Bintan and 350 from Batam under the VTL (Sea). Here's what you need to know about the VTL (Sea):
VTL (Sea): eligibility and requirements
VTL (Sea): entry requirements to Singapore
Only the following groups of fully-vaccinated travellers can enter Singapore via the VTL (Sea):
- SCs
- SPRs
- Long-term Pass Holders
- Short-term visitors
Like the air and land VTLs, the VTL (Sea) isn't available for non-Malaysian males on Work Permit and S Passes in the CMP sector, and workers living in dormitories. Employers of CMP workers must obtain entry approvals from MOM, while all other employers may apply under the WPHL.
In addition, you must also meet these requirements:
- You must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before arrival in Singapore
- Have an accepted proof of vaccination (digital or physical) that's either reflected on your TraceTogether/HealtHub app, PeduliLindungi app, or Singapore Vaccination HealthCerts issued via the Notarise portal with a QR code. You must present this to the ferry service operator staff and immigration officers for clearance
- Have only travelled to a VTL region or Singapore in the last seven days
- Arrive in Singapore via the designated VTL (Sea) ferry services
- Take a pre-departure PCR test or professionally-administered ART two days prior to arrival in Singapore
- Take an on-arrival ART at Quick Test Centres (QTCs) or Combined Test Centres (CTCs) within 24 hours of arrival and self-isolate until you get a negative result
- Fully-vaccinated travellers who have recently recovered may be exempted from COVID-19 tests under these conditions
- Apply for a VTP (Long-Term Pass holders and short-term visitors only)
- Travel insurance with a minimum COVID-19 coverage of S$30,000 (short-term visitors only)
- Download TraceTogether app for contact tracing
- Have hotel booking confirmation and return ferry ticket corresponding to your duration of hotel stay in Singapore (short-term visitors only)
- Entry visa (if applicable)
Like the air and land VTLs, the VTL (Sea) isn't available for non-Malaysian males on Work Permit and S Passes in the CMP sector, and workers living in dormitories. Employers of CMP workers must obtain entry approvals from MOM, while all other employers may apply under the WPHL.
Can unvaccinated children travel via the VTL (Sea)?
Yup they can. However, like the air and land VTLs, they must be accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult and meet the vaccination requirements above. They also don't have to apply for a VTP.
Unvaccinated children aged two and below are excluded from COVID-19 tests.
How much do PCR tests and ART kits cost?
In general, COVID-19 tests are still required in most VTL destinations. Needless to say, you must also consider the additional costs as part of your budget before travelling via VTLs.
Luckily, ART kits aren’t expensive; in fact, at the time of writing, you can snag one from places like Watsons for as low as S$6.60.
If you can’t get your hands on an ART kit, don’t fret: you can also take an ART for as low as S$15 at QTC) nationwide, which will be supervised by an approved COVID-19 test provider.
If you prefer to have an ART done by a professional instead, the lowest we could find is at Sata CommHealth for S$28.
On the other hand, a PCR test is more expensive; the lowest pre-departure PCR test we could find is from Minmed for S$105.
Last but not least, the mandatory on-arrival PCR test at Changi Airport will cost S$125 (including GST).
| Type | Where | Price |
| ART kit | Watsons | From S$6.60 |
| Pre-departure PCR swab test | Minmed clinics | S$105 |
| Supervised ART | QTCs | S$15 |
| Professionally-administered ART | Sata CommHealth | S$28 |
| On-arrival PCR test at Changi Airport | Changi Airport | S$125 |
Conclusion: should you travel via VTL?
While the cost of travelling via VTL can be pricey and the vaccine requirements are mostly still strict, it offers an opportunity for us to reconnect with our loved ones in other countries after years of travel restrictions.
For many, it’s also a warm reminder of the pre-pandemic days, where we could travel freely and be excited about travelling overseas. However, keep in mind that COVID-19 cases are climbing globally. Therefore, it’s vital that you adhere to the vaccine requirements, particularly if you’re travelling with children.
If you’re planning to travel, make sure you (and your loved ones) are well covered. Check out the best travel insurance plans in the market.
Read these next:
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