Since the start of the pandemic, Singapore has maintained relatively strict entry restrictions, allowing only short-term travel and business passes (visas) from mainland China and Hong Kong, where COVID controls had been comparatively strong. More recently, the Singapore government has shifted away from a zero-COVID policy toward a strategy of living with the virus. On September 8, Singapore opened short-term visa entry to travelers from Germany and Brunei. Today, the Singapore government announced that, encouraged by the positive results of the past month’s trial, it will expand the Vaccinated Travel Lane to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and five other European countries on October 18. On November 15, it will also expand to South Korea.

Eligible Countries for the Vaccinated Travel Lane

  • Brunei (starting in September)
  • Germany (starting in September)
  • Canada
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Spain
  • South Korea (starting November 14)
  • Switzerland (starting November 7)
  • Australia (starting November 7)

Vaccinated Travel Lane Requirements

First, the Vaccinated Travel Lane does not replace standard visa requirements. If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Singapore. If you are a Chinese citizen, you still need to obtain the appropriate Singapore visa. If you know a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, they can help you submit an application online; otherwise, you will need to contact a consulate or embassy to apply for a visa.

To meet the entry requirements, you must:

    • Not have visited any country other than a VTL country or Singapore, including transit stops, within 14 days before traveling to Singapore
    • Be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days (mixed vaccine doses are also accepted)
    • If you hold a short-term or long-term pass, apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass 7 to 30 days before departure
    • Enter Singapore on a designated Vaccinated Travel Lane flight
    • Short-term pass holders must purchase travel insurance with at least S$30,000 in COVID-19 medical coverage
    • Install the TraceTogether app after arrival
    • Take a PCR test before departure
    • Unvaccinated children under age 12 may travel with an eligible adult

On the same route, there may be both designated VTL flights and non-VTL flights, so be sure to check carefully when booking. Entering Singapore on a non-designated flight does not qualify for entry under the program. Singapore Airlines has published a list of designated flights, which you can view here. From the U.S., these include SQ23 on JFK-SIN and SQ37 on LAX-SIN.

Proof of Vaccination

Singapore has fairly strict proof-of-vaccination requirements. In addition to vaccination records issued in Singapore, the country accepts:

  • The EU Digital COVID Certificate issued by a Vaccinated Travel Lane country (even if the vaccination was received in another country)
  • For the U.S. and Canada: Smart Health Cards verified through the CommonTrust Network
  • The COVID Pass in the NHS mobile app
  • The BruHealth app from Brunei
  • The COOV app from South Korea

One important note: the U.S. CDC paper vaccination card is not accepted as qualifying proof. You must obtain a Smart Health Card to be eligible, and not every provider or jurisdiction offers one. Here are some ways to obtain it, depending on where you were vaccinated:

Returning to China via Singapore

For travelers without long-term visas, returning to China from the U.S. or Canada via Singapore is still not practical. The Chinese consulate in Singapore will not issue a green health code to people who live in countries with direct flights to China but choose to transit through Singapore instead. This does not apply if you are a Singapore permanent resident or hold a long-term pass. Flights from Singapore to China are currently very cheap, so if you qualify, returning to China from Singapore could be a relatively cost-effective option.

As more countries continue easing entry requirements, and North America and Europe relax border restrictions, some countries in Asia are also gradually reopening. For people who need to travel, that is certainly welcome news.