Here's much-anticipated news to start your week: Singapore and Malaysia are launching a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) from November 29.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob have said in a joint statement that the two countries will launch the VTL between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. "The Prime Ministers recognised that COVID-19 has disrupted people to people connections between the two countries, and separated families for many months," states the statement.
But here's a caveat: the reopening only covers air travel, and does not include land travel via the Causeway or Second Link.
As with previous updates, travellers would be able to return without quarantine, only needing to take two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests – pre-departure and on-arrival.
This new announcement brings the number of countries Singaporeans can travel to up to 14. Just last week, Singapore has announced VTLs with Australia and Switzerland.
To recap, here are the 11 official countries under the VTL scheme:
- Brunei Darussalam
- Germany
- South Korea
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- United States
Meanwhile, this marks Malaysia's first VTL.
And just in case you were wondering, return tickets to Kuala Lumpur cost about $197 for dates in December. So if you were planning a last-minute Christmas trip for this December on a budget, here's a sign.
Read more:
Australia reopens borders to fully-vaccinated Singaporean travellers
All you need to know about Singapore's existing travel arrangements