Covid-19: What you need to know about travelling to Singapore

Singapore has pretty open borders, allowing vaccinated travellers to enter the country without testing or quarantine. This applies to anyone aged 13 and above who has taken the minimum WHO-EUL vaccine dosage at least two weeks before arrival in Singapore. Accepted vaccines include Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac – the full list can be found here. 

Those who are not vaccinated with the required vaccines or doses have more hoops to jump through, so read on to find out. 

If you're not fully vaccinated with Covid-19 WHO-EUL vaccines, then you're subject to at least one Covid-19 test before entering Singapore. 

Within two days of departure, you must either take a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or an antigen rapid test (ART) administered by a trained professional. Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and long-term pass holders can also self-administer ART under the remote supervision of an approved ART provider in Singapore. 

Proof of vaccination is paramount. You can either present proof via a digital vaccination application, a hardcopy certificate, or acceptance letter from the Vaccination Check Portal if you have a certificate from one of these countries. All documentation must contain personal identification details that match your passport and must clearly state the number of vaccination doses that you've taken.

Short-term visitors – please also get travel insurance covering Covid-19, with at least $30,000 of medical coverage. 

You're all set – almost. Before landing in Singapore, make sure to fill up a Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) declaration. This can be done up to three days before arrival. 

If you're a Singapore citizen, PR or long-term pass-holder entering via a land checkpoint, then don't worry about it. 

If the worst happens, fret not. Singapore has got various protocols depending on how unwell and at risk of serious illness you are. 

If you've tested positive for Covid-19 but feel well, isolate yourself in your hotel or accommodation for the first 72 hours. Take an ART self-test on the third day – if you test positive, you can exit isolation and go about Singapore as per normal. Otherwise, continue to self-isolate and self-test until you test negative. If you're still testing positive by the seventh day, you can also go ahead and exit isolation as long as you're fully vaccinated. For more detailed protocols, check here. 

If you feel unwell or at higher risk of severe symptoms (e.g. elderly, immunocompromised), visit a doctor via private transport or hop on a telemedicine consultation. The doctors will be best able to assess if you need to be admitted to a care facility or if you can continue recovering on your own. 

Life is almost back to normal in Singapore. There are no social distancing rules or limits on gatherings in public spaces, establishments and workplaces. 

However, mask-wearing is required on public transport and at  healthcare facilities, residential care homes, and in ambulances. You're free to decide whether to wear mask everywhere else, though. 

Travelling now can be confusing and frustrating, and you don't want to ruin your plans because you missed a Covid-19 requirement here or there. If you have more unanswered questions about travelling to and within Singapore, refer to ica.gov.sg or covid.gov.sg for more comprehensive information.