Home Outbound International Singapore intends to start VTL for India from Nov 29

Singapore intends to start VTL for India from Nov 29

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Travellers from Indonesia, and possibly India, will be able to enter Singapore under a quarantine-free travel scheme from Nov 29, in a move that will rebuild air links with two of Changi Airport’s top three markets.

Singapore is in talks with India to resume scheduled commercial services between the two countries. The aim is to start two daily Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights each from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai by Nov 29.

Currently, the only flights from Singapore that are allowed to carry passengers to India are government-chartered relief flights. 

In addition, travellers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be able to enter Singapore from Dec 6, in a further expansion of the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme.

Indonesia remains closed to general travel from Singapore.

But travellers can travel without quarantine to and from India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which earlier opened their borders for vaccinated travellers from Singapore. More details about the VTLs will be given soon.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced the VTL expansion on Monday (Nov 15).

Transport Minister S. Iswaran said during a press conference by the Covid-19 multi-ministry task force that the countries Singapore will open up to are all significant destinations.

For example, India accounted for about 7 per cent of passenger arrivals at Changi Airport in 2019.

India, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are in Category Two of the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 risk classification for border measures.

The countries’ classification means they either have similar or lower Covid-19 incidence rates than Singapore and other VTL countries.

By Dec 6, Singapore will have a total of 21 VTLs.

Travellers entering Singapore under the VTL scheme do not have to serve a stay-home notice. Instead, they have to test negative for Covid-19 two days prior to departure for Singapore, as well as upon arrival.

Since Nov 11, travellers can submit a negative test result from either a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test or a professionally administered antigen rapid test.

Upon arrival, they will be required to take a PCR test and can go about their activities if they test negative.

With the addition of the new VTL countries, the overall daily quota of arrivals via the scheme will be increased from 6,000 to 10,000.

CAAS advised travellers to check entry requirements of the respective VTL countries, which may vary. The requirements could also change as the Covid-19 situation evolves, it added.

It also said it is closely monitoring the Covid-19 situation worldwide and in each VTL country, and will adjust measures if needed.

Source: The Straits Times