Singapore will open up air travel further with VTLs for Australia and Switzerland starting 8 November. This latest announcement reflects the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's (CAAS') measured steps in reopening borders to boost the nation’s aviation status.
Fully vaccinated travellers from Australia and Switzerland will be able to enter Singapore without quarantine but are required to take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test. Children aged 12 years and below who are not vaccinated will be allowed to travel under the VTL into Singapore if they are accompanied by a VTL traveller who meets all VTL requirements.
These countries were selected based on their similar or lower Covid-19 incidence rates to Singapore, and arrivals will be monitored closely to ensure that any likely new Covid-19 cases are contained. CAAS will increase the current VTL quotas by 1,000, from up to 3,000 to up to 4,000 travellers daily.
Meanwhile, Singapore travellers await the confirmation of the travel bubble with Australia, which had recently announced its reopening to international visitors, starting with fully vaccinated Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents and their immediate families. Vaccinated travellers are able to enter Switzerland without serving a quarantine.
VTLs with 11 other countries were recently announced. The list included the US, the UK, Germany and South Korea, to be included on 15 November. According to Transport Minister S. Iswaran earlier this month, more VTL agreements are currently being evaluated, with New Zealand and Japan as likely additions soon.
As at 25 October, 8,583 travellers from other VTL countries have been issued VTPs for travel to Singapore between 19 October and 30 November; and 1,372 VTP holders have entered Singapore.