Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) - The Complete Guide

As more countries open up their borders to fully vaccinated travellers, you can expect the list of vaccinated travel lane (VTL) countries to grow. So, please remember to check for the latest updates.

Enjoy quarantine-free travel to these VTL countries (as of 7 December 2021):

Deferred until further notice:

• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE

In late November, ten countries were the first to welcome Vaccinated Travel Pass holders through their vaccinated travel lanes. Within days, the VTL was extended to five other countries.

In an announcement made on 26 November, travellers can also start visiting Thailand from 14 December and countries like Cambodia, Fiji, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Turkey from 16 December.

If the country you are intending to visit does not appear in the list above, VTL is not applicable and you will have to check with the country or region's equivalent of Ministry of Health for the approved COVID-19 PCR test providers.

For Singapore citizens (SCs) / Permanent residents (PRs) flying from Singapore to a VTL country

All outbound travellers departing Singapore should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccination provider like Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or other WHO-approved vaccines.

All Singaporean/ PRs and unvaccinated children aged 12 and below in the current year do not need to apply under the Vaccinated Travel Lane. However, you will need to present a valid vaccinated travel pass at check-in and arrival immigration. You are strongly encouraged to self-verify your vaccination certificate before your trip via Notarise.  

SCs/ PRs must comply with the requirements in the VTL Traveller's Checklist. Otherwise, the prevailing health control measures will apply, which may include serving a Stay-Home Notice. 

Pre-departure Conditions for all VTL flights & travellers

A VTL (Air) traveller must comply with the following conditions:

1. be fully vaccinated, and have an accepted proof of vaccination
2. have only travelled to/transited via any VTL (Air) countries/ regions, Category I countires/regions and/or Singapore for the last 14 consecutive days before departing. 
3. undergo a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or Antigen Rapid Test (ART) within 2 days before the scheduled flight departure time, at an internationally accredited laboratory, clinic or medical facility, and obtain a test result certificate in English stating the following:
   • the VTL (Air) traveller's name, and at least one other personal identifier such as the date of birth or passport number
   • a negative test result for COVID-19
   • the date and time when the ART or PCR test was taken, and
   • the name of the testing institution conducting the COVID-19 test.

Travellers who are unable to produce a valid vaccination certificate and pre-departure COVID-19 test results certificate during check-in at the departure airport will be refused boarding by the airline.

Book a pre-departure test at an internationally accredited laboratory, clinic or medical facility at this website. 

Travellers, who are unable to produce a valid vaccination certificate and pre-departure COVID-19 test result certificate during check-in at the departure airport, will be refused to board by the airline.

Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders can enjoy 40% off TravelEasy Single Trip plans, free PCR test for Annual Trip plans! Offer is valid until 28 February 2022. Terms and conditions apply.

Entry requirements for each country might differ slightly. Please check with the relevant authorities of your destination country for further information.

Passport and Visa

As with all international travel, travellers will need a valid passport. Please also check if you will require a visa to visit the country.

Negative Pre-Departure PCR Test Results

To enjoy quarantine-free travel, travellers must undergo the mandatory pre-departure PCR test and have a negative result.

Some countries might require another PCR test to be done within 24 hours, and on or after 7 days of arriving at the destination VTL countries.

Vaccination Status

An Electronic or Physical Copy of the Vaccination Certificate will serve as proof that the traveller is fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine.

Travellers must prove that they are fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine by producing an electronic or physical copy of the Vaccination Certificate.

For the full list of approved vaccines under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Emergency Use List, please refer here. 

• To be considered fully vaccinated, you are required to have two shots of an approved vaccine or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• Mixing of approved vaccines is accepted.
• The final dose must be completed at least 14 days before leaving Singapore.
• You must provide a vaccination certificate in English. Please refer to the list of acceptable certificates below. All vaccination certificates must be digitally certifiable (i.e. contain a QR code for verification).
• Children aged 12 and below (as of calendar year) are exempted from these vaccination requirements. However, they must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated traveller on the VTL flight.

Proof of Vaccination

Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)

A Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) is only applicable for short term visitors. Singaporeans, PRs and long-term pass holders do not need to apply.

Applications for the VTP must be made between 7 and 30 calendar days prior to the intended date of entry into Singapore. The VTP is valid for a single entry of up to six calendar days from the intended day of entry to Singapore. More details can be found at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg. 

Travel Insurance by MSIG

Although it is not legislated by law, travellers are strongly encouraged to have adequate COVID-19 VTL travel insurance. Depending on the insurance plan, cover may include:

• Overseas hospitalisation or medical expenses for COVID-19 infections
• Trip cancellation and postponement if you contract COVID-19 in Singapore
• Accidents and medical evacuation
• Loss or damage of baggage

Travellers from Singapore can take any flight out to a VTL country. However, on return, travellers must take a designated VTL flight entering Singapore where all passengers are fully vaccinated, and Singapore is their final destination

The vaccinated travel lane (VTL) flights listed above are not exhaustive. Designated VTL flights with other airlines might be available. Please check with the relevant carriers for the latest updates on VTL flights to and from Singapore.

*Information provided in this article is correct as of 7 December 2021.

What is the process when I return from my trip?

From 27 October 2021, pre-departure PCR tests are not required for Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders travelling on VTL flights arriving in Singapore. However, short-term visitors are still required to take pre-departure PCR tests.

All travellers entering Singapore are required to take an on-arrival test and self-isolate until they receive their negative test results. They will then be allowed to roam freely, but with discretion.

From 6 December 2021, however, all travellers coming in on VTL flights or via the VTL-Land arrangement with Malaysia, are required to perform daily self-administered ART for 7 days. They will need to submit their daily ART test results via the link provided upon arrival in Singapore.

Returning Singapore citizens, PRs and long-term pass holders will have to undergo mandatory self-administered ART tests on days 3 and 7 at a Combined Test Centre (CTC) or Quick Test Centre (QTC). These tests will be supervised by staff from the local health authority.

Travellers on non-VTL flights are required to serve a 7 – 10 day Stay-Home Notice (SHN)/quarantine at their residence or a designated facility. At the end of the SHN period, they will be required to take a COVID-19 PCR test. 

Can unvaccinated children under 12 and people medically unfit for vaccination, travel under the vaccinated travel lane?

From 19 October 2021, Singapore's vaccinated travel lanes were extended to unvaccinated children aged 12 and below to facilitate family travel. Children can enter Singapore without quarantine or proof of vaccination and will not need to apply for a vaccinated travel pass.

Requirements for children: 

• Must be accompanied by a fully vaccinated traveller who meets all the vaccinated travel lane scheme requirements.
• The child must be aged 12 and below.
• Must be a Singaporean, permanent resident, long-term pass holder or short-term visitor.
• Travel history in which they must have remained in any of the vaccinated travel lane countries or Singapore in the last 14 days
• Must be flying on a VTL flight

To safeguard public health interests, people medically unfit for vaccination will not be eligible for VTL flights in and out of Singapore.

Must I pay for my own PCR and ART tests?

Yes, you will have to pay for your own pre-departure PCR test. Travellers must book an appointment with any clinic found on this list.

Each on-arrival test costs S$125 (inclusive of Goods and Services Tax). You are strongly encouraged to book and pay for the test before you arrive in Singapore.

Each day 3 and day 7 ART is S$15 (inclusive of Goods and Services Tax). Travellers will bear the cost of the tests. Payment is to be made at the Quick Test Centres (QTCs) or Combined Test Centres (CTCs) through cashless modes such as Mastercard, NETS, PayNow and Visa. Cash will not be accepted.

Do I need to show proof of vaccination to travel overseas? Will other countries recognise it?

Travel restrictions and requirements may vary depending on the travel lane country. Please check on the latest VTL requirements before making your final arrangements.

Travellers should check the MFA website (https://www.mfa.gov.sg/where-are-you-travelling-to) for the latest travel advisories to other countries/ regions.

For travel purposes, Singpass users vaccinated through the National Vaccination Programme can request a digital vaccination certificate from Notarise (https://www.notarise.gov.sg) before their journey. This will be sent to their email and Singpass app. We encourage users to print this out as a physical vaccination record and store a softcopy on their mobile phones. This should suffice as an international travel certificate.

Please keep in mind that the use of these vaccination certificates is subjected to the prevailing entry requirements of the VTL country.

I intend to arrive in Singapore on a designated VTL (Air) flight but will transit via a non-VTL (Air) and non-category I country/region before that flight. Will I be eligible for the VTL (Air)?

To be eligible for the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) into Singapore, visitors must have only travelled to/ transited via any VTL countries/ region over the past 14 consecutive days before departing for Singapore.

However, Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who have received entry approval via the Work Pass Holder General Lane, Student's Pass Holder Lane, or SC/PR Familial Ties Lane may still travel to Singapore on a non-designated flight, subject to prevailing Stay-Home Notice (SHN) and COVID-19 test requirements upon entering Singapore.

What should travellers do if they intend to travel to Singapore under VTL but have booked themselves onto a non-designated flight?

They should approach the airline for assistance to rebook a ticket on a designated VTL flight.

What is the difference between a VTL flight and a non-VTL flight?

The main difference is the need to quarantine.

For example, eligible VTL travellers can travel to Singapore from any of the VTL countries for any purpose via VTL flights. They do not have to undergo quarantine measures upon entering Singapore. Short-term visitors and long-term pass holders will require a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP).

In comparison, non-VTL travellers must undergo quarantine measures or serve a Stay-Home Notice in Singapore. Short-term visitors are not allowed to enter Singapore on non-VTL flights unless they hold a valid entry approval from the Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA) in Singapore.

If you're planning to travel overseas in 2022, you should start planning early. Here are some general tips of what you should do:

1. Check (and re-check) the VTL status of your intended destination as situations may change overnight.
2. Ensure that you meet all the requirements set by the authorities in Singapore and the intended destination.
3. Check for the availability of VTL flights as VTL flights are limited.
4. Most VTL countries require travel insurance with COVID-19 cover like TravelEasy. 

Travelling during the pandemic may seem complicated but it is definitely worth the preparation to finally relive your wanderlust. Travel with greater peace of mind with TravelEasy that includes COVID-19 cover and over 50 benefits such as overseas medical expenses, trip cancellations and postponement, and adventurous activities cover.