Singapore to lift quarantine for travellers from Germany, Hong Kong, Brunei, Macao
Singapore: Singapore is reopening its borders to more destinations while travellers from Hong Kong, Macao, Germany and Brunei will soon be able to enter the country without having to quarantine.
The city-state announced the lifting of border restrictions for travellers from Hong Kong and Macao, who can apply for entry immediately and enter Singapore as soon as August 26, according to Transport Minister S Iswaran.
Singapore will also be opening a so-called vaccinated travel lane with Germany and Brunei in September, the national aviation authority said. Meaning Singaporeans can travel to Germany and Brunei, while travellers from those countries can travel to Singapore without quarantine, if certain conditions are met.
“As an open and small economy, our connectivity with the rest of the world is essential, if not existential. That is why we need to start reopening,” Iswaran said. “The longer our borders remain closed, the greater the risk of lasting damage to our economy, our livelihoods and our status as an aviation hub.”
Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders to travellers from Taiwan, New Zealand and most visitors from mainland China.
Travellers from Hong Kong and Macao, regardless of vaccination status, can now apply for an air travel pass to enter Singapore. They will need to take a Covid test when they arrive in Singapore, and self-isolate until they receive a negative test result. There will be no need to serve quarantine. Visitors need to have spent the last 21 consecutive days in Hong Kong or Macao before travelling to Singapore.
This arrangement is unilateral, which means people travelling from Singapore to Hong Kong or Macao will be subject to the rules of each destination.
Singapore’s arrangement with Germany and Brunei allows only fully vaccinated travellers to skip quarantines. They will have to take four Covid tests — one two days before departure, one upon arrival, one on day three and another on day seven.
Applications to travel to Singapore from Germany or Brunei open on September 1, and conditions include: Travelling on designated, nonstop flights for the vaccinated travel lane (VTL); remaining in Germany or Brunei for 21 consecutive days before the flight; and downloading a contact tracing app in Singapore.
