Singapore Border Restrictions: Poland & Saudi Arabia upgraded to Cat. II; six European countries moved to Cat. III

Singapore has announced an updated set of border restrictions, which take effect from 22 September 2021, 2359 hours (effectively 23 September 2021). 

The latest developments see Poland and Saudi Arabia moving from Category III to Category II, which means a reduction in SHN duration from 14 to 7 days.

Six European countries also make the move from Category IV to Category III, allowing fully-vaccinated individuals to serve their 14-day SHN at home instead of a hotel. 

There are no new developments on the VTL front, but Category I/II countries remain strong candidates provided they are willing to lift restrictions on vaccinated travellers from Singapore. 

Latest Singapore border measures

Here’s the summary of the latest border measures for travel to Singapore, effective from 23 September 2021 onwards. 

As a reminder, the pre-departure PCR test window was tightened from 72 hours to 48 hours on 9 September 2021, and added as a requirement for Category II countries. The ICA’s current policy is that anyone diagnosed or suspected to have a COVID-19 infection in the past 21 days cannot travel to Singapore, which means that a positive pre-departure test would further delay your return. 

The relevant restrictions depend on your 21-day travel history, with the rules of strictest country applying. For example, if I travel from Canada (Category II) to Singapore via Japan (Category III), Category III rules will apply. 

Here’s the relevant SHN measures, depending on your 21-day travel history and vaccination status. 

FAQs

What if i transit in a higher category country but don’t actually enter it?

So long as you were physically present in a higher category country in the past 21 days, the rules applying to that country take precedence. 

For example, someone who flies on Emirates from Canada to Singapore with a transit in Dubai would be required to do a 14-day SHN in a hotel, notwithstanding the fact that Canada is a Category II country. This is because the UAE is a Category IV country, and your time on the ground, however short, adds it to your 21-day travel history. 

This means that non-stop flights are the way to go for now, unless you’re transiting in a same or lower category country. For example, someone who flies on Cathay Pacific from Canada to Singapore with a transit in Hong Kong could serve a 7-day SHN at home, since Hong Kong is under Category I. 

As a LTP holder, do I need approval to enter Singapore?

Yes. 

Long Term Pass (LTP) holders will need their HR department or CorpPass admin to apply for re-entry approval, which can be done between 3 and 30 days before entering Singapore. The general processing time is one working day (excluding the day of submission). 

If you’re an LTP holder travelling on the VTL, you will be able to apply for a VTP by yourself, without needing to involve your employer. This can be done between 7 and 30 days before entering Singapore, with instant approval/rejection. 

Where can I do my pre-departure test?

The MOH provides a list of recognised competent authorities and accreditation bodies for COVID-19 testing, specifically for Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India and Philippines.

For all other countries, travellers are advised to seek advice from the relevant Department/ Ministry of Health.

I realise that’s kind of vague, but the general rule is to apply common sense: if the provider is located at the airport or a major hospital, it should pass muster. Alternatively, you can ask the concierge at your hotel for recommendations. 

For what it’s worth, during my Germany trip I used a provider called Medicare, which sent samples to the EuroFins lab for processing. The results were accepted without any issue at check-in. 

What are the requirements for home-based SHN?

Travellers entering under Category II and III rules have the option to serve their SHN at their place of residence, but there’s a difference in the rules and procedures. 

Category III

If Category III rules apply to you, you can serve your SHN at home instead of at a hotel if the following conditions are met:

• You must be fully-vaccinated (14 days after receiving the full regimen of any vaccine on the WHO EUL)
• Your 21-day travel history can only include Category I, II and III countries/regions
• You must make an application via this link to opt out of hotel-based SHN, at least two days prior to travel to Singapore
• You must occupy your residence alone, or only with household members who are fully vaccinated or unvaccinated minors (12 and below) with the same travel history as you, and who are also serving their SHN of the same duration during the same period
• You cannot have anyone else present at your residence (e.g. domestic helper) who does not have the same travel history as you

If approved, you will need to pre-book a dedicated transport vehicle prior to arrival in Singapore. Approved providers can be found here, and you can expect to pay S$290 nett per vehicle of four pax. This covers transport from:

• Checkpoint to residence
• Residence to testing facility for COVID-19 tests

Category II

The rules for Category II home-based SHN are considerably less strict, compared to Category III.

First of all, there is no need to apply to opt-out of hotel-based SHN. This is confirmed on the opt-out form itself:

Second, there is no need to arrange for special transport from airport to home. You may take any form of private transport, e.g. taxi or private hire car. 

Third, there is no need to have the entire residence to yourself. Instead, you must have a private room with an attached toilet. Obviously, family members and anyone without the same travel history may not enter your room during this period.

Conclusion

Singapore’s latest set of border measures mean that a traveller content to enter Singapore under Category II rules (note: not VTL) could visit Germany and Poland on a single vacation. Alternatively, he/she could transit in Poland on the way from Germany to Singapore (I can’t remember offhand if LOT is still operating its Singapore flight), opening up more options for award redemptions. 

There’s further good news for the six European countries upgraded to Category III, which they’re making good progress in the eyes of the Singapore authorities. With any luck, these will be up for a further upgrade to Category II and even VTL arrangements in the near future. 

If you asked me to pick the next VTL candidates at the moment, my money would be on South Korea and Switzerland.