If your year-end VTL travel plans include Denmark, here’s some rather bad news. In light of Singapore’s recent removal from the EU’s “safe list”, Denmark has decided to impose a quarantine requirement on travellers from Singapore.
Travellers from Singapore must now self-isolate for 10 days immediately after entry into Denmark. It is possible to end the isolation after four days with a negative COVID-19 PCR test.
There are certain exemptions for those holding an EUDCC, or who have spent some amount of time in an EU/Schengen country (it’s not clear exactly how much).
Denmark adds quarantine requirement for travellers from Singapore
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| Denmark Entry Restrictions |
The Danish government provides a questionnaire that advises travellers about entry restrictions. While travellers from Singapore were previously granted an exemption from testing and quarantine, the updated rules require them to:
- Take a test within 24 hours of entry (a pre-departure test is not required)
- Self-isolate for 10 days immediately after entry
The same rules apply regardless of vaccination status, although there’s some uncertainty about how Singapore residents with EUDCCs will be treated (see below).
Isolation can be ended early with a negative PCR test result, taken at the earliest on the fourth day after entry. Testing in Denmark is free, regardless of residency (however, pre-departure tests may be chargeable).
Exceptions
While Singapore residents will generally face a quarantine on arrival in Denmark, there are a few exceptions.
Travellers with EUDCC
An exemption from testing and self-isolation is granted to those who can present an EUDCC, or a certificate from a country granted equivalence (Singapore isn’t on this list).
It was initially unclear whether a Singapore resident who carries an EUDCC will be granted an exemption.
Some parts of the Danish government’s advice seem to suggest that you must be a fully vaccinated resident of one of the following countries to enjoy an exemption:
| โ Denmark’s Country Classification |
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Denmark classifies countries into the following categories:
Somewhat confusingly, Denmark does not have a “low-risk” category, but that said, it’s not a bad thing to be in the “risk” category. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Taiwan (plus others) are in this group, and there’s no testing or isolation required for fully-vaccinated individuals. |
Other parts suggest that so long as you can present an EU corona passport (i.e. EUDCC), you can enter Denmark without testing or isolation, period.
Based on what the Danish Embassy in Singapore is saying, a Singaporean may travel to Denmark without quarantine so long as he/she has an EUDCC.
In case you were wondering, there are various ways to convert your Singapore vaccination certificate into an EUDCC:
- Switzerland has an online system for EUDCC conversion (CHF30 fee applies)
- Those physically in France can visit a pharmacy for a โฌ30 EUDCC conversion
- Those physically in Germany can visit a pharmacy for a free-of-charge EUDCC conversion; I did this in Munich at no cost
- Those physically in Italy can visit the local health authority for a free-of-charge conversion
Entering Denmark from EU/Schengen country
If you’re entering Denmark from an EU or Schengen country, there is no need to self-isolate after entry, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or have been previously infected.
You will need to do a test either before or within 24 hours of entry (better to do the latter, since it’s free in Denmark), but this requirement is waived if you can present a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate. The certificate must show that you are fully vaccinated, previously infected, or possess a negative COVID-19 test.
Denmark defines “entry country” as “the country where your travel to Denmark started, not countries and regions that you have only passed through in transit”.
Again, it’s a bit vague. Would the “entry country” for a Singapore resident who stays seven days in France before entering Denmark be Singapore or France?
I believe the generally-accepted definition of transit is a stay of less than 24 hours, but it seems a bit counterintuitive that someone from a high-risk area could become “clean” by staying in an EU/Schengen country for just over 24 hours.
| โ๏ธ Further exemptions for risk countries |
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A further exemption applies to those entering Denmark from “risk countries”. The current list includes Australia, Argentina, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Kuwait, Namibia, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan. Remember, Denmark classifies non-EU/Schengen/OECD countries into “risk” and “high-risk”. |
VTL countries: Pre-departure test requirements
With this latest development, here’s a summary of testing requirements when travelling from Singapore to VTL countries.
| โ๏ธ PDT for Singapore Residents | ||
| Vaccinated | Unvaccinated | |
| ๐ฆ๐บ Australia |
PCR1 (under 5 exempt) |
Not admitted^ |
| ๐จ๐ฆ Canada | PCR2 (under 5 exempt) |
PCR2 (under 5 exempt) |
| ๐ฉ๐ฐ Denmark | Min. 4-day quarantine3 | Min. 4-day quarantine3 |
| ๐ซ๐ท France | N/A | ART/PCR4 (under 12 exempt) |
| ๐ฉ๐ช Germany | N/A | ART/PCR5 (under 12 exempt) Min. 5-day quarantine |
| ๐ฎ๐น Italy | ART/PCR6 (under 6 exempt) |
ART/PCR6 (under 6 exempt) |
| ๐ณ๐ฑ Netherlands | ART/PCR7 (under 12 exempt) |
ART/PCR7 (under 12 exempt) Min. 5-day quarantine; exemption for under 12 |
| ๐ฐ๐ท South Korea | PCR8 | Not admitted* |
| ๐ช๐ธ Spain | N/A9 | N/A9 |
| ๐จ๐ญ Switzerland | N/A | ART/PCR10 (under 16 exempt) |
| ๐ฌ๐ง United Kingdom | N/A11 | N/A11 |
| ๐บ๐ธ United States | ART/PCR12 (under 2 exempt) |
ART/PCR12 (under 2 exempt) |
| 1. Within 72h of departure time to Australia 2. Within 72h of departure time of last direct flight to Canada 3. With negative PCR test from Day 4 onwards; otherwise 10 days 4. Within 48/72h (ART/PCR) of departure time to France 5. Within 48h/72h (ART/PCR) of entry into Germany 6. Within 72h of entry into Italy 7. Within 24h/48h (ART/PCR) of departure time to Netherlands 8. Within 72h of departure time to South Korea 9. No testing required 10. Within 48h/72h (ART/PCR) of departure time to Switzerland. Further tests on Day 7 (under 16 exempt) 11. Day 2 test required 12. Within 3 days of departure date to USA ^Unvaccinated children aged below 12 will be admitted if travelling with fully vaccinated parents *Unvaccinated children aged 5 and below will be admitted if travelling with fully vaccinated parents. They are exempt from testing |
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If you intend to travel with your unvaccinated child, be sure to familiarise yourself with the possible additional restrictions.
Conclusion
In yesterday’s article on Netherland’s new entry restrictions, I said that I just couldn’t see European countries reimposing quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated individuals.
I suppose that must have jinxed it something horribly, and those with Denmark travel plans may need to reconsider them (unless you have an EUDCC). The EU reviews its safe list every two weeks, but the window for them to add Singapore back in time for year-end travel is rapidly shrinking.
Name is changed.
Bubble still bursts.
Why are we so insistent on opening up?
Because money matters more.
Muahahaha
Is there an effective date of this change? It seems to take immediate effect. What if we are already enroute over? Fingers crossed, hope they will at least give a few days notice.
Effective today
Do let us know your experience! the Singapore danish embassy is clueless as well
Hi Aaron, the NL govt website still lists fully vaccinated status allowing exemption from mandatory quarantine when travelling from high-risk places:https://www.government.nl/topics/coronavirus-covid-19/visiting-the-netherlands-from-abroad/self-quarantine/exceptions-mandatory-quarantine
The questionnaire you filled in at (https://en.coronasmitte.dk/travel-rules/covidtravelrules) also only yielded the mandatory isolation if you never stated a fully vaccinated status as well.
Would you be able to verify this?
Denmark embassy has come out to say the same thing. SG vaccination certificate not recognised in denmark.
Best hope seems to be via Switzerland EUDCC. I just applied for it. Flying to denmark in 2 weeks. Hoping to hear other comments from fellow readers!
Hi Alice,
Going to Denmark as well.
Looking into Switzerland EUDCC, how to fill in the Swiss address?
you can put any hotel address.
Doesn’t make sense to have VTL in the first place if our vaccination cert is not recognized. Does it mean that die die must have EUDCC first?
I am more concerned about Aaron’s point if a Singapore citizen with EUDCC can enter. I asked the Danish embassy in Singapore and they have no clue. Not the most helpful people (and the numbers they gave me in Denmark are no longer in service)
And the VTL House of Cards starts to crumble.
Do you know if this affects passengers transiting through Denmark? We have a flight to Rome that transits through Copenhagen.
please update on this as well! thinking of booking the same flight on dec 1st!
According to the Denmark Embassy’s response to a similar query on their facebook, the new rules do not apply to transit.
yup just saw it! would be too much of a hassle to quarantine if weโre only staying 1+ hours
That’s on us for being so honest. I mean come on we have 3k cases a day when neighbouring countries are having similar if not less despite having 10 to 50 times the population. Get real, we dont get looked up upon by being honest, just report hospitalisation and ICU cases will do, 98.5% asymptomatic, let it be.
The number of PCR tests being done has dropped dramatically with positive rate shooting up – not exactly “being honest” if it is what you meant
ARTs tested positive are being captured as well, mind you.
ART are not counted. Only positive PCR tests are included in the official numbers. Number of PCR tests has gone from 90,000 to 16,000 daily.
JW19 is right, the ART tests do count. PCRs are now reserved for symptomatic only, if they are only counting PCR positives we will be in the hundreds a day. However self tested ART do not count, only clinic administered ones count.
The average number of swabs test being done is only 16600 now, a fraction of before, yet close to 3000 positive
Hello, are there any updates on Singapore citizens spending abpit 5bdays in Netherlands before heating over to Copenhagen by plane? Will we face quarantine restrictions?
Believe business meeting travel is exempted from quarantine requirements (bottom of page):
https://en.coronasmitte.dk/travel-rules/new-mandatory-testing-and-isolation-requirements
Not that it matters anymore but regarding the Switzerland EUDCC conversion, I had called up the Danish authorities then who advised that the conversion would not exempt Singapore residents from the then-mandatory quarantine. Just thought of pointing this out.
I did got my Covid-19 vaccination converted last month but it was all for naught. Perhaps the writer and readers might like to do a fact check on what they write and read online in future. ๐
We are heading to DK next month, so the non mandatory quarantine doesn’t apply to us vaccinated SG residents with EUDCC conversion anymore?