Netherlands VTL: Pre-departure COVID-19 test required once again

Less than a week after removing the pre-departure test requirement for travellers from Singapore, the Netherlands has moved to reimpose it from 22 December 2021 . 

Pre-departure test for travel to Netherlands

From 22 December 2021, travellers entering the Netherlands from outside the EU/Schengen area must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test:

• ART: Taken within 24 hours of departure, or
• PCR: Taken within 48 hours of departure

The test requirement applies regardless of whether you have proof of vaccination or recovery. Children aged 11 and below are exempt. 

Do note that travel history is irrelevant; all that matters is where you enter from. For example, a Singapore resident who travels to Frankfurt, spends a few days there and then travels onwards to Amsterdam would not be required to present a negative test. 

However, if you’re taking a transit flight with Amsterdam as the final destination (e.g. SIN-FRA-AMS), you’ll be required to present the negative test result during check-in at Singapore (since the check-in staff will look at the requirements for your final destination).

Pre-departure antigen tests cost between S$21 to S$40 in Singapore, and if you’re pressed for time, you can even do an antigen test at Changi Airport just before flying at the Raffles Medical Clinic located at Terminal 3. 

Antigen tests at Raffles Medical cost S$30, but by entering the promo code SIARMGART (you don’t need to be flying on SIA to use this code) during booking, you can save 10% for a nett cost of S$27. 

For a detailed look at pre-departure testing costs in Singapore, be sure to bookmark the article below. 

Cheapest pre-departure COVID-19 ART and PCR tests in Singapore

All travellers to the Netherlands aged 12 or older must also fill out a health declaration form. 

Netherlands VTL: Overall testing regime

With the latest changes, here’s what the testing regime for round-trip travel to Netherlands will look like. 

For more information on the enhanced testing regime for VTL travellers to Singapore, refer to the article below.

Singapore to require daily COVID-19 ART swabs for all VTL travellers

It could have been much worse…

When I first read this news, I thought “great, flip prata again”. Then I realised it could actually have been much worse. 

Cast your mind back to 16 December 2021, when Singapore was shifted from the list of “very high risk” countries to the list of “high risk” countries. Had that upgrade not taken place, travellers from Singapore would need to self-quarantine on arrival for up to 10 days, even if they have proof of vaccination or recovery! 

From 22 December 2021, travellers from very high-risk areas must self-quarantine for 10 days even if they have proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. This quarantine period can be shortened if they get tested by the municipal health service (GGD) on day 5 of the quarantine and the result is negative. 

-Netherlands Government

In that sense, this latest move is aimed at Singapore’s category of countries, rather than Singapore itself. 

Conclusion

Travellers to the Netherlands will be suffering a little whiplash, given how rapidly the testing requirements have changed in the space of less than a week. That’s just par the course for travel at the moment, unfortunately, and what’s more important is the fact that the dreaded quarantine has not returned (yet!).

If it’s any consolation, the cheaper ART results can be used, which should not add much time or expense to your pre-departure process.