PSA: Singapore Airlines accepts MOH recovery memo or HealthHub status as proof of recent recovery

Ever since 24 January 2022, fully vaccinated travellers who have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection have been granted special concessions when travelling to Singapore. 

Simply put, they’re exempt from:

• Pre-departure testing when flying to Singapore
• SHN on arrival in Singapore, regardless of whether or not they take a VTL flight, their travel history or point of origin
• On-arrival testing in Singapore

This means a wider range of flight options, as well as cost savings from the absence of testing when flying to Singapore (do note that pre-departure testing may still be required when flying out of Singapore, depending on country). 

By this point, everyone probably has caught or knows someone who has caught COVID-19. The question, then, is how to go about proving your recent infection. 

Here’s some good news that should reassure anxious travellers: Singapore Airlines has confirmed that they will accept MOH recovery memos and HealthHub status screenshots in lieu of a pre-departure test. 

Procedures for recently-recovered travellers

Fully-vaccinated travellers who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may present either of the following documents to excuse themselves from SHN and testing requirements:

• a positive COVID-19 PCR or professionally-administered ART result dated between 7-90 days before date of departure to Singapore or
• a discharge memo 

Either document must:

• state the traveller’s name and at least one other personal identifier (e.g. date of birth, passport number)
• state the date of infection or discharge date, which must be within 7-90 days before the date of departure for Singapore
• be issued by a relevant state authority or licensed medical professional

To reiterate, you can present either a positive COVID-19 PCR or professionally-administered ART result or a discharge memo.

Now, it’s already possible for COVID-positive patients to visit a QTC or CTC to take a supervised ART and have their infection recorded in the HealthHub system. They can also request a recovery memo via this link (it says it’s for protocol 1 patients, but protocol 2 patients have used it without any issue). 

But the issue is that the recovery memo redacts all but the last four digits of one’s NRIC. This has raised concerns as to whether it will be accepted by the check-in desk in lieu of a pre-departure test result.

I’ve reached out to Singapore Airlines, and they have confirmed that passengers can present any of the following documents at the overseas check-in counter to exempt themselves from pre-departure testing: 

• HealthHub status showing a positive test result with “Licensed Provider” indicated

• An ART/PCR test certificate indicating when he/she tested positive (must be at least 7 days ago)
• An MOH recovery memo which features the patient’s name and last four digits of NRIC/FIN

It’s important to note that this response comes from Singapore Airlines; there’s no guarantee that other airlines will follow the same SOP. 

However, the wording on the ICA website is pretty unambiguous, and if you want to be extra sure, you can always arrange a tele-ART with DoctorAnywhere to get a positive test certificate for S$12.84 (plus the cost of an ART kit).

Remember that there’s two parts to this process:

• Check-in overseas: Show proof of previous infection to excuse yourself from pre-departure testing
• On arrival in Singapore: Show proof of previous infection to excuse yourself from on-arrival testing and SHN

I haven’t got an official statement from ICA, but based on anecdotal data points I’ve read online, there haven’t been any issues showing your HealthHub status to get exempted from SHN and on-arrival testing.

A MileLion reader also shared the above correspondence.

At the immigration area, don’t take the automated channels. Instead, look out for a special lane called “Vaccinated Recovered Travellers”. Here’s where you’ll show your HealthHub status, and be issued with a special sticker with “E” on it. 

This grants you exemption from all on-arrival measures; you could even take the MRT home or go to Jewel straight after arrival if you so wished!

Conclusion

Passengers who have recently recovered from a COVID-19 infection can exempt themselves from pre-departure testing when flying Singapore Airlines by showing an MOH recovery memo, HealthHub screenshot, or positive ART/PCR test certificate. This must have been issued at least seven days and no more than 90 days ago.

On arrival, they will also be exempt from testing and SHN by showing this document to the ICA officer. 

Hopefully, this will soon become irrelevant if/when the VTLs are eliminated!