SINGAPORE: Singapore will extend its quarantine-free vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme to Australia and Switzerland from Nov 8.
For Australia, however, two-way travel applies only to fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Tuesday (Oct 26).
"Singapore’s VTL for Australia will allow fully vaccinated travellers from Australia to enter Singapore without quarantine, for all purposes of travel," said CAAS.
"We also expect student and business pass holders from Singapore to be able to enter Australia, after Australia has finalised the arrangement for their entry. Other travellers from Singapore would not be able to travel to Australia until a later stage."
Under the vaccinated travel lane scheme, travellers must have remained in one or more of the VTL countries in the last 14 days before departure to Singapore.
They must take two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests - before departure and on arrival at Changi Airport.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below are allowed to travel under the scheme as long as they are accompanied by a traveller who meets the requirements.
Singapore has now announced vaccinated travel lanes with 13 countries.
CAAS said the successful implementation of the scheme has given it the "experience and confidence" to extend it to more countries.
"We will continue to do so in a cautious and step-by-step manner without compromising public health," the agency said.
As of Monday, more than 15,000 travellers have been issued passes under the vaccinated travel lane scheme, with about 5,000 of them having entered Singapore so far.
With the extension to Australia and Switzerland, the quota for those entering Singapore under the scheme will be increased from 3,000 to 4,000 travellers daily, CAAS said.
"We will monitor the progress of the scheme closely before deciding on any further increases in capacity," it added.
CAAS noted that both Australia and Switzerland come under Category II of the Ministry of Health's border measures, with similar or lower COVID-19 incidence rates than Singapore and other countries under the vaccinated travel lane scheme.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced last week that Singapore and Australia were in the final stages of talks to set up a travel arrangement, with a plan likely to be established "within the next week or so".
The Sydney Morning Herald reported then that the scheme would initially be focused on vaccinated students and business travellers, before opening up to tourists.
On Tuesday, CAAS said that Australia is among Singapore's top 10 markets for annual passenger arrivals at Changi Airport, accounting for about 4 per cent of total arrivals in 2019.
More than 50,000 Singaporeans live in Australia, it noted, adding that about 25,000 Australians live in Singapore.
"The VTL will enable them to reconnect with their loved ones back home, whom they have been physically separated from for more than a year," said CAAS.
On Mr Morrison's comments that Australia will reopen to more travellers from Singapore, CAAS said Canberra will release more details at a later time.
As for Switzerland, it ranks among Singapore’s top trading and investment partners, with about 3,000 Swiss expatriates living in Singapore, said CAAS.
All travellers from Singapore are currently allowed to enter Switzerland and are not required to self-quarantine upon arrival.
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Continue reading...
For Australia, however, two-way travel applies only to fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Tuesday (Oct 26).
"Singapore’s VTL for Australia will allow fully vaccinated travellers from Australia to enter Singapore without quarantine, for all purposes of travel," said CAAS.
"We also expect student and business pass holders from Singapore to be able to enter Australia, after Australia has finalised the arrangement for their entry. Other travellers from Singapore would not be able to travel to Australia until a later stage."
Under the vaccinated travel lane scheme, travellers must have remained in one or more of the VTL countries in the last 14 days before departure to Singapore.
They must take two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests - before departure and on arrival at Changi Airport.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below are allowed to travel under the scheme as long as they are accompanied by a traveller who meets the requirements.
Singapore has now announced vaccinated travel lanes with 13 countries.
CAAS said the successful implementation of the scheme has given it the "experience and confidence" to extend it to more countries.
"We will continue to do so in a cautious and step-by-step manner without compromising public health," the agency said.
As of Monday, more than 15,000 travellers have been issued passes under the vaccinated travel lane scheme, with about 5,000 of them having entered Singapore so far.
Related:
With the extension to Australia and Switzerland, the quota for those entering Singapore under the scheme will be increased from 3,000 to 4,000 travellers daily, CAAS said.
"We will monitor the progress of the scheme closely before deciding on any further increases in capacity," it added.
CAAS noted that both Australia and Switzerland come under Category II of the Ministry of Health's border measures, with similar or lower COVID-19 incidence rates than Singapore and other countries under the vaccinated travel lane scheme.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced last week that Singapore and Australia were in the final stages of talks to set up a travel arrangement, with a plan likely to be established "within the next week or so".
The Sydney Morning Herald reported then that the scheme would initially be focused on vaccinated students and business travellers, before opening up to tourists.
On Tuesday, CAAS said that Australia is among Singapore's top 10 markets for annual passenger arrivals at Changi Airport, accounting for about 4 per cent of total arrivals in 2019.
More than 50,000 Singaporeans live in Australia, it noted, adding that about 25,000 Australians live in Singapore.
"The VTL will enable them to reconnect with their loved ones back home, whom they have been physically separated from for more than a year," said CAAS.
On Mr Morrison's comments that Australia will reopen to more travellers from Singapore, CAAS said Canberra will release more details at a later time.
As for Switzerland, it ranks among Singapore’s top trading and investment partners, with about 3,000 Swiss expatriates living in Singapore, said CAAS.
All travellers from Singapore are currently allowed to enter Switzerland and are not required to self-quarantine upon arrival.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Continue reading...