Singapore will unilaterally lift border restrictions to visitors from Australia (excluding Victoria State) and Vietnam from Oct 8.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said that these two countries both have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and have successfully controlled the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The risk of importation from these countries is low. Over the last 28 days, Vietnam had zero local COVID-19 cases while Australia (excluding Victoria state) had a low virus incidence rate of 0.02 cases per 100,000 people. Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders as the country bids to revive its tourism and travel markets.
Visitors from Australia and Vietnam will be able to apply for the Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore. The earliest day they will be able to come into Singapore will be Oct 8.
The Air Travel Pass scheme allows for all forms of short-term travel, including leisure travel. This is in contrast to reciprocal green lane arrangements between countries, which are usually for essential business and official travel.
Visitors will have to take a swab test upon arrival and can go about their activities after they get a negative test result. They will have to use the TraceTogether app for the duration of their stay here, among other conditions.
CAAS also said that Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from Australia (excluding Victoria state) and Vietnam will be able to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. This will replace the current requirement of a seven-day stay-home notice with a test before the end of the notice.
CAAS added that it has updated Singapore’s travel advisory to allow for travel to Australia (excluding Victoria) and Vietnam.
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said that Singapore’s move to further open up was another step in resuscitating Changi Airport.
The Changi air hub is a crucial part of Singapore's economy, contributing more than 5 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product and employing 192,000 people before the pandemic. Now, it is among the worst-hit segments of the economy, with the transportation and storage sector shrinking at an annualised rate of 80 per cent in the second quarter of the year, compared with the previous quarter.
