From 13 February 2023, Singapore will remove its remaining border restrictions around Covid-19.
This means that travellers who are not fully vaccinated against the virus will no longer be required to show proof of a negative test before entering Singapore. In addition to this, travellers will no longer need to prove their vaccination status upon arrival.
From Monday, holidaymakers and other short-term visitors who are not fully vaccinated, will also not be required to buy travel insurance that covers Covid-19 treatment in the Republic.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the relaxation of rules in a statement released on Thursday.
“We launched the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) in April 2022 to facilitate the safe resumption of international travel,” the statement said.
“In view of the stable and improving global Covid-19 situation, and the low impact of imported cases on our healthcare capacity, we will stand down the remaining Covid-19 border measures.”
The contingency plan
The MOH added however that the VTF would “remain in place for reactivation if there are international developments of concern, such as new severe variants or signs that our healthcare capacity is strained by imported cases”.
According to The Straits Times, Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong told a press conference that the VTF allows Singapore “to quickly adjust the risk classification of countries, as well as our border measures based on the travellers’ vaccination status, should the need arise”.
All travellers entering Singapore via air or sea (including Singapore residents) and short-term visitors entering via land also “must continue to submit a health declaration via the SG Arrival Card e-service”, the Ministry statement said.
The MOH would also continue screening travellers for other viruses of concern like Yellow Fever.
“Travellers are advised to check the ICA website for the latest border measures before entering Singapore,” it said.
The new rules replace current measures, which require those aged 13 and over to show proof of full vaccination at least two weeks before arrival.
The move to an endemic “new norm”
According to the Ministry, the Covid-19 situation in Singapore has remained stable in recent months, despite “increased travel over the year-end holiday period, the Northern Hemisphere winter season and China’s shift away from a zero-COVID policy”.
“We are therefore able to step down the remaining few Covid-19 measures, and establish an endemic Covid-19 new norm.”
However, the MOH said that “vaccination remains our first line of defence against Covid-19”.
In January, Singaporean authorities said they expected visitor numbers to rise significantly in 2023 – in fact, to double last year’s arrivals.
