Non-fully vaccinated visitors no longer need prior entry approval, and masks are now optional in most indoor settings, including Changi Airport.
A bumboat cruising down the Singapore River. (Photo: nextvoyage/Pixabay)
Singapore has now eased entry restrictions on unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers, scrapping its requirement for seven days of home isolation and a PCR test at the end of their first week in the city-state. However, they must carry a report of a negative result in a pre-departure PCR or (professionally administered) rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of their scheduled flight time. Non-fully vaccinated arrivals who have tested positive for Covid-19 between 14 and 90 days before the date of departure are exempt from testing.
The new rules are similar to those in neighboring Malaysia, which removed all entry requirements related to Covid-19 on August 1, with no pre-departure testing necessary regardless of vaccination status. Indonesia still requires five days of quarantine for travelers aged 18 and above who are not fully inoculated.
Another notable change taking effect today is Singapore’s relaxation of an indoor mask mandate that has been in place since April 2020. Facial coverings are no longer required except in healthcare settings and public transport, including MRT platforms and boarding areas at bus interchanges. They are also optional at Changi Airport, with passengers allowed to go mask-free in all terminals and airline lounges.
Given the latest government guidelines, Singapore Airlines is ending its mask requirement on selected routes. This will benefits flyers traveling between Singapore and Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, United States, as well as most of the carrier’s destinations in continental Europe. However, the updated regulations do not apply to 60 percent of SIA services, as masks are still mandatory on flights to or from countries such as Canada, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Spain, and South Korea.
