Singapore demands pre-arrival testing for high-risk travellers

Travellers to Singapore from high-risk countries will soon need to take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure.

Singapore's Health Ministry (MOH) said such arrivals will also still need to serve a 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) on arrival in Singapore and be tested again at the end of their quarantine period. While arrivals from low-risk countries can serve a seven-day SHN at home, those from higher-risk areas must carry out their 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities. However, if they are the only occupant of their place of residence, they are allowed to quarantine at home.

The new requirement will come into effect at 11.59pm on November 17. It does not apply to Singapore citizens, permanent residents or visitors from low-risk areas including Brunei, New Zealand, Vietnam, Australia, Mainland China, Macao, Malaysia (except Sabah), Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Previously, pre-departure PCR testing only applied to those travelling from India, Indonesia and the Philippines. A negative certificate is required for entry into or transit through Singapore.

“We recognise that different countries/regions are at different stages of putting in place effective systems to control the spread of Covid-19,” said MOH in a statement. “We have therefore taken a risk-managed approach to our border controls, based on the assessed risk of importation and onward transmission in the community.”

Currently, with some exceptions, only Singaporean citizens and permanent residents are authorised to enter the country. Singapore has set-up a limited number of Reciprocal Green Lanes with a handful of other regions.