Quarantine-free travel is set to launch between Singapore and Switzerland.
Singapore is to add both Australia and Switzerland to its growing list of Vaccinated Travel Lane destinations it was announced this week.
The expansion of the lane with Switzerland from November 8 allows for vaccinated travellers to enter Singapore quarantine-free. Instead, they will need to take a PCR test 48 hours before departure and another on arrival. There are around 3,000 Swiss nationals currently living in Singapore.
According to Switzerland’s Ambassador to Singapore, in terms of leisure travel pre-Covid Singapore was the second-most important source market for Switzerland in Southeast Asia.
Currently all travellers from Singapore are permitted to enter Switzerland without quarantine. Unvaccinated adults aged over 16 years must produce a negative Covid-19 test result and have to test again four to seven days later. Children under the age of 16 are exempted from Covid testing.
Once they have entered Switzerland, adults over 16 must have a vaccination certificate or negative test result in order to access restaurants, bars and museums. Those aged over 12 years must wear a face mask on public transport.
Currently around 62% of the country is fully vaccinated.
For Australia, two-way travel will only apply to fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents and their immediate family until Australia fully reopens its borders. It’s estimated that more than 50,000 Singaporeans live in Australia and 25,000 Australians live in Singapore.
According to Singapore Airlines, services with Australia and Switzerland will restart from November 8. Outbound travel can be on any Singapore Airlines flight, but inbound travellers must book a designated VTL flight. Travel to multiple VTL destinations in one trip is allowed.
Singapore has now announced VTLs with 13 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Brunei as well as the two most recent additions. A VTL will open with South Korea on November 15.
Singapore’s minister for Transport said Singapore was looking to rebuild connectivity with more countries and regions. “We are in discussions with other partners, including our regional neighbours, to reopen safely to each other and restore our close connectivity,” he said.
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