24 June 21
Please refer to the updated general information, useful links, resources, and Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs) on COVID-19 border health measures and restrictions for travellers to UK and Singapore:
USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
Singapore
Ministry of Health – Updates on Covid-19 Local Situation in Singapore
http://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19
Ministry of Health – FAQs for Pre-departure Test
https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/faqs
Ministry of Health – FAQs on Singapore’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
https://moh.gov.sg/covid-19/vaccination
For queries on the MOH’s vaccination policy or to provide feedback, please contact MOH at the following:
General Hotline: +65 6325 9220
Queries/Feedback: www.moh.gov.sg/feedback
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) – Updates on Singapore’s border control measures
For queries related to health/immigration requirements (such as border control measures, entry application into Singapore, Stay-Home Notice or Quarantine Order) please contact Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/contact-us, or call SafeTravel Helpline at +65 6812 5555.
Singapore Global Network – COVID-19 Resource Page
https://www.singaporeglobalnetwork.gov.sg/resources/covid-19
Ministry of Education FAQ for Students
https://www.moe.gov.sg/faqs-covid-19-infection
Ministry of Foreign Affairs - COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
https://mfa.gov.sg/Services/Singapore-Citizens/COVID-19-Travel-Restrictions
United Kingdom
COVID-19 Support and Guidance
UK Border Force
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/border-force
www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders
UK Visas & Immigration
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration
UK Council for International Student Affairs
Guidance and Support for Students in the UK
www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Entry into Singapore
As the global situation evolves, Singapore will continue to adjust its border measures to manage the risk of importation and transmission to the community. Any changes to border measures will be updated on the SafeTravel website and MOH website. Travellers are advised to visit these websites to check for the most updated border measures before entering Singapore and be prepared to be subjected to the prevailing border measures upon entry, including payment for their stay at dedicated SHN facilities, tests and treatment.
All travellers are reminded to accurately declare their travel history. Strict enforcement actions will be taken against false declarations.
International Travel to Singapore
At present all short-term visitors are not allowed to enter Singapore unless they have obtained explicit approvals from the relevant agencies such as the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Long-Term Pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to the UK (within the last 21 days) are allowed entry into Singapore, after obtaining the relevant entry approvals and serving a 14-day Stay Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated facilities. Travellers with recent travel history to the UK are also allowed to transit through Singapore Changi Airport, on airlines approved to operate such transfers.
Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) for All Travellers to Singapore
As a precautionary measure taken to minimise risk of additional imported cases of COVID-19, a SHN at SHN Dedicated Facility (SDF) will be issued to all travellers including Singapore residents, long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who are granted entry into Singapore.
All incoming travellers from the UK, Ireland, and Iceland, including Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders, are required to serve a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in dedicated hotels.
Updates:
*Updated on 23 Jun 21:
Please refer to MOH’s press release here.
From 23 June 2021, 2359 hours, all travellers with recent travel history in the past 21 days to higher risk countries/regions immediately prior to arrival in Singapore, will only be required to complete 14 days of their SHN at dedicated SHN facilities. They will undergo COVID-19 PCR tests on-arrival and on Day 14 of their arrival. They will be allowed to end their SHN as long as they have a negative result for their PCR test on Day 14 of their arrival.
Besides the on-arrival PCR test and PCR test on Day 14 of arrival, all travellers [7] serving the SHN in dedicated SHN facilities will also undergo ART self-administered tests on Days 3, 7 and 11 of their arrival. This new requirement will be implemented for new arrivals from 27 Jun 2021, 2359 hours.
Returning Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents
Returning Singapore Citizens (SC) and Permanent Residents (PR) can return to Singapore without applying for entry under any SafeTravel Lane. From 29 May 2021, 2359hrs pre-departure testing requirement will be extended to all SCs and PRs. All travellers entering or transiting through Singapore (including SCs and PRs), except for those who have stayed in lower-risk countries/regions in the past consecutive 21 days before departure to Singapore, will need to present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Singapore. Other border health measures such as on-arrival COVID-19 PCR Test, Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) at SHN Dedicated Facility (SDF) and related COVID-19 tests will apply.
For more details, please refer to https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/health.
You may wish to refer to this link provided by the UK Department for Health and Social Care on a list of private providers for COVID-19 testing. Please note that the Singapore High Commission does not recommend or promote any testing provider. You are free to approach any service provider that meets your requirements.
We strongly encourage travellers to check with their respective airlines on pre-departure measures, including testing procedures and providers, that may be in place as these may change on short notice.
Non-Singaporean Spouses and Children of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents/Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPH).
Please refer to https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/overview for the relevant approvals to enter Singapore. Approvals must be obtained via the relevant government agencies (e.g. MOE, MOM), or via the applications for a Safe Travel Pass.
Please note that travellers without an entry approval will be denied entry and may have their existing passes revoked.
Updates:
*Updated on 4 May 21:
Please refer to MOH’s press release here.
Extending Consecutive Travel History from 14 to 21 Days
From 7 May 2021, 2359 hours, prevailing border measures that will apply to incoming travellers will be determined based on the travellers’ recent travel history in the past consecutive 21 days to countries/regions, instead of the existing assessed travel history period of 14 days This will aid the detection of any spread among any groups of travellers at pre-departure tests.
*Updated on 29 May 21:
Please refer to MOH’s press release here.
From 29 May 2021, 2359 hours, MOH will extend the pre-departure testing requirement to all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. All travellers entering or transiting through Singapore (including SCs and PRs) will need to present a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure for Singapore (including SCs and PRs), except for those who have stayed in lower-risk countries/regions in the past consecutive 21 days before departure to Singapore. Only then will they be allowed to board their flight to Singapore. All travellers will also be required to present their valid COVID-19 PCR test at the air, sea and land checkpoints when they arrive in Singapore.
Travellers who arrive in Singapore without a valid negative test result may be denied entry into Singapore. PRs and long-term pass holders who fail to comply with the new requirement may have their permit or pass cancelled.
*Updated on 23 Jun 21:
Please refer to MOH’s press release here.
From 23 June 2021, 2359 hours, all travellers with recent travel history in the past 21 days to higher risk countries/regions immediately prior to arrival in Singapore, will only be required to complete 14 days of their SHN at dedicated SHN facilities. They will undergo COVID-19 PCR tests on-arrival and on Day 14 of their arrival. They will be allowed to end their SHN as long as they have a negative result for their PCR test on Day 14 of their arrival.
Besides the on-arrival PCR test and PCR test on Day 14 of arrival, all travellers [7] serving the SHN in dedicated SHN facilities will also undergo ART self-administered tests on Days 3, 7 and 11 of their arrival. This new requirement will be implemented for new arrivals from 27 Jun 2021, 2359 hours.
Testing Regime
Non-Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents will need to obtain a negative pre-departure COVID-19 PCR Test within 72 hours of departure to Singapore. All Travellers serving 21-day SHN will undergo COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on-arrival, on Day 14 of their SHN, and before the end of their 21-day SHN period. The tests will be scheduled at a designated community testing facility. Each person under SHN will receive information on the scheduled appointment slot and venue via an SMS notification. They will have to travel from their place of residence to the designated testing facility, and return immediately after the test, using their own private vehicle or designated transport. Public transport should be avoided. Travellers will have to bear the cost of the COVID-19 test.
You may wish to refer to this link provided by the UK Department for Health and Social Care on a list of private providers for COVID-19 testing. Please note that the Singapore High Commission does not recommend or promote any one testing provider. You are free to approach any service provider that meets your requirements.
We strongly encourage travellers to check with their respective airlines on pre-departure measures, including testing procedures and providers, that may be in place as these may change on short notice.
Updates:
*Updated on 23 Jun 21:
Please refer to MOH’s press release here.
Besides the on-arrival PCR test and PCR test on Day 14 of arrival, all travellers [7] serving the SHN in dedicated SHN facilities will also undergo ART self-administered tests on Days 3, 7 and 11 of their arrival. This new requirement will be implemented for new arrivals from 27 Jun 2021, 2359 hours.
Place of Serving SHN
Travellers should follow instructions given by officers at the immigration checkpoints on the allocation of the dedicated SHN facilities. Advance information on these facilities are unavailable due to the dynamic nature of room allocation for dedicated SHN facilities.
*Costs of COVID-19 Tests and Stay at Dedicated SHN Facilities
All inbound travellers who enter Singapore will be required to pay for their COVID-19 tests and stay at dedicated SHN facilities. The details of the costs can be found via the SafeTravel website as follows:
Stay at Dedicated Facility: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/health/shn/sdf
COVID-19 PCR Tests: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/health/covid19-tests/pcrtest
For more details please refer to www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19. You may also contact the SafeTravel Helpline at +65 6812 5555, or contact ICA at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/contact-us.
Updates:
*Updated on 27 Oct 20:
The cost incurred for the SHN Dedicated Facilities is chargeable for all travellers, except Singapore citizens (SCs) or permanent residents (PRs) who had left Singapore before 27 March 2020andwill be returning to Singapore before 31 December 2020. Please refer to MOH’s press releasehere. With effect from1 January 2021, costs of stay at dedicated SHN facilities for SCs and PRs who last left Singapore before 27 March 2020will no longer be waived. Similarly, with effect from1 January 2021, all returning SC/PR/LTPH travellers who last left Singapore before 27 March 2020, as well as new SCs/PRs/LTPHs will also be responsible for their inpatient medical bills, should they develop onset of symptoms within 14 days of their arrival in Singapore, but they will be able to tap on regular healthcare financial arrangements for their inpatient medical bills – SCs and PRs may access Government subsidies and MediShield Life/Integrated Shield Plan to help pay for their bills, while LTPHs may tap on their usual financing arrangements, such as private insurance.
Health Declaration via The SG Arrival Card E-Service
All travellers arriving in Singapore must submit a health declaration via the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) e-Service (https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard) before proceeding with immigration clearance.
Flight Availability between London and Singapore
Currently, Singapore Airlines and British Airways are operating from London to Singapore. Qatar Airways and Emirates also fly (between London and Singapore) via Doha and Dubai respectively. However, the frequency of flights is regularly reviewed subject to demand.
Please check directly with the airlines for details on flight availability and schedule.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Is it safe to travel to the UK?
Singaporeans and residents of Singapore are advised to defer all forms of travel overseas unless to countries listed in the Ministry of Health’s Travel Advisory.
National COVID Alert Levels
The UK government has introduced a 5-level Alert system to measure the threat from COVID-19. The alert levels reflect the extent of the epidemic and corresponding social distancing measures across the whole country. On 10 May 21, the alert level was reduced from Level 4 to Level 3 (third highest level). This means that COVID-19 is in general circulation but there is a gradual relaxation of restrictions.
Coronavirus restrictions remain in place across the country.
Find out what you can and cannot do here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do. You may consult local restrictions guidance if you live in other areas: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From 17 May 21 the rules for entering England change depending on where you have travelled from outside the UK. There will be different rules to follow if you’re entering Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing on the latest general restrictions, including the limit on the number of people you may meet in England. If you live in an area where local restrictions are in place you should also consult the local restrictions guidance (e.g. in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) for information about what you can and can’t do to manage the outbreak (www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home).
Students in the UK
Students who are intending to return to the UK to resume their studies should consult their respective educational institutions and other relevant parties on their academic and logistical arrangements before undertaking travel.
From 1 Sep 20, travel for students pursuing academic qualification overseas, and where distance-learning is not offered as an option by the education institution is allowed. Overseas studies should be of at least one academic year, for courses which require physical presence in the foreign educational institution, and which will lead to attainment of academic qualifications. Existing students who are completing such academic programs (i.e. balance duration of less than an academic year) are included. Students below the age of 18 may be accompanied by an adult. Mature students may travel overseas with their dependents who will be residing with them for the duration of their studies. Please see paragraphs 1 and 8 of the press release.
Singapore’s border measures will evolve as the global situation changes. MOH will continue to monitor the global health situation closely and update our border measures in accordance with the public health risk assessment. If the situation in a country/region deteriorates, more stringent measures will be put in place to limit the risk of importation and prevent community transmission from imported cases. We encourage everyone to check the MOH website regularly for the latest updates. At the individual level, do take the necessary precautions (wash your hands frequently, wear a face covering when not able to social distance) and follow local government advice.
You may also wish to obtain more information from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) at www.ukcisa.org.uk. Further guidance and support for students in the UK can be found here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare.
Are there travel restrictions for travellers entering the UK?
What you must do when you arrive in England from abroad depends on where you have been in the last 10 days before you arrive. There is separate guidance for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Countries and territories have been categorised as Red, Amber or Green and will correspondingly entail different entry requirements. The countries and territories can be moved between list if conditions change. Please refer to the latest list at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england.
Relevant instructions on the completing of passenger forms, booking of COVID-19 tests and quarantine packages hotel packages are contained within the link.
International Arrivals from Singapore
As of 15 Feb 21, passengers arriving from Singapore require a negative pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test*, taken up to 72-hours prior to departure. Passengers will be required to fill out a passenger locator form and book two COVID-19 tests to be taken on Day 2 and Day 8 of arrival in England. Passengers need to self-isolate at home for 10-days after arrival. The government’s Test to Release scheme will remain in place, giving passengers the option to shorten the mandatory self-isolation period to 5 days
From 17 May 21, Singapore will be placed on England’s green list of countries and territories. Under this arrangement, passengers will still require a negative pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test and complete a passenger locator form. They will also have to book and pay for a COVID-19 Test on or before day 2 after arrival. Passengers do NOT need to self-isolate or quarantine in England on arrival unless the day 2 test result is positive.
Further details can be obtained via:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england.
You do not need to take a COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival in England if you’re travelling within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (the Common Travel Area) and have not been outside of the Common Travel Area in the last 10 days.
Visas and Immigration
Ensuring the validity of entry/work visas (where required) and adherence to immigration requirements of the UK is the individual responsibility of all travellers. The Singapore High Commission does not handle or process visas for entry into the United Kingdom. This is handled by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI).
The UK Government has published guidance for those affected by changes to the UK Immigration and borders regulations due to COVID-19. You can access the details via: www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-bordersor UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) via www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.
Now that travel restrictions are lifting globally, you will no longer be able to extend your visa automatically and you are expected to take all reasonable steps to leave the UK where it is possible to do so or apply to regularise your stay in the UK. For detailed guidance and instructions, please refer to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.
Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre
If you have immigration queries related to COVID-19, please email CIH@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you may call +44 (0) 800 678 1767 (Mon – Fri, 0900H – 1700H). Calls to this number are free of charge within the UK. Check call charges with your phone
provider if you are calling from abroad.
For students, you are advised to consult your school pertaining to any visa matters arising from the current COVID-19 situation and travel restrictions.
You can also obtain more information from UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) via www.ukcisa.org.uk and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) via www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.
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The Singapore High Commission in London will share relevant information via email and across our website and social media platforms promptly and transparently.
In the meantime, we encourage Singaporeans and PRs to e-register at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SingaporeHighComLondon or Twitter @SHCLon.
For Consular assistance, pls contact the Singapore High Commission in London or the MFA Duty Office at the following: