Vaccinated Travel Lane to Include Children Aged 12 and Below to Facilitate Family Travel

             Children aged 12 years and below who are not vaccinated will be allowed to travel under the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) from VTL countries into Singapore on or after 19 October 2021, if they are accompanied by a VTL traveller. Like other VTL travellers, the children do not need to serve quarantine; they will only need to undergo pre-departure and on-arrival COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, except children aged 2 years and below. From 19 October 2021, the VTL countries will comprise Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA). From 15 November 2021, they will also include the Republic of Korea (ROK). 

2.         Travellers are advised to check the prevailing entry requirements imposed by the countries they are travelling to, including any restrictions on the age of travellers and vaccination status. As of now, Brunei Darussalam does not allow general travel into the country. From 15 November 2021, the ROK will allow general travel into the country under the VTL but this does not include children who do not qualify for vaccination or persons who are medically unfit to be vaccinated.

VTL Conditions that Apply to Children Aged 12 and Below 

3.         Children aged 12 years and below, including short-term visitors, long-term pass holders, Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, will qualify for travel under the VTL without the need to show proof of vaccination. The age of the child will be based on the calendar year. For example, a child born in or after 2009 will be allowed to enter Singapore under the VTL in 2021. The child must be accompanied by a VTL traveller who meets all VTL requirements for entry into Singapore. The child does not need to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) to travel to Singapore under the VTL.

4.         To safeguard public health, the child is required to adhere to all other VTL requirements:

(i)       Travel History

 The child must have remained in one or more of the VTL countries[1] in the last 14 consecutive days prior to departure to Singapore. If the child has been in Singapore within those last 14 days, his/her stay in Singapore can be counted towards fulfilling this 14-day travel history requirement.

(ii)      Designated VTL Flights

 The child who is travelling to Singapore under the VTL must travel into Singapore on designated VTL flights.

The child who is transferring or transiting through Singapore[2] will also be allowed to travel on the designated VTL flights. The child, except those aged 2 years and below, will also be required to take a pre-departure PCR test within 48 hours before departing to Singapore.

(iii)     Testing

 The child, except those aged 2 and below, must take two COVID-19 PCR tests:

• A pre-departure test within 48 hours before departing to Singapore and obtain a negative test result; and
• An on-arrival test at Changi Airport and remain self-isolated until their test result is confirmed to be negative.

More details on the VTL requirements into Singapore can be found in Annex A and at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg.

5.         The VTL was launched on 8 September 2021 for Brunei Darussalam and Germany for vaccinated travellers. Unvaccinated persons, including children who do not qualify for vaccination and persons who are medically unfit to be vaccinated, were not allowed to enter Singapore under the VTL. The latest change will facilitate family travel while still safeguarding public health.

6.         Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General of the CAAS said: “We have received positive public feedback on the VTL and its extension. Some parents have suggested also allowing their children to travel under the VTL. We have considered this suggestion in consultation with the Ministry of Health and decided to allow it to facilitate family travel. There is some public health risk, but it can be mitigated with the other safeguards. We urge parents to exercise extra care and caution when travelling with their unvaccinated child. We also advise all travellers to check the prevailing entry requirements imposed by the countries they are travelling to and adhere to their public health measures.”

Annex A: Summary of Vaccinated Travel Lane Requirements

[1] For example, a child departing from Germany who has been in Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK, the USA and/or Singapore in the last 14 consecutive days prior to departure for Singapore fulfills the travel history requirement of the VTL scheme. This list of countries can also include the ROK on and after 15 November 2021.  

[2] Only travellers travelling with an airline whose transfer route via Singapore has been approved by CAAS will be allowed to transit/transfer through Singapore. Travellers are advised to confirm arrangements with the airlines they intend to fly with, before purchasing their flight tickets.