Singapore will unilaterally lift border restrictions to visitors from Australia – excluding Victoria state – and Vietnam from Oct 8.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced that these two countries both have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and have successfully controlled the spread of the Covid-19.
“The risk of importation from these countries is low,” said the authority, noting that over the last 28 days, Vietnam had zero local Covid-19 cases while Australia (excluding Victoria state) had a low virus incidence rate of 0.02 cases per 100,000 people.
Visitors from Australia and Vietnam will be able to apply for the Air Travel Pass for entry into Singapore from Thursday. The earliest day they will be able to come into Singapore will be Oct 8.
The Air Travel Pass scheme allows for all forms of short-term travel, including leisure travel. This is in contrast to reciprocal green lane arrangements between countries, which are usually for essential business and official travel.
Visitors will have to take a swab test upon arrival and can go about their activities after they get a negative test result. They will have to use the TraceTogether app for the duration of their stay here, among other conditions.
Australia and Vietnam join other countries
Australia and Vietnam countries join New Zealand and Brunei as the four countries that Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders to, as the country bids to revive its tourism and travel markets.
Since border restrictions to visitors from Brunei and New Zealand were lifted on Sept 8, CAAS has approved 331 applications from travelers from the two countries.
As of 5 pm on Wednesday, 136 visitors have arrived so far. None of them tested positive upon arrival and have been intruded about all the protocols and country’s measures, so they can easily adapt during their stay.