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SINGAPORE: Singapore will lift border restrictions for some visitors from Australia, excluding the state of Victoria and Vietnam from October 8, after doing so for Brunei and New Zealand earlier this month.
The two countries have successfully controlled the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the import risk is low, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Wednesday (September 30).
Starting Thursday, foreign short-term visitors traveling from Vietnam and Australia, except the state of Victoria, can apply for an Air Travel Pass to enter Singapore. Travel will be allowed from October 8.
“The risk of importation from these countries is low,” said CAAS, noting that Vietnam had no local cases of COVID-19 in the past 28 days, while Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) has a local incidence rate of 0.02 per 100,000 virus.
READ: Singapore to waive stay-at-home notice for New Zealand and Brunei travelers, test them for COVID-19 upon arrival
At the same time, Singapore will also update its travel advisory to allow travel to Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) and Vietnam, CAAS said.
Visitors to these two countries are advised to check the entry requirements imposed by those countries and take the necessary precautionary measures.
As of Wednesday, Australia has banned all overseas travel, unless granted an exemption. Only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.
Vietnam has also temporarily suspended the entry of all foreigners and Vietnamese abroad via commercial flights. Entry visas can be granted to foreigners with diplomatic and official passports, as well as to certain investors, business managers, experts, and highly skilled workers, as the case may be.
READ: COVID-19: 5 things you need to know about the business travel pass
The move comes after Singapore lifted border restrictions for visitors from Brunei and New Zealand effective September 8.
As of 5pm on Wednesday, CAAS has approved 331 applications from the two countries, of which 136 visitors have arrived so far. None of them tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, CAAS said.
REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER WITH AN AIR TRAVEL PASS
In accordance with the requirements for Brunei and New Zealand Air Travel Pass visitors, those traveling from Australia and Vietnam will not be required to provide a stay-at-home notice.
Instead, they will be asked to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. If the test result is negative, they will be allowed to carry out their activities in Singapore.
They must also have been in Australia or Vietnam for 14 consecutive days before arriving in Singapore, CAAS said.
“Both countries have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and have demonstrated successful control over the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” CAAS said.
READ: COVID-19: Singapore to pilot a business travel pass for senior executives with regional and international responsibilities
All visitors to Australia and Vietnam must travel to Singapore on direct non-transit flights.
After testing at the airport, they must take private transportation to the declared place of accommodation and remain in isolation until the test result is confirmed negative.
Test results will be available in 48 hours.
Visitors must also download the TraceTogether app on their phone during their stay in Singapore.
While in Singapore, they will be responsible for medical bills related to COVID-19, CAAS said. This includes costs related to testing and isolation if they are suspected of having COVID-19.
The application for a single entry Air Travel Pass is free. Requests must be made between 7 and 30 days before your expected arrival date in Singapore.
Starting Thursday, Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from Australia (excluding the state of Victoria) and Vietnam will similarly be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, rather than a seven-day stay-at-home notice with a COVID-19 test administered before the end of the notification period.
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