Complete guide to the Singapore – Germany Vaccinated Travel Lane

As Singapore moves into ‘endemic COVID’ phase, with around 80% full vaccination among its 5.7 million resident population, a gradual relaxation of border restrictions is finally starting to take effect, leading to the announcement of the first Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs).

This pilot programme will allow testing to replace quarantine / Stay-Home Notice (SHN) periods on arrival in Singapore for those visiting as tourists or for residents returning from an overseas trip.

Germany and Brunei made the initial list, effective from 8th September 2021, and there are no prizes for guessing which of the two most of our readers are eyeing for a trip!

Here’s our detailed rundown of the process for vaccinated travellers heading to and from Germany from next month.

Singapore – Germany VTL

Key Features

• Must have stayed in Germany and/or Singapore for 14 days
• Travel from Germany to Singapore on designated ‘VTL flights’
• No restrictions on travel purpose or itineraries
• Must be fully vaccinated in Singapore or Germany
• Children under 12 are not eligible
• Visitors and Singapore pass holders must apply for a VTP in advance
• COVID-19 PCR testing replaces quarantine / Stay-Home Notice in Singapore

Eligibility

To be eligible to travel from Germany to Singapore via the VTL from 8th September 2021, you must fulfil the following criteria:

* Returning Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who are fully vaccinated will automatically qualify and will not need to apply for the VTP in order to travel under the VTL.

Fully vaccinated status relates to having passed 14 days after your full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech / Comirnaty, Moderna or a WHO EUL vaccine, which must have been administered in Singapore or Germany.

Overall, four COVID-19 PCR tests will be required in place of the regular two tests for those arriving in Singapore from Germany via the ‘Category II’ travel lane.

In turn, the usual 7 days of SHN at home will not be required for VTL travellers.

Germany has had no entry restrictions for Singapore residents since October 2020, regardless of your nationality or the purpose of your journey.

What about children under 12?

Since travel on the VTL requires full vaccination, which is not yet available for children under the age of 12 in either Germany or Singapore, it will not be possible for younger children to use the scheme at this stage.

This is disappointing news for many, and errs very much on the side of caution from Singapore’s perspective. Hopefully we will see some relaxation here as the pilot scheme progresses.

Meanwhile it looks likely that vaccines will be approved for children under 12 in the months ahead.

Can you travel to other countries?

Yes – sort of. If you wish to travel to other European countries for example, this is possible, and you don’t even need to fly from Singapore to Germany in the first place to use the VTL on your return.

The 14-day travel history restriction will still be enforced, however, so you’ll have to finish your trip in Germany for at least two weeks before taking your VTL flight home, if you have visited another country.

Otherwise you will have to take a non-VTL flight home, with arrival restrictions imposed for the highest risk country in your 14-day consecutive travel history applicable.

While the Schengen zone in Europe is ‘borderless’, remember you will have to make a health declaration prior to using the VTL stating that you have only been in Singapore and/or Germany for the last 14 consecutive days.

False declarations can result in enforcement under the Infectious Diseases Act.

VTL designated flights

To qualify for SHN-free arrival in Singapore, the VTL will require you to travel on designated flights from Germany to Singapore, operated by Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.

These flights will only carry VTL passengers (no transit passengers or unvaccinated travellers are allowed). Masks will still have to be worn except while eating and drinking, and SIA crew will continue to offer a simplified meal service to reduce interaction.

Inaugural flights

SIA will operate its inaugural VTL services from Germany to Singapore on 7th and 8th September 2021, with Lufthansa following on 16th September 2021, as shown below.

Frankfurt    Singapore

	SQ325 777-300ER			7 Sep 2021
FRA 22:00		SIN 16:25 (+1 day)

Munich    Singapore

	SQ331 A350-900			8 Sep 2021
MUC 13:15		SIN 07:05 (+1 day)

Frankfurt    Singapore

	LH778 A340-300			16 Sep 2021
FRA 21:55		SIN 16:45 (+1 day)

Remember, since Singapore’s entry restrictions for VTL travellers take effect on 8th September 2021, the overnight SQ325 flight departing Frankfurt on 7th September 2021 is the first eligible service, landing into Changi the following afternoon.

Initially, five Germany – Singapore services per week will qualify for the VTL process, three from Frankfurt and two from Munich, operated by Singapore Airlines.

Germany to Singapore
VTL flights
(7th – 15th September 2021)

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ331 A350-900
MUC 13:15		SIN 07:05*
	SQ325 777-300ER
FRA 22:00		SIN 16:25*

* Next day (e.g. if you depart on Monday, the local day when you arrive will be Tuesday)

Once Lufthansa joins the VTL on 16th September 2021, there will be daily service with seven designated Germany – Singapore services per week, five from Frankfurt and two from Munich.

Germany to Singapore
VTL flights
(from 16th September 2021)

			Days
			M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	SQ331 A350-900
MUC 13:15		SIN 07:05*
	LH778 A340-300
FRA 21:55		SIN 16:45*
	SQ325 777-300ER
FRA 22:00		SIN 16:25*