Malaysia joins Singapore VTL scheme - quarantine-free travel from 29 November

Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme continues to grow, and it’s a welcome new regional addition this time with confirmation that designated flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur will allow travellers to avoid quarantine at either end of their journey from 29th November 2021.

As was widely expected, the more complex process of relaxing the rules for the popular land links between the two countries via the causeway or the second link aren’t included at this stage, since it will no doubt be more challenging to manage the volumes.

There will also initially be no designated VTL flights from other Malaysian airports, such as Penang, Ipoh and Langkawi, so many trips may require a change in Kuala Lumpur and onward travel by domestic flight, or by road.

“Given the significant progress that both countries have made in vaccinating their respective populations and managing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Ministers agreed that it is timely to progressively resume cross-border travel between both countries, in a safe manner.”
Singapore Prime Minister’s Office

This new VTL addition will be effective from 29th November 2021, becoming the 14th such arrangement Singapore has forged.

Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lanes

Already Running	🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇳 Brunei 🇩🇪 Germany 🇨🇦 Canada 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇹 Italy 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇪🇸 Spain 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 USA
From 15 Nov	🇰🇷 South Korea
From 29 Nov	🇫🇮 Finland 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇸🇪 Sweden

Here’s a reminder of the key VTL process and requirements.

Singapore
Vaccinated Travel Lanes

Key Features

Must have stayed in a VTL country/region and/or Singapore for 14 days
Travel to Singapore on designated ‘VTL flights’
No restrictions on travel purpose or itineraries
Must be fully vaccinated in Singapore or any VTL country, with an accepted digital proof of vaccination
Unvaccinated children aged 12 or under can accompany their parents
Visitors and Singapore pass holders must apply for a VTP in advance
Two COVID-19 tests replace quarantine / Stay-Home Notice in Singapore

VTL: All you need to know

Update: For arrivals in Singapore from 12th November 2021, a (much cheaper) ART test will now be accepted for pre-departure purposes from VTL countries. The test must be professionally administered (no self testing). The on-arrival test at Changi Airport will still be a PCR.

There are some additional requirements for the VTLs with South Korea and Australia, but we are not yet aware whether any specific extra safeguards will be put in place at the Malaysian side as part of this upcoming VTL.

“Singapore and Malaysia will launch a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport from 29 November 2021. Under the VTL, fully vaccinated travellers will be able to travel between Singapore and Malaysia, and be subjected to COVID-19 tests in lieu of serving quarantine or Stay-Home Notice.”
Singapore Prime Minister’s Office

In particular, we expect Malaysia to require pre-departure testing for Singapore residents visiting the country via this air link.

A PCR test in Singapore costs from around S$125 (cheapest) to S$156 (average) per person in our recent analysis.

We are also still awaiting details of the vaccination certificate recognition for those fully vaccinated in Malaysia and the designated VTL flights between Changi and KLIA.

Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)

Those entering Singapore on a VTL flight who are not Singapore Citizens or Permanent residents will have to apply for a VTP 7-60 days prior to departure.

VTP applications for those arriving from Malaysia will open on 22nd November 2021.

Six designated VTL flights

Transport Minister S Iswaran has stated that there will be six daily designated VTL flights between Singapore Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

It has yet to be announced which airlines and which specific flights will participate in the scheme, with more details to be made available closer to the date.

Hopefully we’ll see low-cost carriers like Scoot included in the designated VTL flight schedule. (Photo: Malay Mail)

“From 29 November, we will commence the VTL with six daily designated services between Changi Airport and KLIA…
“The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will provide more details nearer the date when applications are open.”
Singapore Ministry of Transport (MOT)

There are currently eight or nine flights between Changi and KLIA planned during the first week in December 2021, so not all flights will be designated VTL services.

Another A380 VTL?

Singapore Airlines is currently operating daily Airbus A380 flights to and from Kuala Lumpur until 3rd December 2021, for crew familiarisation and training, but at this stage the airline has not yet marked any of its Kuala Lumpur services as VTL-eligible.

In theory there might be an opportunity to fly to or from KL quarantine-free on the world’s shortest A380 passenger flight as a result, in the first few days of VTL operation!

SIA is currently operating A380s to and from KLIA, but there’s no news on VTL-designated flights yet, and the services are temporary. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Even though ample award space is available in Business Class (Suites are not being offered), we would definitely hold off booking anything until there is some clarity over the approved flight schedule for designated VTL services between the two cities, though it may be possible to fly to KL on any flight.

Hopefully there will also be low-cost VTL flight options with the likes of Scoot, Jetstar and Air Asia in the mix.

Prior to COVID-19, regular Singapore – Kuala Lumpur flights were operated by:

AirAsia
Firefly (Seletar – Subang)
Jetstar
Malaysia Airlines
Malindo Air
Scoot
Singapore Airlines

It was one of the busiest air routes in the world prior to the pandemic.

Progress on land links

In their joint statement the two Prime Ministers said that a separate VTL for those travelling between the two countries via land links is progressing.

“The Prime Ministers also look forward to restoring travel across the land links between both countries in the near future. They were happy to note the good progress in ongoing detailed discussions on a similar vaccinated travel scheme, to reopen travel across the Causeway and the Second Link, taking into account the public health situations in Johor and Singapore.”
Prime Ministers Office

That hopefully bodes well for those missing their weekend jaunts to JB in the not too distant future, though whether this particular channel will reopen without quarantine before 2022 is unclear.

The MOT has also stated that “we are also in discussions with our other ASEAN neighbours to reconnect with them, and we will make further announcements when ready”.

Our VTL experience

We travelled over to Frankfurt in early September and flew back via the inaugural Germany – Singapore VTL flight on 7th September 2021 in First Class. Here’s a step-by-step summary of our experience, which may help you decide whether to give it a try yourself.

Of course you can now thankfully disregard the Day 3 and Day 7 test article, though you may want to read it to see how you’ll benefit from not having to go through that part of the process after you arrive in Singapore! Those additional tests were thankfully ditched in the last VTL process update.