New holiday options: Thailand, Maldives, Fiji, Sri Lanka and others join Singapore’s VTL

Singapore has given us an early Christmas present with a range of new additions to its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme, adding several popular holiday spots to the list including some regional countries from mid-December, like Thailand and the Maldives.

From 14th December 2021, travellers will be able to arrive in Singapore quarantine-free under the VTL when arriving on designated flights from:

🇹🇭 Thailand

Just two days later, from 16th December 2021, another range of countries is added to the list:

🇰🇭 Cambodia
🇫🇯 Fiji
🇲🇻 Maldives
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
🇹🇷 Turkey

In total there will then be 27 countries on the VTL scheme, providing a wide range of options for quarantine-free travel including both regional and long-haul options.

Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lanes

Already Running	🇦🇺 Australia 🇧🇳 Brunei 🇩🇪 Germany 🇨🇦 Canada 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇹 Italy 🇮🇳 India 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇬🇧 UK 🇺🇸 USA
From 14 Dec	🇹🇭 Thailand
From 16 Dec	🇰🇭 Cambodia 🇫🇯 Fiji 🇲🇻 Maldives 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 🇹🇷 Turkey

How the VTL works

In almost all cases, the VTL is a one-way arrangement from an overseas country to Singapore.

Here’s a reminder of the key 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, any VTL country, or all countries in the EUDCC system, 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
• COVID-19 tests replace quarantine / Stay-Home Notice in Singapore

  VTL: All you need to know

There are some additional requirements for the VTLs with South Korea, Australia and Malaysia, the latter being a bilateral agreement which has additional travel history requirements and designated VTL flights from Singapore as well as in the other direction.

As part of this announcement, the daily cap on all VTL arrivals into Singapore will be lifted from 10,000 to 15,000 travellers.

While the process above relates to travel from VTL countries to Singapore, here are the details of the arrival process in each of these new VTL countries and the designated VTL flights that have been announced so far.

Thailand

Of all the countries on the expanded list, travel to and from Thailand is likely to be the most popular option for Singapore residents.

This opens up quarantine-free trips to and from the likes of Bangkok and Phuket.

Singapore – Thailand
Entry requirements

Travellers can take any flight to Thailand, since there are no designated VTL services in this direction.

Thailand reopened its borders to vaccinated travellers from over 60 countries, including Singapore, from 1st November 2021.

You must arrive via:

• Bangkok Don Mueng (DMK)
• Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)
• Chiang Mai (CNX)
• Phuket (HKT)
• Samui (USM)
• U-Tapao (UTP)

Other requirements for quarantine-free entry include:

• Having a 21-day travel history solely within Singapore and/or 62 other eligible countries.
• Holding medical insurance with minimum coverage of USD 50,000 (except Thai nationals); and
• A negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. The test result must be in English or Thai; and
• Having a hotel reservation for 1 night at AQ, OQ, or SHA+ hotel obtained at www.thailandsha.com or asq.in.th; and
• A COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before departure (unvaccinated children aged 11 or below are exempt); or
• A recovery certificate and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you received at least one dose of the vaccine at most 3 months after your infection and at least 14 days before departure.

You will have to remain in your hotel room for the first night awaiting the results of an on-arrival PCR test.

For arrivals on or after 16th December 2021, an antigen rapid test will replace the on-arrival PCR test and no self-isolation requirement will apply. Full details are expected shortly.

If you’re travelling under the sandbox programme, you must have a hotel reservation for 7 nights at an SHA+ hotel (see www.thailandsha.com) and proof of payment for COVID-19 tests. You will be subject to quarantine within the sandbox area (e.g. Phuket island) for 7 days.

Thailand – Singapore
Designated VTL Flights

Here are the designated VTL flights confirmed so far from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket to Singapore (click to expand).

Update: There will no longer be any designated VTL flights from Chiang Mai (Scoot) or Phuket (SIA and Scoot) to Singapore, due to regulatory requirements.

Testing costs

🇹🇭 VTL Singapore Thailand Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost Singapore pre-departure* S$107 – S$200 Thailand on-arrival (PCR) ~S$100 Thailand pre-departure (ART)* ~S$20 Singapore arrival S$125 Day 3 S$15 Day 7 S$15 Total S$382 – S$475 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

Testing costs will reduce once Thailand switches to cheaper antigen on-arrival testing in mid-December.

Cambodia

Cambodia reopened its borders to all vaccinated travellers from 15th November 2021.

Singapore – Cambodia
Entry requirements

Travellers can take any flight to Cambodia, since there are no designated VTL services in this direction.

To enter quarantine-free, you must be fully vaccinated and:

• have a printed negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued at most 72 hours before arrival. The test result must be in English and have a stamp or the signature of the doctor; and
• obtain a health insurance policy issued by “FORTE” with a minimum medical coverage of USD 50,000. The insurance can be obtained at www.forteinsurance.com/covid-19-insurance; and
• deposit USD 2,000 at a designated bank on arrival.

Nationals of Cambodia and those entering on a diplomatic, official or business visa are exempt from the insurance and bank deposit requirements.

An on-arrival COVID-19 test is also conducted, though this is free of charge

Cambodia – Singapore
Designated VTL Flights

Here are the designated VTL flights confirmed so far from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap to Singapore (click to expand).

Testing costs

🇰🇭 VTL Singapore Cambodia Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost Singapore pre-departure* S$107 – S$200 Cambodia on-arrival (ART) Free Cambodia pre-departure (ART)* ~S$30 Singapore arrival S$125 Day 3 S$15 Day 7 S$15 Total S$282 – S$385 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

Maldives

Another popular beach break for Singapore residents is undoubtedly the Maldives, which has already been open to quarantine-free tourist arrivals for some time.

Singapore – Maldives
Entry requirements

Travellers can take any flight to the Maldives, since there are no designated VTL services in this direction.

To travel to the Maldives without quarantine, passengers must adhere to the following requirements:

• Complete a “Traveller Health Declaration” at most 24 hours before departure at imuga.immigration.gov.mv
• Have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 96 hours before departure from the first embarkation point. Passengers who have transited for more than 24 hours must repeat the test (excludes passengers under 1 year of age).
• Have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you were fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria or SK Bioscience Co Ltd. from Korea), Covishield, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Sinopharm or Sputnik V at least 14 days before arrival, or have a positive COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 60 days before arrival and a recovery certificate.
• Unvaccinated children aged under 18 can travel with their fully vaccinated parents.
• Tourists must have a hotel reservation confirmation for the entire stay in a registered tourist facility. More details can be found here.

Maldives – Singapore
Designated VTL Flights

Here are the designated VTL flights confirmed so far from Male to Singapore (click to expand).

Testing costs

🇲🇻 VTL Singapore Maldives Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost Singapore pre-departure* S$107 – S$200 Maldives pre-departure (ART)* ~S$50 Singapore arrival S$125 Day 3 S$15 Day 7 S$15 Total S$312 – S$405 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

Sri Lanka

Singapore – Sri Lanka
Entry requirements

Travellers can take any flight to Sri Lanka, since there are no designated VTL services in this direction.

To travel to Sri Lanka without quarantine, tourists must adhere to the following requirements:

• Have a valid tourist visa.
• Complete a “Health Declaration” form here before arrival.
• Have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you were fully vaccinated at least 2 weeks before departure.
• Have a printed negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point (children under 2 years of age are exempt).
• Unvaccinated children aged 12-18 must have an on-arrival PCR test (US$40 per person).
• Unvaccinated children aged below 12 can travel without arrival testing, with fully vaccinated parents.
• Fully vaccinated travellers are allowed to make their own arrangements for accommodation, airport transfers and local transportation.

Sri Lanka – Singapore
Designated VTL Flights

Here are the designated VTL flights confirmed so far from Colombo to Singapore (click to expand).

Testing costs

🇱🇰 VTL Singapore Sri Lanka Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost Singapore pre-departure* S$107 – S$200 Sri Lanka pre-departure (ART)* ~S$14 Singapore arrival S$125 Day 3 S$15 Day 7 S$15 Total S$276 – S$369 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

Turkey

The addition of Turkey to the VTL list reconnects two major aviation hubs quarantine-free for the first time since March 2020, which is great news for those flying transit itineraries on Turkish Airlines to and from other VTL countries like the UK and the USA, once the airline confirms its VTL flight schedule.

It’s also an excellent value KrisFlyer redemption, with Business Class saver award tickets at just 49,000 miles one-way – a cheap way to get to and from Europe in style.

Singapore – Turkey
Entry requirements

Travellers can take any flight to Turkey, since there are no designated VTL services in this direction.

To travel to Turkey without quarantine, tourists must adhere to the following requirements:

• Complete the “Traveler Entry” form at most 72 hours before departure, and present it at check-in and upon arrival. The form can be obtained here.
• Have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that you were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival (those aged below 12 are exempt).
• No pre-departure or on-arrival testing.

Turkey – Singapore
Designated VTL Flights

Here are the designated VTL flights confirmed so far from Istanbul to Singapore (click to expand).

Testing costs

🇹🇷 VTL Singapore Turkey Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost Turkey pre-departure (ART)* ~S$20 Singapore arrival S$125 Day 3 S$15 Day 7 S$15 Total S$175 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

Fiji

Singapore – Fiji
Entry requirements

Travellers can take any flight to Fiji, since there are no designated VTL services in this direction.

To travel to Fiji without quarantine, tourists must adhere to the following requirements:

• Fiji is only open to fully vaccinated travellers aged 18 years and over and their accompanying minors.  
• Currently, Fiji recognises Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
• Travellers aged 13 years or older must have a negative RT PCR test completed 3 days before departure.
• Your RT-PCR tests should be taken by a travel test provider (hospital, doctor, lab) that issues an official document with your results. Drive through tests and SMS text results will not be accepted.
• All travellers who visit Fiji will need to stay at CFC certified accommodation. You must have documented proof of a confirmed 3-night CFC booking before your flight.
• Foreign nationals entering Fiji for a holiday must have medical travel insurance, with international coverage that includes COVID-19.
• You’ll need to download the careFIJI contact tracing app to access businesses as soon as you land in Fiji.

Fiji – Singapore
Designated VTL Flights

Here are the designated VTL flights confirmed so far from Nadi to Singapore (click to expand).

Testing costs

🇫🇯 VTL Singapore Fiji Estimated Testing Costs  Test Cost Singapore pre-departure* S$107 – S$200 Fiji pre-departure (ART)* ~S$20 Singapore arrival S$125 Day 3 S$15 Day 7 S$15 Total S$282 – S$375 * Prices vary between providers and locations.

All designated VTL flights

We have already updated our full list of VTL designated flights by all airlines on all VTL routes following these new additions. It’s worth bookmarking for future reference.

As we receive confirmed details of additional VTL flights from these six countries to Singapore by other airlines, we’ll be updating that page progressively.

Redemption rates

These are the one-way KrisFlyer miles redemption rates for flights between Singapore and these newly announced VTL countries, when flying on SIA.

KrisFlyer Redemption Rates 🇹🇭 Thailand 🇰🇭 Cambodia to/from Singapore
	Saver (one way)	Advantage (one way)
Economy	12,500	25,000
Business	21,500	40,000

KrisFlyer Redemption Rates 🇲🇻 Maldives 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka to/from Singapore
	Saver (one way)	Advantage (one way)
Economy	18,500	37,000
Business	39,000	65,000

KrisFlyer Redemption Rates 🇹🇷 Turkey to/from Singapore
	Saver (one way)	Advantage (one way)
Economy	25,000	55,000
Premium Economy	37,000	n/a
Business	49,000	90,000

As previously mentioned, it’s the Singapore – Istanbul route where the value lies here, with one-way saver awards at just 49,000 miles in Business Class on this 11-hour sector.

Singapore testing costs

For most of these new VTL additions, a pre-departure PCR or ART test is required before you leave Singapore.

Here’s our latest rundown of the cheapest locations to get a pre-departure test suitable for travel.

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 arrival (temporarily, applications are currently restricted to 7-13 days prior to arrival).

• VTP applications for those arriving from 🇹🇭 Thailand will open on 7th December 2021 at 10am.
• VTP applications for those arriving from 🇰🇭 Cambodia, 🇫🇯 Fiji, 🇲🇻 Maldives, 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 🇹🇷 Turkey will open on 9th December 2021 at 10am.

Further expansion of the VTL to popular neighbours like Thailand will be warmly welcomed by families and friends reuniting, but perhaps most of all the full range of six countries joining the scheme in mid-December provide popular holiday options.

Many Singapore residents will be keen to take a well-earned break to beach destinations like Phuket and the Maldives, or even as far afield as Fiji, and it’s now possible to do so over Christmas and the New Year, perhaps earlier than many were expecting.

Linking Singapore and Turkey quarantine-free in both directions also opens up great value KrisFlyer redemptions to and from Europe on SIA, plus competitive Turkish Airlines fares to and from Europe and the USA, once the latter confirms its VTL flight schedule.

(Cover Photo: Marriott)