It’s been a while since Singapore expanded its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) network, allowing two-way quarantine-free trips to a range of countries, due to the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in late 2021, which resulted in a deferment of some additions and additional testing restrictions.
Thankfully we’re now back on the path of expansion, with the government announcing the addition of two new countries to the VTL list from 4th March 2022:
🇮🇱 Israel
🇵🇭 Philippines
In addition VTLs will be activated with the following countries, which were originally planned for early December but were indefinitely deferred in late November last year:
🇶🇦 Qatar
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇦🇪 UAE
These VTLs will start on 25th February 2022. A new VTL will also start in tandem with the Middle East trio:
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
That makes the new list of all VTL countries look healthier than it’s ever looked:
Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lanes
2-way quarantine-free
🇦🇺 Australia
🇩🇪 Germany
🇰🇭 Cambodia
🇨🇦 Canada
🇩🇰 Denmark
🇫🇯 Fiji
🇫🇮 Finland
🇫🇷 France
🇮🇳 India
🇮🇹 Italy
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🇲🇻 Maldives
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇶🇦 Qatar
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇪🇸 Spain
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🇹🇭 Thailand
🇹🇷 Turkey
🇦🇪 UAE
🇬🇧 UK
🇺🇸 USA
1-way quarantine-free
(to Singapore)
🇧🇳 Brunei
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
🇮🇩 Indonesia
From 4 March
🇮🇱 Israel
🇵🇭 Philippines
Updated: 3 March 2022
These latest VTL additions will mean Singapore has opened VTLs with 30 countries, providing a wide range of options for quarantine-free travel (two-way in most cases), including both regional and long-haul options.
Hong Kong ‘moves’ category
Hong Kong currently enjoys a unilateral opening with Singapore in ‘Category 1’.
From 25th February 2022 the country will be reclassified into the Category 2/3 band, but Singapore is reinforcing its intention to maintain connectivity with the city by adding it to the VTL programme, despite two-way quarantine-free travel not currently being possible for travellers.
“We will cease the current unilateral opening with Hong Kong as the Ministry of Health has reviewed the public health situation and reclassified Hong Kong in Category II/III. With this classification by Ministry of Health, our intention is and we will establish a unilateral Vaccinated Travel Lane with Hong Kong. Our aim here is to maintain air connectivity between our two cities.”
S Iswaran, Singapore Minister for Transport
Thailand expands
As part of these changes, VTL flights will also be launched from three other cities in Thailand to Singapore; Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi.
That’s a nice improvement from the current arrangement, where only specified Bangkok – Singapore flights are part of the VTL.
Here’s a full list of the VTL flights on these routes confirmed to date by Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
Two-way quarantine-free options
With the exception of Hong Kong, all these new VTLs allow fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore to make two-way quarantine-free trips.
While there are no direct flights between Singapore and Israel, it’s possible to connect via other VTL countries like those in Europe.
The most recent of these new countries to lift quarantine restrictions was the Philippines, and we already have a full rundown on the process you’ll face heading there.
Designated VTL flights
Singapore Airlines and Scoot are the first two airlines to confirm their designated VTL flight schedules from these new VTL countries, plus those from new Thai cities.
Here’s a full breakdown of the VTL schedules confirmed so far through to the end of October 2022.
Cebu (Scoot)
From 4th March, Scoot will operate TR385 five times weekly as the designated VTL flight from Cebu to Singapore.
These services will be operated on the Airbus A321neo aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
TR389 A321neo |
||||||||
| CEB 14:45 |
SIN 18:30 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Chiang Mai (Scoot)
Scoot currently operates four-times weekly services between Singapore and Chiang Mai. From 5th March 2022, TR677 and TR675 will operate as designated VTL flights from Chiang Mai to Singapore.
These services will be operated on the Airbus A320neo aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
TR675 A320neo |
||||||||
| CNX 15:50 |
SIN 19:55 |
||||||||
|
TR675 A320neo |
||||||||
| CNX 18:00 |
SIN 22:05 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Clark (Jetstar & Scoot)
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
3K780 A320 |
||||||||
| CRK 06:40 |
SIN 10:20 |
||||||||
|
3K774 A320 |
||||||||
| CRK 14:00 |
SIN 17:40 |
||||||||
|
TR387 A320 |
||||||||
| CRK 18:30 |
SIN 22:05 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Davao (Scoot)
Scoot currently operates three times weekly services between Singapore and Davao. From 4th March, TR361 will be designated as a VTL flight from Davao to Singapore.
These services will be operated on the Airbus A321neo aircraft.
4th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
TR361 A321neo |
||||||||
| DVO 14:40 |
SIN 18:10 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Doha (Qatar Airways)
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
QR946 A350-900 |
||||||||
| DOH 02:35 |
SIN 15:45 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Dubai (Emirates & Singapore Airlines)
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
EK352 777-300ER |
||||||||
| DXB 09:30 |
SIN 20:55 |
||||||||
 |
SQ495 A350 Regional |
||||||||
| DXB 20:00 |
SIN 07:30* |
||||||||
* Next day
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Hong Kong (Singapore Airlines & Scoot)
SIA currently operates twice-daily services between Singapore and Hong Kong. From 25th February, SQ883 and SQ895 will operate as designated VTL flights from Hong Kong to Singapore.
SIA services will be operated on the Airbus A350-900 or the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, depending on flight schedule.
Scoot currently operates daily flights between Singapore and Hong Kong. From 25th February, TR981 will be designated as a VTL flight from Hong Kong to Singapore.
Scoot services will be operated on the Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
TR981 787-9 |
||||||||
| HKG 10:50 |
SIN 14:50 |
||||||||
|
SQ883 A350 Long Haul |
||||||||
| HKG 14:25 |
SIN 18:20 |
||||||||
|
SQ895 777-300ER |
||||||||
| HKG 18:50 |
SIN 22:40 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Jeddah (Scoot)
Scoot currently operates three times weekly services between Singapore and Jeddah. From 24th February, TR9597 be designated as a VTL flight from Jeddah to Singapore.
The flight number changes to TR597 from late March. These services will be operated on the Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
 |
TR597 787-8 |
||||||||
| JED 22:10 |
SIN 12:35* |
||||||||
* Next day
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Krabi (Scoot)
Scoot currently operates three times weekly services between Singapore and Krabi. From 4th March, TR689 will be designated as a VTL flight from Krabi to Singapore.
These services will be operated on the Airbus A320neo aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
TR687 A320 neo |
||||||||
| KBV 13:05 |
SIN 16:00 |
||||||||
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Manila (Jetstar & Singapore Airlines)
SIA currently operates 24-times weekly services between Singapore and Manila. From 4th March, all flights from Manila to Singapore will be designated as VTL flights.
From 27th March, this service will increase to 28 times weekly between the two cities.
All services will be operated on the Airbus A350-900 medium haul aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ915 A350 Regional |
||||||||
| MNL 07:40 |
SIN 11:20 |
||||||||
 |
PR507 A321 |
||||||||
| MNL 09:35 |
SIN 13:15 |
||||||||
|
TR393 A321neo |
||||||||
| MNL 09:55 |
SIN 13:45 |
||||||||
|
3K762 A320 |
||||||||
| MNL 10:30 |
SIN 14:15 |
||||||||
|
SQ917 A350 Regional |
||||||||
| MNL 14:15 |
SIN 17:55 |
||||||||
|
PR501 A321 |
||||||||
| MNL 15:10 |
SIN 18:50 |
||||||||
|
SQ919 A350 Regional |
||||||||
| MNL 16:40 |
SIN 20:20 |
||||||||
|
SQ921 A350 Regional |
||||||||
| MNL 18:30 |
SIN 22:20 |
||||||||
|
TR391 A321neo |
||||||||
| MNL 19:25 |
SIN 23:10 |
||||||||
 |
5J803 A321 |
||||||||
| MNL 20:30 |
SIN 00:05* |
||||||||
|
3K766 A320 |
||||||||
| MNL 21:40 |
SIN 01:20* |
||||||||
* Next day
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Phuket (Jetstar, Singapore Airlines & Scoot)
SIA currently operates twice daily flights between Singapore and Phuket. From 4th March, both return flights from Phuket to Singapore, SQ727 and SQ735, will operate as designated VTL flights.
From 27th March 2022 to 31st May 2022, this will increase to a three times daily flight. From 1st June to 30th September 2022, it will increase to a four times daily service. From 1st October, the frequency will further increase to a five times daily service.
All return flights from Phuket to Singapore will be designated as VTL flights, using the Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
Scoot currently operates three times weekly services between Singapore and Phuket. From 4th March, this will increase to a daily service between the two cities. TR653 will be designated as a VTL flight from Phuket to Singapore.
All Scoot services will be operated on the Airbus A320 aircraft.
27th March 2022 - 31st March 2022
| Days | |||||||||
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S | |||
|
SQ725 737-8 MAX |
||||||||
| HKT 10:15 |
SIN 13:05 |
|
SQ727 737-8 MAX |
||||||
| HKT 11:40 |
SIN 14:40 |
||||||||
|
3K536 A320 |
||||||||
| HKT 12:40 |
SIN 15:35 |
||||||||
|
SQ735 737-8 MAX |
||||||||
| HKT 17:50 |
SIN 20:40 |
||||||||
|
TR653 A320 |
||||||||
| HKT 17:35 |
SIN 20:35 |
||||||||
|
TR653 A320 |
||||||||
| HKT 19:50 |
SIN 22:45 |
||||||||
|
TR653 A320 |
||||||||
| HKT 20:40 |
SIN 23:40 |
||||||||
|
3K538 A320 |
||||||||
| HKT 21:20 |
SIN 00:15* |
||||||||
* Next day
Important
From 1st April 2022, there will be no more designated VTL flights to Singapore.All fully vaccinated travellers can enter quarantine-free on any flight operated by any airline on any route.
Other routes and airlines
We expect other operators, including Jetstar and some Filipino and Thai carriers to also add VTL flights in the coming days. There will also inevitably be VTL flights from other cities, like Doha.
Check back here for updates from other carriers, or via our up-to-date full list of VTL flights to Singapore by all airlines on all routes.
Pre-departure testing
Some of these new VTL countries require a pre-departure test (PDT), as shown below.
Pre-departure test requirements
| Country | Test type | Test timing | Exemptions |
| Hong Kong | PCR |
48h before departure | — |
| Israel | PCR or ART |
PCR 72h before arrival or ART 24h before arrival |
Age 11 or below |
| Philippines | PCR | 48h before departure | Age 3 or below |
| Qatar | PCR | 72h before arrival |
Age 3 or below & Vaccinated Qataris and residents |
| Changing to 48h before departure from 28 Feb 2022 |
|||
| Saudi Arabia | PCR or ART |
48h before departure | Age 7 or below |
| UAE | No PDT | ||
Travellers heading to Saudi Arabia for tourism will also have to obtain an electronic visitor visa in advance.
Pre-departure testing for travel to Singapore’s existing VTLs that require it is outlined below (click to expand):
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 7 days
- Travel to Singapore on designated ‘VTL flights’
- No restrictions on travel purpose or itineraries
- Must be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine in Singapore, or any VTL country (e.g. Denmark), or any EU member state, or any non-EU countries that have joined the EU DCC system
- Must have 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
* Long-term pass holders (e.g. Employment Pass, Dependant’s Pass, S Pass) no longer require a VTP or entry approval from 22nd February 2022.
There are some additional requirements for bilateral VTLs with South Korea and Malaysia.
As part of this announcement, the daily cap on all VTL arrivals into Singapore will be tripled to the previously announced total of 15,000 travellers, a significant increase from the current 5,000 level.
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 3-60 days prior to departure.
- VTP applications for those arriving from these new countries will open on 22nd February 2022.
Once issued, the VTP then allows entry on your intended date plus 13 further days (i.e. a two-week window).
Summary
Great news that Singapore is expanding its VTL scheme again after a two-month drought over Omicron variant concerns, with the Philippines, Hong Kong and Israel joining the programme, either from 25th February or 4th March.
There’s also an activation of three Middle East VTLs, from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, previously announced but deferred due to Omicron, finally starting from 25th February
Thailand will also see additional VTL options from locations like Phuket.
The news comes as expensive on-arrival PCR testing is also being relaxed to a post-arrival supervised swab taken within 24 hours of arrival, making the process over S$100 cheaper for travellers, among other improvements.
(Cover Photo: Shutterstock)