After two years of not being able to travel to one of my favorite places,
I'm finally back in Asia and for a month I will be in Singapore!
However, it was not easy preparing for this trip.
Singapore just released a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) process,
which allows quarantine-free travel to Singapore by air.
In this video, I will go over the requirements to enter Singapore,
as well as my experience with the Vaccinated Travel Lane.
Specifically, flying from San Francisco to Singapore.
To be eligible to enter Singapore, you have to be 1) vaccinated,
2) Fly from a VTL country that Singapore considers safe.
Also, you have to be within that country for the past 14 consecutive days.
Next, you have to fly on a VTL flight in order to enter Singapore.
I'm going to be flying direct from San Francisco to Singapore via Singapore Airlines, on flight SQ33.
On the Safe Travels Singapore website, as well as Singapore Airlines,
this is the flight that they consider as a VTL flight.
If you're booking, it has to say that it's a VTL flight or else
you're not going to be let into Singapore or you might have to quarantine when you arrive.
I, unfortunately, made the mistake of not buying the correct flight and had to be on the phone with
customer service for hours just trying to change it and
I had to pay so much more just to change it as well.
So make sure you read the fine print or,
when you're booking, make sure it does say it's a VTL flight.
I recommend doing this on the airline's original website.
Not just like a travel agency website or a third party like Priceline.
Also, the Safe Travels Website does include a list of countries and
which airlines operate VTL flights for those countries.
So be sure to check that out.
I flew Singapore Airlines and they also have a list of scheduled VTL flights that they operate by city.
I'm gonna include both of those links in the description box below.
For my experience flying to Singapore, it was quite decent.
Checking in does take a while as they were strict making sure everyone had the correct paperwork needed.
It was a pretty full flight and they gave everyone these care kits.
Kits included mask and disinfecting wipes.
The food was not that good if anyone was wondering (laughs).
The next thing that you have to apply for is a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP),
which is basically like a visa for vaccinated travelers.
Separate from your normal country visa, but basically, the process was very easy.
The application took literally 10 minutes.
They're just going to ask for your basic information, such as your name, passport number,
when you intend to enter Singapore and where you plan to stay.
On the application, you also have to upload your proof of vaccination and it has to be a QR code.
If you're from California, I can include in the description box where to get the QR code.
It's really easy to get that as well.
The whole application is automated so if all the information that you entered is valid,
as well as the QR code, you should get the travel pass through email
the minute or second after you submitted the application.
At least that's what happened to me.
Again, it's very very easy and if you did anything wrong with the application, don't worry.
On the website it does say that there is no limit of how many travel passes you can get.
The next thing that you have to do in order to enter Singapore is,
of course, take a pre-departure Covid test 48 hours before your flight.
You also have to receive a negative Covid test result before the flight as well.
On the Singapore safe travels website, it mentioned that the Covid test has to be a PCR test.
Your result must say it was a PCR test, as well as include your name, passport number, or birthday.
They are pretty strict about this type of information.
I just took the test at the airport just to be safe.
Depending on where you're from, the time frame of the test taken might be different.
However, I had to take my test within 48 hours before my flight.
Another thing that you have to do for the VTL is to buy Covid insurance.
Singapore does list a few options or a few providers that provide Covid insurance.
I just went with the cheapest option.
I went with HL Assurance and I just got their Basic+ plan for $46SGD.
I think the price might vary depending on where you're coming from and
how long you plan to stay in Singapore but for me, the price that I quoted for staying a month in Singapore
as well as coming from America, I was just quoted $46SGD.
Next you have to pay for an on-arrival Covid test.
You can either pre-pay this or just pay in when you arrive.
However, based on the research that I've done, everyone said to just pre-pay in advance
because the whole process will be a lot quicker and faster.
Coming into Singapore, everything was very smooth.
I felt like everything at the airport was super organized.
i think from landing in Singapore to finding a taxi to go to my hotel for quarantine,
it took about less than an hour.
Most of the time was definitely waiting for customs and them checking my paperwork and
grabbing my luggage but after grabbing my luggage and going to the Covid test site,
which is outside the airport, that was like super super organized.
I just basically had to walk through this like tent thingy, show them my documents that I pre-paid for Covid tests,
and they swabbed me.
I couldn't film anything there but I was really surprised how organized everything was.
After I took my initial on arrival Covid test, it took about five hours to get my results back.
Maybe a little bit less than five hours.
it was between 4 hours and 45 minutes to 5 hours.
It's really really short.
If you're jet lag, obviously during that time you can just sleep.
However, I was just patiently waiting so I can just go outside.
Then every day for a week while you're in singapore, you do have to take a Covid test.
On days 2, 4, 5, and 6, you have to take a self administered Covid test at home with one of those test kits.
Then on days 3 and 7, you have to go to a quick testing center to take your Covid test.
For that, it's $15SGD and you do have to pay online.
You can't pay by cash when going there.
You have to also prepay and book your appointment.
I just got back from my final Covid test and I went to a different testing center but
that one was still very well organized.
It did take a lot longer because I did go during opening.
Again, everything was super organized.
I'm very impressed with how Singapore handles everything.
At the testing center, you do have to do the test yourself but it is supervised.
People are like walking around and watching you do it and
making sure you're doing it right.
Plus, they also have a guide on how to do it.
The first one that I went to for day 3 didn't but on day 7, there was a guide on how to do it step by step.
It was very easy, I was probably in and out within 10-15 minutes.
That includes like checking in and doing the test.
You get your test results back within 30 minutes by email.
I tested negative for both on day 3 and day 7.
Which is great, which means I don't really have to do the testing anymore.
But, if I do feel under the weather, if I feel off, I will just buy another test from 7-eleven or something.
Just to make sure I am safe because you just like never know.
The only other Covid test that I do have to take is the one where I have to take it one day before I fly.
At least that's the requirement to enter back into The States.
So I'd have to find another testing center for that but I think that should be pretty easy.
Another thing you have to do in Singapore is download the Trace Together app.
It's basically a contact tracing app that you have to use in Singapore.
They're going to scan this everywhere that you go.
It's basically to document where you have been and who you have been in contact with.
The app will notify you if you've been in close contact with someone that has Covid.
And you need to get tested for it.
You do also have to electronically submit a Singapore arrival card
within three days of your trip.
I'm gonna be arriving in Singapore December 21st, so I would have to submit my arrival card
anywhere between December 18th and December 21st.
And lastly if required, if you need a visa to enter Singapore, you do have to do that.
Thankfully, America doesn't have to do that, so I don't have to do that.
I think that is it for today's video, I hope you guys enjoyed it! :-)
if you find any of these tips and experiences very helpful for your next trip to Singapore,
please be sure to give it a thumbs up or leave me some feedback in the comments down below.
I hope to see you guys in the next video!
Bye :-) ~!
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