10 Must-Know Facts About the Easing of S’pore Borders Restrictions Simplified & Summarised for You

If an alien ship is hovering over Earth now, the aliens might think that we humans haven’t invented planes to transport people yet.

Lest you’re not aware, COVID-19 has led to the closure of almost all country borders in our planet. At this moment, aeroplanes are usually merely carrying food or goods, with air travel for people usually restricted primarily for essential travel or returning citizens.

In Singapore, the travel advisory is that you shouldn’t travel unless it’s for official business or work, and it’s restricted to a few countries with the “Green Lanes”.

At this moment, anyone entering Singapore must go through a 14-day SHN unless you come from Malaysia, in which the SHN will be for 7 days. All SHNs (except Malaysia) must be done in designated facilities unless you’re coming in from these countries: Australia (excluding Victoria State), Brunei Darussalam, Macao, Mainland China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam, in which you can serve your SHN in your place of residence. A testing regime before the end of SHN has also been put in place for all incoming travellers.

This is, however, going to change from 1 September 2020.

Reader Bao: So can we go to Bali for a holiday now?

No, not yet. But if you’re a student studying overseas or if you have a kiwi boyfriend, read on.

All Changes to Start from 1 September 2020, 12am

All the changes mentioned here will start from 1 September 2020, 12am. This includes anyone departing or entering Singapore, so if you’ve landed in Singapore on 31 August 2020, 11pm, from New Zealand, you’d still follow the old system.

People from Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand Can Visit Singapore And Will Not Need to Serve any SHN

Yes, you’re read it right: not even one day of SHN is required for visitors from these two countries.

These two countries are considered “low-risk”.

Education Minister and Co-Chair of the multi-ministry task force set up to combat COVID-19, Lawrence Wong, said, “We know that some places have been able to control the infection effectively, and the risk of importation is low. Our assessment is that there is no need for a stay-home notice requirement for travellers from these low-risk places, and a Covid-19 test will be sufficient.”

At present moment, New Zealand is one of the countries that’s being praised by many for their efforts to keep their COVID-19 cases low—since its lockdown, it’s gone on for about three months without a single daily new case, or just single-digit daily imported cases. However, in the middle of this month, they had a spike of cases, but we’re talking about just 5 to 10 new cases daily. It now has 1,665 cases.

Brunei had a cluster of COVID-19 cases in March, but ever since then, the country didn’t register any new case for 91 days until 7 August 2020, where they had an imported case. Since then, there hasn’t been any new case. The country has 143 confirmed cases against a population of about 460k people.

Travellers entering Singapore and who have remained in either Brunei or New Zealand in the last consecutive 14 days prior to their entry will not be required to serve an SHN. Instead, they will undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival at the airport and only be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore after receiving a negative test result.

However, prior to travelling to Singapore, visitors from the countries will need to apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) between 7 and 30 days before their intended date of entry into Singapore.

They will be responsible for their medical bills should they require medical treatment for COVID-19 while in Singapore. Application for the ATP will start from 1 September 2020 for travel from 8 September 2020. More details will be provided by the Ministry of Transport next week.

And as for returning Singapore residents from the two countries, they won’t need to apply for the ATP and won’t need to serve SHN, too.

Reduced SHN from 14 Days to 7 Days for More Countries

When the green lanes were announced for Malaysia and Singapore, we got to know that the SHN for people coming in from Malaysia is 7 days instead of 14 days.

It was mentioned earlier that it was due to the risk profile of Malaysia—in other words, it was a low-risk country.

And now, more countries have been considered to be low-risk, and would require a 7-day SHN instead of the usual 14-day SHN.

They are Australia (excluding Victoria State), Macao, Mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and of course, Malaysia.

The COVID-19 test will continue to be administered before the end of the 7-day SHN.

As for other countries, there would be no changes. But…

Situation is Fluid and Might Change

More than a week ago, New Zealand appears to have completely won the battle against COVID-19, but a sudden spike occurred since 11 August 2020, and they’ve been on high alert since then.

Therefore, the situation is very fluid so there might still be changes, so don’t buy expect your New Zealand boyfriend to visit you on 2 September 2020 yet.

Well, for all you know, it might be that Singapore has a—

Travel Advisory Will Be Updated Soon

If you check out the current advisory, you’d see that you’re still advised to defer all travel aboard unless it’s essential travel with the green or fast lanes. That would be amended soon as the changes will only take effect on 1 September 2020.

So, does that mean Brunei and New Zealand are in the fast / green lanes?

Well, no.

One-Sided Love Story

While people from these two countries can enter our tiny island without having to isolate themselves for two weeks, it’s different for people who want to enter the countries.

So it’s not a green or fast lane—yet.

Currently, the border controls for the two countries are similar: only returning residents can enter the countries, and travellers who wish to enter these countries must apply for exemption with the respective governments and isolate themselves for two weeks upon arrival.

However…

New Zealand Allegedly Exploring Safe Travel Zones With Singapore

According to travel website TTG Asia, a New Zealand tourism official has told them that the country is currently exploring safe travel zones with Singapore. They’ve already said earlier that they’re setting up travel bubble with Cook Islands, a country closely associated with New Zealand, by the end of this year.

By now you should be wondering: simi is travel bubble?

It’s like green lane or fast lane lah. You see, naming travel arrangements between countries is like naming a community cat: different people call the cat by different names, but it’s still essentially the same thing: a cat at Blk 123. Or in this case, an arrangement to open up the borders between two countries.

Travel or No Travel, It Still Depends on Airlines

So, let’s say Singapore and New Zealand finally professed their love for each other and haven’t had any cases for a month together, and the borders are finally free for all. Does it mean we’d all be seeing kiwis everywhere?

No.

Because, like what Mr Wong, said, it depends on the demand and whether airlines will open up flights in these two countries. After all, remember: if it’s not profitable, they most probably won’t fly. You can’t expect a bleeding company to bleed more.

However, it can help put a Hansaplast in a big wound in Changi Airport.

Transport Minister: Opening Up Can Resuscitate Changi Airport

By now, you should know that Changi Airport is as empty as our wallets.

According to Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, it’s a step to resuscitate Changi Airport, and tell the world that Singapore is open for business.

He said, “The aviation sector, Changi Airport and Singapore Airlines do not just concern the sector itself, but are linked to the whole economy…So we need to really start to take steps to open up in a safe manner that can revive Changi Airport and resuscitate the aviation sector.”

Currently, there are two flights weekly that can fly a maximum total of 500 passengers from Brunei to Singapore, and four flights weekly that can fly a total of about 1,200 passengers from New Zealand to Singapore.

He added, “I believe we can strike a good balance between keeping Singapore and travellers here safe, as well as reviving the air traffic sector.”

Overseas Students Stuck in Singapore: Rejoice!

For students who study overseas but are now stuck in Singapore, rejoice, because there’s finally an update for you.

MOH said that they’ll update the travel advisory to allow travel for studies for students pursuing academic qualification overseas, and where distance-learning is not offered as an option by the education institution.

This refers to “overseas studies of at least one academic year, for courses which require physical presence in the foreign educational institution, and which will lead to attainment of academic qualifications.”

Existing students who are completing such academic programs (i.e. balance duration of less than an academic year) are included. Students below the age of 18 may be accompanied by an adult. Mature students may travel overseas with their dependents who will be residing with them for the duration of their studies.

What does that mean? It means you’re following the travel advisory lah, since at this moment, the advisory is to “defer all travel abroad…essential business and official travel will be permitted under Green/ Fast Lane arrangements.”

Does that mean anything else?

So far, no.

And in case you’re wondering about what COVID-19 tests the authorities are talking about, you might want to check out this video whereby we simplify the two different types of COVID-19 tests (also, subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos, please?):