ICA Responds to WhatsApp Claims That People Entering S’pore Need Physical COVID-19 Vaccine Certs


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If you’re panicking after seeing a WhatsApp message about needing to prepare a physical copy of your COVID-19 vaccination certificate before entering Singapore, here’s some good news.

You don’t.

Over the past few days, you may have seen a WhatsApp message warning travellers that they have to prepare several documents in hardcopy and others in digital form when they return to Singapore.

The message, which has since been circulated across the messaging platform, details an individual’s “experience” when trying to enter one of Singapore’s land checkpoints, and the message mentioned that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) are not “linked” to one another.

This then leads to the need for travellers to prepare their own digital copy of the SG Arrival Card since ICA’s systems cannot access travellers’ records in their online database.

Apart from that, the message also brought up the fact that travellers will have to produce a physical copy of their COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as a physical recovery memo if they have gotten COVID-19 before.

ICA’s Response

In response to the WhatsApp message, ICA issued a statement on Tuesday to clarify that Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who have already been fully vaccinated in Singapore will not need to produce a physical copy of their vaccination certificate.

“As long as these travellers have submitted their SG Arrival Card, their vaccination records will be validated backend with the MOH system,” ICA explained.

As for Singapore residents and foreign visitors who have been fully vaccinated overseas, they will also not need to produce physical copies of their vaccination certificates, provided that they have previously uploaded the digital version together with their SG Arrival Card.

Apart from that, ICA also noted that travellers will not need to provide digital copies of their SG Arrival Card or proof of its submission to ICA officers at the checkpoints since the submissions are automatically reflected in ICA’s immigration clearance system.

Additionally, individuals who previously contracted COVID-19 but have recovered will not need to provide ICA officers with a recovery memo when they enter Singapore via the land checkpoints.

TL;DR: You don’t need to provide any of the documents the WhatsApp message said you need to, provided that you have submitted your SG Arrival Card online.

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The agency also took the opportunity to emphasise the need for travellers to have the necessary documents with them in order to submit their SG Arrival Card within three days of arriving at Singapore’s land checkpoints.

“ICA would also like to advise travellers to refer to ICA’s official channels (websites and social media platforms) for updated information relating to travelling under the Vaccinated Travel Framework,” it concluded.

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