Everything About the New SHN Policy for Travellers That’ll Start from Nov 2020 & Jan 2021

I have good and bad news.

The good news is that Singapore is allowing travellers – including citizens and permanent residents – from nine more countries to serve their Stay-Home notice (SHN) at home.

Image: Giphy

The bad news is that leisure travel to these countries is still not possible.

Reader: Then what the heck is the point of telling us the good news?

Well, didn’t you feel happy for those two seconds?

Reader: You are a sociopath

New SHN Policy for Travellers 

Travellers from nine more countries will be allowed to serve their SHNs at their own place of residence from 4 Nov, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Tuesday (27 Oct).

As you know, with the exception of a few countries, travellers who arrive here are required to serve a 14-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities.

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This has deterred many travellers from coming to Singapore, as a two-week stay at a dedicated facility costs $2,000.

However, from 4 Nov, travellers from Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey will have the option of serving their SHNs at their place of residence, meaning that if they’re a resident, it’ll be absolutely free.

In order to qualify for this option, travellers must fulfil the following criteria:

  • They have travelled to no other country than the above-mentioned countries in the last consecutive 14 days prior to entry
  • They are occupying their place of residence alone, or only with household members who are also persons serving SHN with the same travel history and duration of SHN

Travellers from these countries can apply to opt out of dedicated stay-home notice facilities from 2 Nov.

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This list of countries will be regularly updated according to public health risk assessment, however, meaning requirements could change overnight.

“All travellers must be prepared to be subject to the prevailing border measures upon entry, including stay in dedicated stay-home notice facilities and payment, where applicable,” MOH said.

In addition to remaining in their place of residence at all times, travellers will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device which will be issued at the checkpoint after they clear immigration.

Once they reach their place of residence, they will have to activate it, and keep it on for the entire two weeks.

They will also have to be tested for Covid-19 before the end of their SHN.

Sounds like a fun vacation, no?

More Singaporeans & PRs to Pay For Dedicated SHN Facilities 

If you left Singapore before 27 March and are still abroad, I have more bad news for you.

From 1 Jan 2021, the gahmen will no longer waive the costs of stay at dedicated SHN facilities for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (PRs) who left the country before 27 March.

All new travellers, including citizens, PRs, and long-term pass holders, will also be responsible for their medical bills, should they develop Covid-19 symptoms within 14 days of their arrival.

The good thing is that we can now tap on government subsidies and Medishield Life or Integrated Shield Plan to pay for our Covid-19 bills.

On the other hand, short-term visitors who are hospitalised for Covid-19 will have to pay for their own medical bills at unsubsidised rates.

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Sadly, travelling at the moment isn’t as affordable or fun as it used to be, due to all the Covid-19 restrictions.

Hopefully, we’ll soon be able to go back to splurging on unnecessary foreign goods instead of Covid-19 tests and quarantine.

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