S’pore Suspending Green Lane Arrangement with M’sia, Germany & South Korea from 1 Feb

You might not remember this, but technically speaking, you can go overseas during this COVID-19 period whereby the farthest most of us go to is to Sentosa.

Called the Green Lane Arrangement, it’s for people to travel in and out of Singapore for work or business purposes, and they’ve to be sponsored by their employers (i.e. cannot anyhowly say it’s for work: your company must be the one that send you).

For people coming into Singapore, they’d have to be tested negative for COVID-19, and follow a strict itinerary submitted for the duration of stay, since they’d only be conducting business or work meetings.

Last year, we’ve green lanes with these countries:

• Brunei Darussalam
• Germany
• Mainland China (Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang)
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Malaysia
• Republic of Korea

Last December, RGL arrangements with Japan and Indonesia were suspended after the two countries reported more COVID-19 cases.

And now, three more countries would be suspended, too.

S’pore Suspending Green Lane Arrangement with M’sia, Germany & South Korea from 1 Feb

From 1 February 2020, Singapore will suspend reciprocal green lane arrangements with Malaysia, Germany, South Korea for three months.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, “The Government of Singapore regularly reviews its border measures to manage the risk of importation and onward local transmission of COVID-19 from travellers.

“Given the resurgence of COVID-19 cases worldwide, the Government of Singapore will be suspending the Reciprocal Green Lane arrangements with Germany, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea, for a period of three months beginning from Monday, 1 February 2021, 0001hrs.

“The Government of Singapore will review the Reciprocal Green Lane arrangements at the end of the suspension period. Travellers who have already been approved to enter Singapore under these Reciprocal Green Lanes can continue to do so.

Now, this means there are now only two green lanes available: the one with Brunei and the one with selected cities from China.

Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) with Malaysia Still On

Other than the usual green lane arrangement, Singapore has another arrangement with Malaysia: the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA).

This is still valid, so people can still head over to their home countries to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Unlike green lanes whereby the travellers have to be sponsored by their employers, this is open to Malaysians who are Singapore PRs working in Singapore, as well as citizens and permanent residents of both countries who hold long-term immigration passes in the other country.

However, they must have stayed in their country of employment for at least 90 days before returning to their home country for short-term leave.

And yes, they’ve to serve the 14-day SHN.

Featured Image: Nawadoln / Shutterstock.com