The Covid -19 lockdown nightmare is almost all over. It’s a new dawn! It’s a new day! With no more restrictive Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) in place from April 1, the world is truly your oyster again.
Time to bring out your passport, your credit cards, your kids (if you have them) and start packing! Of course, don’t forget to also book your travel insurance.
In place of the tedious VTLs, the Singapore government has a new streamlined travel framework in place where countries and regions will be classified into two broad categories – general travel or restricted.
What are the new travel restrictions?
Breathe a sigh of relief. Under the new travel framework, most of the travel restrictions have been lifted. With no more VTLs, as long as you’re fully vaccinated, you no longer have to scour the Singapore Airlines website for a VTL flight or wait it out for a VTL ferry to enter Singapore quarantine-free.
It gets even better – currently all countries fall under the general travel category. Unless the Covid-19 situation worsens to a worrying extent in a particular part of the world, you can expect the regulations to stay this way. So, what exactly do you have to prepare before you leave?
1. Trip prep(arations)
Here’s your easy-to-digest checklist of what you need to do before you fly:
Have your Covid-19 vaccine certificate with the following particulars:
Your personal details
Dates & number of vaccinations
Name of vaccine used
Seal of authentication (not an issue with HealthHub app or PDF from National Immunisation Registry)
A pre-departure Covid-19 test as per requirement by foreign authorities. Find related information here.
2. Buy Covid-19 travel insurance (yes, it exists!)
Here are three phases that you need to consider for your travel insurance coverage:
Coverage before your trip
Check if your insurer requires you to get a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before purchasing your policy
If you get Covid-19 before your trip, you can cancel it and get reimbursed
Coverage during your trip
Whether your medical expenses would be covered should you get Covid-19
Whether quarantine allowance is included
Coverage after your trip
What is the coverage for getting Covid-19 in Singapore
Covid-19 coverage is not always a default within travel insurance policies. While most travel insurance providers have tailored their plans to include Covid-19 coverage, it’s still an add-on for some. It can cost an extra $20 to $40, exclusive of the mandatory PCR tests that you have to take before flying back to Singapore!
3. Whip out your credit card to book your flight
Did I say whip out your credit card? If you don’t have one already, find the best credit cards here. With no more VTL flights, you can fully focus your attention on finding the cheapest flights. 
4. Check-in procedures before flying
The most exciting moment is boarding the plane itself, but before that, some more paperwork!
Have these documents ready:
Your passport
Negative PCR test result or Vaccine certificate
Again, do your due diligence on the travel documents that’s required by the foreign authorities of your travel destination. What’s worse than being turned away at the airport?
5. Travelling to your country of choice
It goes without saying that every household runs itself differently, and you can apply this concept to other countries as well. You will have to adhere to their health authority mandates:
Country
Health Mandate
TraceTogether equivalent
Brunei Darussalam
Public Advisory
BruHealth
Germany
Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations
Corona-Warn-App
Canada
Health Canada’s Mandate
COVID Alert
Denmark
Danish Health Authority
Smitte|stop
France
Gouvernement Français
TousAntiCovid
Italy
Ministero della Salute
Immuni
Netherlands
Rijksoverheid Nederlands
CoronaMelder
Spain
SpTH
SpTH
United Kingdom
GOV.UK
NHS COVID-19
United States
HHS.gov
N.A.
Switzerland
SwissCovid
SwissCovid
Australia
Australian Department of Health
COVIDSafe
South Korea
Republic of Korea
SafeKorea
Finland
Valtioneuvosto
Koronavilkku
India
MoHFW
MyGov
Indonesia
Republic of Indonesia
PeduliLindungi
Malaysia
KKM
MySejahtera
Sweden
Folkhälsomyndigheten
N.A.
Qatar
State of Qatar GCO
Ehteraz
Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Health SA
Tawwaklna
United Arab Emirates
UAE
Alhosn UAE
6. Coming home to Singapore
This bit is now far less expensive than before. You used to have to take four PCR tests during peak pandemic, but from April 26 onwards, fully vaccinated travellers do not have to take any tests.
General Travel Category Countries/Regions
Summary of Travel Requirements
Fully vaccinated travellers and children aged 12 and below
Non-fully Vaccinated Traveller
All countries/regions
No tests required
Any of the following Covid-19 test, within two days before departure for Singapore:
Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR Test)
Antigen Rapid Test (ART) which is professionally administered, or supervised via telemedicine apps.
On-arrival PCR test
seven-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at declared place of accommodation
SHN-exit PCR test
If in the future, you happen to travel to a country in the restricted category, these are the regulations to follow:
Restricted Category Countries/Regions
Summary of Travel Requirements
All Travellers Regardless of Vaccination Status
Currently none
Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR Test) within two days before departure for Singapore
On-arrival PCR test
seven-day SHN at a Stay-Home Notice dedicated facility (SDF)
SHN-exit PCR test
6a. What if you get Covid-19 after returning?
You first need to check your travel insurance provider’s coverage for Covid-19.
Travel insurance providers like Aviva, AXA and FWD require that you notify them within 14 to 30 days of you getting Covid-19 for you to benefit from the coverage. Then, you simply have to make an online claim via your insurers’ mobile app or website with the relevant documents:
Doctor’s memo stating that you have caught Covid-19 and you require treatment
Flight itinerary or boarding pass
Medical report or inpatient discharge summary
Original medical bills
That being said, insurance is still largely a “phygital” thing, so if you would rather have someone guide you along the mess of paperwork, definitely ring your agent up or call your insurers’ hotline.
You can also tap into existing government subsidies, make health insurance claims via MediShield Life, Integrated Shield plans or private health insurance for your Covid-19 treatment in Singapore. This is only open to Singaporeans, PRs and long-term pass holders only, and if your symptoms appear within 14 days of your return.
Only one PCR/ART test to travel? Two-dle loo!!
If you do get Covid-19 before your trip, you had best make sure you already have your travel insurance policy already purchased! It can cover trip cancellations, inconveniences and/or the whole shebang.
If you’re really paranoid though, you can definitely afford to be a hermit until your travel dates. You’ll want to minimise as much spending as possible because the flight tickets, accommodation, food and travel insurance expenses will add up to a pretty penny.
Look at this way, you’ve been a hermit since March 2020, what’s a few more weeks or days’ worth of isolation? It will all be worth it when you finally get to spread your wings and experience the thrill of takeoff and landing.
ALSO READ: Covid-19 travel insurance: The best coverage for medical costs, cancellations and more for Singapore travellers
This article was first published in MoneySmart.
Vaccinated Travel LanetravelCOVID-19coronavirus
