Travel Guide from Singapore to Europe — Our Experience
Information you need to travel during Covid via Vaccinated Travel Lane and Non-Vaccinated Travel Lanes, What to Prepare and Requirements
If you are planning or considering to travel in the next couple of months, this article would cover things that you should know before you fly.
From what to prepare, what you need to do during, and after arrival, what to expect and flying back to Singapore
We’ll try to give as accurate information as possible, as the situation and countries keep changing to adapt to the covid cases.
We have included links where you can click through to find the most updated information.
If you prefer to watch video, the Youtube video below summarises what I’ve written.
Before you fly you will need to research the following:
Entry Requirements To the Country You are Flying Into
Each country would have different requirements. For us, we flew directly to Germany and we did not have to do any PCR or ART test prior to enter the country as long as you are double vaccinated.
Flying to Germany is almost just like travelling pre-covid. The only additional requirement to enter Germany is to prefill documentation online, it’s like public health declaration form.
It is best to start monitoring the regulations about 1 week prior your flight as regulations kept changing.
I find the best website is Singapore Airlines.
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) is good too. But there is too much information on ICA website and it is more applicable for flying back to Singapore. For flying out to Singapore, we should search the respective countries’ immigration websites.
I like how Singapore Airlines put them neatly into tables for easy reference on their website.
For some countries you’ll need to do a PCR or ART test on arrival in the airport, wait for the results and test negative before you can start your trip.
For Germany case, we did not have to. We could immediately roam around without doing any additional covid tests at all.
Because we were double vaccinated, we are not subjected to any test before we fly and when we arrived.
Documents to prepare
I suggest that you print out all the documents:
- Notarised vaccination status — that you can download and print out via trace together
- Entry certification — if any for us it was Germany Entry Document
Covid regulations in the Country
Each country has different rules when it comes to controlling covid.
For example:
- When & Where you should wear a mask: Singapore requires everyone to wear a mask indoors and outdoors. For Germany, it’s not that case. You do not have to wear a mask outdoors, you only need to wear it indoors.
- Type of Mask: We flew to Berlin and wore our surgical mask around. But during that time there was a surge of covid cases from the south, so when we arrived in Munich with our surgical mask, I got chased out by Starbucks because I was not wearing the FPP2 Mask. So please take note of what type of mask is required. Do not wear a cloth mask. No, the free Temasek mask is not allowed.
What I suggest is that you prepare the N95 or FPP2 mask as it seems to be the recommendation from the authorities moving forward. - Contact Tracing: Singapore has a rigorous contact tracing system and public places such as shops and eateries are all quite compliant in getting people to share their particulars. Also we have the trace together system.
Germany and france on the other hand are not so strict, maybe it’s because of GDPR or something. They do have apps that you can use to check in when you are dining in, but it’s not necessary. Sometimes restaurants would ask us to fill up a form with our particulars and that’s it. - Entering Public places and hotels
- Convert your vaccination certificate to an EU pass: Right now the rules are strict for the non-vaccinated. They are not allowed to go into certain places. For vaccinated, it would be easy for us to enter public places such as restaurants and cinemas.
While Singapore vaccination is recognised overseas, the QR code is not recognisable. It is better to convert it into EU pass. It can be stored inside your apple wallet or you can bring the hard copy around.
We started by showing a printed copy of our MOH issued vaccination cert and then we converted it at a german pharmacy.
Depending on the country, the conversion might be free or you might have to pay a fee
What to prepare when you fly back to Singapore
For us we booked a one way ticket to Germany. So when we decided to return, Singapore stopped VTL flights!
Things to take note flying back to Singapore:
- Whether did you book VTL or non VTL flight
- Which countries you have been to during the trip in the past 14 days
- For you to be eligible for VTL flights, you need to ensure that the past 14 days you stay within Singapore and/or VTL or Category I countries/regions
- Therefore, you can visit multiple VTL or Category I countries/regions on the same trip and still be eligible for VTL flights.
- Do you need to be quarantined and for how long
- Where you need to be quarantined,
- What tests you’ll need to do prior to flying, on arrival and post arrival
Covid Tests Required Flying Back to Singapore on VTL
Under VTL it would be PCR test at the airport and ART test for a week before you head out and mingle with others. — link
They will need to undergo the following COVID-19 tests:
- Pre-departure COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or professionally administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) taken within 2 days before departure for Singapore
- On-arrival COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival at Singapore Changi Airport (S$125, payment here)
- Post-arrival supervised COVID-19 ARTs on Days 3 and 7 (S$15 each)
- Post-arrival self-administered COVID-19 ARTs on Days 2, 4, 5 and 6
Total 8 tests — 1 PCR and 7 Art (2 supervised and 5 self administered)
Other Ways To Fly Back To Singapore
However, we flew non-VTL so we had to do PCR test when we arrived at Singapore airport head home immediately, quarantine at home for a week and then take another PCR test. Only when you are tested negative then you’ll be able to leave your quarantine place after 7 days.
You can go to this website: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/overview
- Key in the country you are departing from, your vaccination status and your status — whether you are a singaporean, non singaporean, traveller or work permit s pass holder.
- I’m flying from France, with 2 vaccines and I’m a singaporean
- THe options for me are VTL and General SafeTravel Lanes
- I have to click on General Safe travel lanes under category II because france is category II [ctrl + F]
- So here are the requirements, i go back and click on the checklist again to review what are the documentation required
Useful links
Flying out from Singapore
- Singapore Airlines Website: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/vaccinated-travel-lanes/
- VTL Resource: https://milelion.com/vtl-travel-resources/
Flying back to Singapore
- Singapore Customs [VTL flights]: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/vtl/requirements-and-process
- Singapore Customs [Travelling to Singapore]: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/overview
- SG Arrival card: https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/
Our Experience Flying Back From France To Singapore — Via Non VTL
Documents needed:
- An ART or PCR test earliest 2 days before we fly.
- Complete the SG Arrival Card (SGAC). This is a documentation will be required when you check in for your flight. We didn’t know about this but we managed to fill it in at the airport counter.
For Non-Singaporeans, there’s more paper work to be done depending on which travel lanes you are flying back. For more details, do check out Singapore Immigration’s website.
We arrived in Singapore and headed for our PCR test. While we queue, we also register and paid for it online. It’s $125 per person.
Once you are done, you need to head home directly. You should take a taxi or grab or gojek. No public transport and do not go anywhere.
If you are under VTL you are free to go out of your house once you are tested negative. But for us flying back Non-VTL, we were served SHN Stay home notice where we need to stay home and isolate ourselves for the next 7 days.
During your stay home notice, ICA would call and do spot check via a video call to ensure that you are actually at home.
Also, you will be scheduled a PCR test at a regional test center before you can be discharge after 7 days. Once you are tested negative and have completed the 7 days Stay Home notice, you will be discharged.
However, we did not make it…
Jingles was tested positive for his on arrival PCR test. While my results were negative, I retested myself with a self administered ART test. This time around it was positive.
Jingles didn’t have any symptoms at all. But for me, I developed symptoms thereafter. which is around 2 days after I boarded the plane.
Therefore, we did not manage to complete the isolation period. As Jingles was tested positive at the airport, he was rescheduled another test (PCR and Serology test) 2 days later where it was negative. He was then discharged.
For me, technically, I should have head down to get my PCR test so that MOH would have a record. But since I already knew I was positive, I decided not head down for the exit PCR test. I wanted to minimise any interaction with people. So after I missed on PCR test appointment, ICA called and arrange a home PCR swab instead. The test was positive and I was under mandatory quarantine for another 10 more days.
I thought that my quarantine should be shorter since there was some lapse in between ICA and MOH records. ICA is in charge monitoring travellers to Singapore but only if the travellers are tested positive via PCR then they are considered under MOH records. And only then your quarantine period (10 days) would start.
So should you still travel?
There is always a risk of getting covid and you must be prepared for that. Therefore, make sure that you are in the best of health and be vaccinated or boosted. Also get travel insurance that includes covid cover.
If you are looking to travel with your parents and older family members, I think it’s better not to take this risk. Also, consider if when you come back and if you are living with elderly members. For us, we were able to quarantine without our parents around since we don’t live with them.
Let me know if you are planning to travel in the next couple of months and if this resource would be helpful for you?
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Till then we’ll see you later!
