The discussions are ongoing between authorities from Singapore and India for resumption of commercial flights between the two countries. Singapore is planning to allow quarantine-free travel for fully-vaccinated passengers from India and Indonesia from November 29. Singapore has already recognised both Covishield and Covaxin, the two main jabs used in India. The move is expected to benefit thousands of Indian students, professionals and workers, who have been unable to travel to Singapore because of Covid-related travel restrictions.
Sources said that discussions are on as only commercial scheduled passenger flights can be designated as VTL flights. Currently, the only chartered flights are allowed from Singapore to carry passengers to India under the Vande Bharat Mission (VBM). Since these flights are chartered repatriation flights, they cannot be designated as VTL flights.
Currently, there are 13 countries, including Canada, Australia and Germany, under Singapore's vaccinated travel lane (VTL) programme. Travellers under the VTLs are not subject to stay-home notice on arrival. Instead, they will be required to produce a negative pre-departure test taken within two days prior to departure and undergo an on-arrival PCR test.
Since India has started recognising vaccination certificates issued by Singapore. This means that fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore entering India will no longer need to undergo post-arrival tests home quarantine, they will just need to self-monitor for 14 days upon arrival.
Last month, Singapore began allowing the entry of travellers from six countries, including India. However, travellers will be subjected to the tightest of border measures, which involve a 10-day, stay-home notice period at a dedicated facility. “All travellers with a 14-day travel history to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore from October 26,” it said.