Finally, after over two years of having nothing stamped on our passports, we finally get to travel out of the country again! And it’s no surprise that what’s currently popular among Filipinos as an international travel destination is the Lion City: Singapore. After all, it’s only a quick 3-hour trip, it’s visa-free, and there’s no need to do any quarantine or pre-departure tests anymore.
If you or anyone you know is visiting Singapore soon, here are the travel requirements you’ll need to prepare:
Note: These are for short-term visitors
1. VaxCert PH
Upon checking in for your flight at the airport, you will be asked to present your vaccination certificate (VaxCert PH) issued by the Department of Health where it shows your first and second dose as well as your booster shot (if you have already taken it).
To know how to generate your VaxCert PH, read our guide here.
As of April 26, 2022, all fully vaccinated individuals and children aged 12 years or below entering Singapore are NOT required to take a pre-departure rapid antigen test.
The list of approved vaccines is as follows:
- AstraZeneca
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- Janssen/J&J
- Moderna/Spikevax
- Novavax
- Pfizer/BioNTech/Comirnaty
- Sinopharm
- Sinovac
- CanSinoBio
Visitors must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before arrival in Singapore.
Tourists who did not take any of the approved vaccines listed above or have not taken the minimum dosage are considered NOT fully vaccinated and are thus not allowed entry to Singapore unless entry approval is obtained.
Boosters are not required for entry to Singapore.
2. Singapore Arrival Card
You will then need to complete and submit a Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC), which is an online travel and health declaration form, three days before your arrival in Singapore at the earliest. (For example, if you’re arriving on July 30, you can already submit the SGAC on July 28.)
Completing the SGAC will allow for a faster and smoother process through immigration at Changi Airport. Note that you must have received an email acknowledgment to confirm that you were able to successfully submit the SGAC. There’s no need to show the email acknowledgment to the immigration officer but it’s best to have it ready on your phone just in case.
Your passport will no longer be stamped at immigration too. Instead, you will receive an electronic visit pass via the same email you used to submit the SGAC stating the period of your stay.
3. TraceTogether mobile app
To comply with local health measures, you will also need to download the TraceTogether mobile app from the App Store or Play Store.
It’s pretty easy to set up; just follow the instructions, input the necessary details asked from you, and then activate the app ONLY when you’ve cleared immigration.
You may or may not be asked to use it upon entry to establishments for contact tracing purposes. In my experience during my stay in Singapore in June, I didn’t need to use it at all. However, it helps to have it ready just in case.
Requirements for flying back to the Philippines
Entering the Philippines after your trip requires another set of requirements.
1. VaxCert PH
The same regulations previously mentioned above apply.
2. One Health Pass
All travelers must complete their One Health Pass at least 48 hours before departure from Singapore. You may access it here.
You will present this prior to check-in at Changi Airport and again at immigration upon arriving in the Philippines.
3. Additional requirement for those WITHOUT booster shot: Negative RT-PCR test or Antigen test
Filipino and foreign nationals aged 18 and above do not need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test if they have been fully vaccinated with the approved list of vaccines (stated above) for more than 14 days prior to departure from their country of origin AND have received at least one booster shot at any time prior to departure.
However, if you have not taken your booster shot, you will need to take either an RT-PCR test within 48 hours or an Antigen test within 24 hours prior to departure from Singapore and present a negative result.
Other useful tips for traveling around Singapore
1. Use your Grab app
Grab is available in Singapore and is very useful for instances wherein you’re planning to go somewhere far but don’t want to commute (especially if you have tons of bags).
2. Purchase a NETS FlashPay card
If you’re planning to commute a lot during your trip, I highly recommend getting a NETS FlashPay card from any 7-eleven store. This saves you the hassle of paying cash every time you ride a bus or the MRT. A card costs 10 SGD each which already includes about 5 SGD load, and you can top up again at MRT stations or convenience stores later on. This card can also be used as a means of payment at various establishments!
3. Use Google Maps
Google Maps will help you find your way around Singapore, including which buses to take and where to get off. I would have absolutely gotten lost without it!
4. Rent a WiFi router or purchase a sim card
Though there are places around Singapore where you can access free public WiFi, it’s still recommended to have one of your own especially when you’re just commuting and need to constantly check Google Maps or other apps which require an internet connection.
(ALSO READ: 10 Philippine Destinations to Rediscover For Your Much Needed Travel)
Do you have your own travel tips you’d like to share? Sound off in the comments!
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