BritCham with the support of the MOM answer your questions on entry pass approvals

September 14, 2021

As part of our advocacy efforts on behalf of members, we have been relaying our business community's feedback and questions to the MOM on your behalf around entry pass approvals and travel.

The British Chamber maintains constant dialogues with the MOM which enable us to gather feedback from members and approach the appropriate teams at the MOM with a request for support. The Ministry has kindly considered these questions and provided the following responses for our members.

We encourage all members to continue to share their feedback with us, and we will, in turn, continue to support the needs of the community. Next month, we will be hosting a member dialogue with the Minister for Manpower as a further opportunity for two-way discussion, register here for that in-person session.

As always, the MOM hotline is available for case-specific support. Members are encouraged to contact the hotline on +65 6438 5122 (M-F 8.30-5.30 / Sat 8.30-1) should they need further assistance.

Please refer below to some of the questions you have been raising to us over the past few weeks, for which we have consulted the MOM for a response.

Information is validated with the MOM effective 13 September 2021 and will not be subsequently updated on this page with further updates. Please bookmark our Covid-19 Information Hub to monitor the latest releases.

FAQs

Must entry approval be applied for by the employer, or may travellers apply directly?

Employers must submit entry approval applications for pass holders entering via the Work Pass Holder General Lane on the Safe Travel Office (STO) Portal. This is because the employer has joint responsibility with the pass holders to ensure that the pass holders adhere to the prevailing health regimes.

Can re-entry be applied for before the traveller leaves Singapore, or only once they are out of the country?

Re-entry applications can be made if the pass holder is re-entering Singapore within 30 calendar days and they meet the prevailing entry criteria. Pass holders should note that if there are changes to the border measure controls before they return, they will be subject to the prevailing measures.

How long do travellers/their employers need to allow for re-entry approval to be processed?

Before submitting the entry applications, employers must ensure that their pass holders have met all the necessary requirements (e.g., completed the vaccination regime of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before their arrival in Singapore). Thereafter, the employer can submit an entry application and select a planned entry date. If there are available entry slots, the entry approval will be approved immediately, and the approval letter will be sent to the employer after the payment has been made.

Will the backlog of travellers currently waiting outside of Singapore for re-entry approval be prioritised ahead of new requests? If this is the case, what is the approximate number of currently backlogged requests, to help manage expectations?

MOM has completed the rescheduling exercise for pass holders from the UK whose entries were postponed in May. We have resumed entry approval applications for fully vaccinated pass holders, and these are processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Does the reason for travel out of Singapore (e.g., business v personal travel) make any difference to the decision to grant re-entry approval?

No, it does not. However, employers may wish to highlight to their employees that travel restrictions implemented worldwide to curb the spread of COVID-19 could affect flight availability and their ability to return to Singapore for work promptly.

Can you apply re-entry for travellers who are not fully vaccinated?

Employers can submit re-entry applications. However, the pass holder’s date of re-entry into Singapore must be at least two weeks after he or she has received the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or WHO-EUL vaccines. From 8 September 2021, vaccines requiring 2 doses can be completed either using the same or different brands.

When does the window for re-entry applications open every day, i.e 12am?

The application portal is always open but we only accept applications for entries within the next 30 calendar days.

Can the date or departure destination of the entry approval be changed after approval has been obtained?

No. To bring the pass holder into Singapore on another date or change the travel history, the employer would need to submit a new entry application. For a refund of the entry charges for the previous application, the cancellation request must be submitted at least 7 days before the original approved arrival date.

Is there any additional consideration or guidance for travellers whose companies are highly regulated or whose operating jurisdiction is strictly Singapore (therefore unlikely to allow travel unless re-entry is confirmed)?

In earlier experiences, couples were able to serve a SHN together despite their marriage/family status where they had been travelling together. The recent guidance suggests only married couples and family members can stay together. This has various implications around the sharing of costs (if at a facility) and the potential documentation required for an SHN at a residence to comply with the requirements. Can you provide some clarity on options for unmarried partners?

Couples who enter Singapore with the same travel history may request to serve SHN together when they reach the dedicated facility. These requests are subject to consideration, and travellers must be prepared to furnish additional information if asked.

Is there a quota in place on the number of entry approvals per day into Singapore in place, can it be shared, and is this origin-country-specific?

Generally, we can allow more pass holders who are entering from lower-risk countries/ regions as the importation risk is lower.

Can you give an indication of how approvals are prioritised?

Entry applications are processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For LVTPs, do they apply through the same SafeTravel link, and is there anything further to be aware of specifically in their case?

If the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is issued by MOM, the sponsors of the LTVP must submit the entry approval applications for them via the Work Pass Holder General Lane on the Safe Travel Office (STO) Portal. The main pass holder of the LTVP holders also has joint responsibility with the sponsor to ensure that the LTVP adheres to all prevailing health regimes including SHN and COVID-19 tests.

For those with in-principle approval work passes, should they expire prior to securing approval to enter Singapore will there be any leniency/extra flexibility with extensions so that new arrivals and their respective companies do not have to go through the process of advertising roles/applying for work passes?

Since June 2021, MOM has been automatically extending in-principle approvals (IPA) to allow employers more time to obtain entry approval. This is extended to IPA holders who are from higher risk sources and are for IPAs that are expiring in the next month. For example, IPAs expiring in October will be extended in September. Each extension will be for a 6-month period. The total duration of the IPA, from the day it is first given, will be capped at one year.

What is the way forward for employees vaccinated with non-WHO approved vaccines such as Covaxine or Sputnik V? Are there plans to allow exemptions for companies to facilitate such employees’ return to Singapore?

We are currently prioritising entry for pass holders who have completed the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty, Moderna or WHO-EUL vaccines. From 8 September 2021, vaccines requiring 2 doses can be completed either using the same or different brands. Pass holders who had received other vaccines may need to wait for additional vaccines to make the WHO-EUL listing.

Do I need any specific insurance to fly back from the UK with my family (vaccinated traveller)?

Currently, employers of all work permit, training work permit and S pass holders are required to buy a 14-day COVID-19 medical insurance with at least $10,000 coverage for medical expenses. This is in the event the pass holder develops COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive within the first 14 days of arrival in Singapore. While it is not an entry requirement for other pass holders, they may consider purchasing similar insurance products as an added precaution.

SERVING A SHN AT A RESIDENCE

Where a traveller’s destination is one of the countries offered to serve the SHN at a residence, what happens when there are no direct flights and you must transit through another country? Inconsistent information has been received by some in the case of Canada, for example. Is the length of the layover also a factor?

If the pass holder is travelling from one of the Category III countries/regions and their 21-day travel history prior to entering Singapore includes time (even if transiting through) spent in a Category IV country/ region, they will be subject to the health protocols of the Category IV country/ region. Using the example of Canada (Category II country), if the pass holder is travelling from Canada but is transiting through Japan (Category III country), the pass holder will be subject to the border measures for arrivals from Japan (country classifications are correct as at 7 September 2021).

If a traveller is transiting through one of the eight countries on their route back to Singapore from a higher-risk country, would they be eligible to opt for SHN at a residence?

No, the pass holder would be required to serve their 14-day SHN at a dedicated facility.

Guidance states travellers must have remained in these countries in the last consecutive 21 days prior to arriving in Singapore. Does this mean that travel is not allowed directly from Singapore and back to those countries for less than 21 days? Does the day of return-entry to Singapore count as day 21 or 22?

If the pass holder is making a short trip, for example, for 10 days then the pass holder would be subject to the border measures based on where the 10 days were spent.

BROADER QUESTIONS

Is there a foolproof document that explains how to travel and what hoops to jump through to leave and come back to Singapore (based on each different pass type/circumstance)?

We suggest employers and pass holders refer to the Safe Travel Office and Ministry of Health websites for the latest entry requirements and health/ border measures.

When will entry from the UK be allowed with SHN served at home or be SHN be removed entirely? And local restrictions be removed?

This will depend on the COVID-19 situation in the UK and in Singapore. As the situation remains dynamic, we are unable to give a definitive date at this point.

When can I go on holiday without the risk of not being able to return, and can you guarantee re-entry before I book travel?

Why are the vaccinated not given increased travel rights where countries have high vaccination levels?

Border restrictions will be reviewed progressively to facilitate more travel when conditions allow. MOM currently only accepts new entry applications from fully vaccinated pass holders. Singapore is also conducting a pilot under the new Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) to facilitate fully vaccinated persons to enter Singapore under reduced border measures. As the global situation evolves, we will continue to adjust our border measures in tandem with our roadmap to becoming a COVID resilient nation.

Why are some business leaders granted entry without an SHN?

The Business Travel Pass scheme, administered by the Ministry of Trade & Industry, facilitates essential business travel for senior executives based in Singapore. Travellers under this scheme must abide by a strictly controlled itinerary when travelling. Upon their return, they must take a PCR test and remain isolated in a single location until they obtain a negative PCR test result. As an added precautionary measure, travellers on this scheme are now required to undergo COVID-19 PCR tests on the third, seventh and 14th day of their return. An additional serology test is also required on the third day.

Are they any work pass holders that should avoid travelling overseas for non-essential travel? e.g. For work pass holders with 6 months or less validity on their pass, should they avoid travelling at this time? Mindful of previous border closures.

All work pass holders should be mindful of the current risks of travelling and how the border measures could change while they are overseas and take those into account when they make their travel plans. The same considerations or risks apply to all pass holders.

If a fully vaccinated pass holder tests positive on return to SG (either during and after SHN), will there be any support with medical costs?

Since 1 Jan 2021, the Government no longer covers the COVID-19 treatment cost if the pass holder develops COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive within the first 14 days of their arrival.