Korea and Singapore agreed upon Vaccinated Travel Lane and Mutual Recognition of COVID-19 Certificates of Vaccination

1. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced that the ‘Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between the Republic of Korea and Singapore’ was agreed, on the occasion of a virtual conference between Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Noh Hyeong Ouk and Minister for Transport of Singapore S. Iswaran on 8 October.

2. The VTL arrangement between the two countries was a result of a months-long discussion with relevant ministries involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

o The new arrangement will enable people fully vaccinated in Korea or Singapore to make mutual travels free of mandatory quarantine starting from 15 November. The arrangement places no restrictions on travel type (individual or group tour) or its purpose (business or tourism).

3. Meanwhile, the ‘Mutual Recognition of COVID-19 Certificates of Vaccination’ agreed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea and the Ministry of Transport of Singapore will serve as a basis for implementing quarantine-free travel between the two countries. This will mark the first case of mutual recognition of vaccination certificates Korea has been planning to pursue with foreign countries.

o In this arrangement, Korea and Singapore agreed to recognize COVID-19 vaccines on the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing. Certificates of mix-and-match vaccinations will be recognized as well, rendering all Korean citizens who have been fully vaccinated in Korea eligible for quarantine-free travels to Singapore.

4. After the two arrangements come into effect, travelers who intend to travel under the VTL should be fully vaccinated with two weeks having passed after the final shot and carry their own vaccination certificate issued by the health authorities of departure country in accordance with the ‘Mutual Recognition of COVID-19 Certificates of Vaccination’ along with a COVID-19 PCR certificate proving negative test results issued within a certain period of time*. In addition, they should carry the insurance policy covering the medical treatment cost in case of being infected with COVID-19 and other necessary documents such as visa**. Moreover, travelers should take non-stop direct flights to enter the destination country. Upon arrival, they get tested for COVID-19 and once the test result proves negative, travelers can go about their activities.

* From the ROK to Singapore, negative COVID-19 PCR test result certificate should be issued within 48 hours before boarding and from Singapore to the ROK, negative COVID-19 test result certificate should be issued within 72 hours before boarding.

** ROK-Singapore Visa Waiver Agreement to be resumed (Temporarily suspended since April 2020)