Singapore and the UAE have opted to ease some travel restrictions!

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced that the country’s entry and testing criteria for Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) visitors were at ease and that flights will begin on February 22.

Long-term pass Holders will no longer have to apply for a vaccinated travel pass (VTP) to travel to Singapore on a VTL flight. However, a VTP is still required for short-term visitors and work permit holders.

Passengers entering Singapore on VTL flights are required to carry a negative PCR report or supervised antigen rapid test report within two days of departure.

SIA said in a statement that from 22 February, fully vaccinated passengers traveling to Singapore on VTL flights from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai can adhere to the new relaxations. The number of days required for trip history will be lowered from 14 to seven.

If the traveler has visited Singapore within the last seven days, his or her visit can be utilized to satisfy the seven-day travel history condition.

It also said that from February 22, VTL travelers do not have to take an on-arrival Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at Changi Airport. Instead, they will be required to take a supervised self-swab Antigen Rapid Test (ART) at any test center located across Singapore within 24 hours of arrival,

On Saturday, UAE airlines announced the easing of restrictions related to PCR test requirements.  This is the first time that PCR tests requirement has been dropped on the UAE-India route since the pandemic started.

Travelers need to carry a negative PCR test taken 48-hour before the departure. In addition, they also need to take a rapid PCR test at the airport.

People returning from UAE do not need a negative RT-PCR report if they are already vaccinated in India. They just need to upload their Indian vaccination certificate. But the passengers who are not vaccinated in India have to carry a negative RT-PCR certificate and upload it on the Air Suvidha portal.

Passengers should submit complete information in self-declaration form on the online Air Suvidha portal before the scheduled travel, including last 14 days travel details.

All passengers will continue to undergo thermal screening on arrival and if found symptomatic, will be treated as per protocol.