From Oct 19, children aged 12 and below can travel quarantine-free via vaccinated travel lanes, following parents' suggestion: CAAS
Children will not need to serve quarantine, just like other travellers permitted to travel under the vaccinated travel lane arrangements, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said.
SINGAPORE — From Oct 19, children aged 12 years and below will be allowed to travel from countries under the vaccinated travel lane to Singapore so long as they are accompanied by someone who can travel under the arrangement as well.
Children will not need to serve quarantine, just like other travellers permitted to travel under the vaccinated travel lane arrangements, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement on Monday (Oct 11).
They will not need to show proof of vaccination to do so and do not need to apply for a vaccinated travel pass to enter Singapore.
However, children aged between three and 12 will still need to take a pre-departure and on-arrival Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in order to travel.
CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan said in the statement that the move was made after suggestions from some parents.
“We have considered this suggestion in consultation with the Ministry of Health and decided to allow it to facilitate family travel,” he said.
From Oct 19, eight more countries will be added to a list of countries where vaccinated travellers can visit without having to serve a lengthy quarantine period, after the scheme was piloted with Germany and Brunei last month.
The eight are: Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. From Nov 15, South Korea will be added to the list.
In its statement on Monday, CAAS said the other requirements that children will need to adhere to in order to qualify for travel under the vaccinated lane arrangements include:
Children must remain in one or more countries under the vaccinated travel lane in the 14 days before departure to Singapore
If the child has been in Singapore within those last 14 days, his or her stay in Singapore can be counted towards fulfilling the 14-day travel history requirement
Children must travel to Singapore on designated flights under the travel lane
Those who have to transfer or transit through Singapore will also be allowed to travel on designated flights under the travel lane
Children aged between three and 12 have to take two PCR tests, one pre-departure PCR test within 48 hours before departing to Singapore and an on-arrival test at Changi Airport. They must isolate themselves until their test results are confirmed to be negative
CAAS advised travellers to check the prevailing entry requirements imposed by the countries under the vaccinated travel lane, which may include restrictions on the age of travellers and their vaccination status.
For instance, South Korea will allow general travel to the country from Nov 15, but will not allow into its borders children who cannot be vaccinated as well as people who are medically unfit for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Those who wish to find out more details on the requirements for the vaccinated travel lanes may check out www.safetravel.ica.gov.sg.
