Singapore-Malaysia VTL (land) opens to citizens of both nations from 20 Dec

Citizens will still be subjected to Singapore's on-arrival and post-arrival testing protocols, and Malaysia's pre-departure, on-arrival, and post-arrival testing regimes.

Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry has announced that the Singapore-Malaysia Land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) will be opened to both Singapore and Malaysian citizens, effective 20 December 2021 (Monday).

The easing of this particular border measure was announced on 14 December 2021 (Tuesday), to allow for more groups of people to travel between Singapore and Malaysia — Malaysian citizens can now enter Singapore, and Singapore citizens can likewise enter Malaysia. Prior to this, only citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders of the country they were entering were able to travel via the VTL (Land).

With regard to COVID-19 testing protocols, the Ministry noted that there will be no change — all travellers entering Singapore will still have to undergo:

• An on-arrival Antigen Rapid Test (ART), and
• A post-arrival seven-day ART regime.

The former testing protocol will be administered at the Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange and Queen Street Terminal, where travellers will also be required to make an e-payment for the ART directly at the testing centre. The latter, meanwhile, will be self-administered, and travellers will be required to submit the results of their self-administered ART online using a link that will be sent to them via their declared contact details after arrival in Singapore.

On top of that, incoming travellers should note that on days three and seven, the tests will have to be done under supervision at a Combined Test Centre or Quick Test Centre. During this seven-day period, other than on days when they go out for their supervised tests, travellers must test negative on their self-administered ART before going out for activities on that day.

As for travellers entering Malaysia, they are reminded:

• To be fully vaccinated;
• To undergo professional RTK-antigen (RTK-Ag) testing or RT-PCR testing two days before departure for Malaysia, and
• To undergo on-arrival professional RTK-Ag testing at Larkin Central Bus Terminal, Johor Bahru.

Additional testing will be required of all VTL travellers and VTL travellers returning to Malaysia from Singapore. They have to undergo professional RTK-Ag testing on day three and day five after arrival, and administer self rapid antigen (RT-Ag) testing on day two, day four, and day six after arrival.

All self-test results must be reported through Malaysia's MySejahtera application, and travellers will not subject to quarantines.

ICYMI: [Updated] Travel between Singapore and Malaysia by land: How to use the vaccinated travel lane (VTL)

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