Malaysia-Singapore VTL: Steps & everything you need to know

Last Updated on: March 7, 2023 at 9:26 am

Update as of 7 April 2022: Singapore recently announced its new vaccinated travel framework starting April 1 for all fully vaccinated travellers. Information in this article may not be the latest. Visit our newly updated VTF article or Covid Entry Check for all the information you need.

The Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) is a welcome offshoot after the heavy travel restrictions of the pandemic. With both Singapore and Malaysia reaching high vaccination rates of their population, the long-anticipated VTL between the two countries was finally launched on 29 November 2021 for both air and land travel. This provides accessible travel routes to citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders of either country without the need for quarantine.

“With Malaysia and Singapore enjoying strong economic links and between our peoples, the VTL by air will be a huge moment to cherish as it signals another step for us out of the pandemic’s gloom. I hope that more Malaysians will be able to enjoy this facility and reunite with their friends and families.”

Dr Wee Ka Siong, Malaysian Transport Minister

For complete information, steps to take and requirements on Singapore’s VTLs, read this article – we’ve covered steps and information for all VTL routes. But if you are travelling between Malaysia and Singapore, read on for all the information you need.

However, from 23 December 2021 until 20 January 2022, ticket sales for VTL flights and land travel are frozen amid rising Covid-19 cases in Singapore.

All you need to know about the land VTL

In the case of the land VTL, travellers have designated VTL buses for their trips that go through a the Johor-Singapore Causeway. For travellers who move between these countries through private transport or other methods, excluding the VTL designated buses, the normal border control protocols, including the 7-day Stay-Home Notice will be observed.

Only travellers within the designated bus are assumed to be vaccinated and free from checks. Currently, up to 32 land VTL buses shuttle between both countries daily.

Here are the specific requirements for travelling by the Malaysia-Singapore land VTL:

• The travel history of travelers: Travellers must have spent their previous 14 days in Malaysia or any other VTL Category country/region to be granted access into Singapore. The same applies for gaining entrance into Malaysia.
• Testing: Within the last 2 days before depature, the traveller must test negative in an approved COVID-19 ART or PCR test in a laboratory or center that is accredited or recognized.
• Vaccination: The traveller must have digital proof of vaccination issued in any VTL country.

A fully vaccinated VTL traveller must accompany travellers aged 12 and below who are unvaccinated. For now, only citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders are allowed to go through the VTL land. But Singapore and Malaysia are working towards expanding the VTL Land policy to accommodate more travellers.

For those travelling by land from Singapore to Malaysia:

1. Book a designated VTL bus ticket at least 3 days before your intended date of arrival. (Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange or Queens Street Terminal)
2. Apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) here at least 3 days before your intended date of arrival

For complete pre-departure requirements and on-arrival requirements, refer to this article.

If you are travelling by land from Malaysia to Singapore, refer to the checklist and apply at the MySafeTravel portal. After arrival in Malaysia, testing is required every day.

VTL requirements for travel by air

The VTL Air travel route between Malaysia and Singapore offers quarantine-free trips. And this is out to save the costs of continuous Covid-19 tests and the time required. There are six VTL flights in both countries but the most popular Malaysia-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane is between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

A step-by-step guide for VTL Air travelling between Singapore and Malaysia

Step 1: Book your air tickets on designated VTL flights.

Step 2: Traveller is required to have an insurance policy (minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment in Singapore). Short-term visitors must have a return ticket alongside the insurance policies

Step 3: Two days before takeoff, ensure that you take a PCR test and digitally authenticate the result. In Malaysia, you can take your tests here.

Step 4: On arrival at your destination, you will be required to take a PCR test.

If your destination is Malaysia, pre-book your test at BP Clinical Health Screening Centre at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. You can pre-book here. Doing this ensures that you can immediately take the test and expect results in one to three hours once you arrive at the airport.

Before departure, you would be required to present:

• a valid vaccination certificate (which will be notarized at arrival),
• a pre-departure Covid-19 test with a negative result,
• a valid passport,
• proof of registered profiles on the MySejahtera app (in the case of arrival at Malaysia), and TraceTogether app for Singapore.
• return ticket (for short-term visitors to Malaysia)
• travel insurance policy, either a physical or digital copy (short-term visitors to Malaysia only)
• proof of the purchase of your travel insurance policy, either a physical or electronic copy (short-term visitors to Malaysia only)

Some other general tips that you will need include:

• Short-term visitors are required to activate the already registered profile on the tracing app on their device after clearance at the immigration.
• For travellers who do not get their results immediately, you are to navigate your self-isolation accommodation in a private taxi or hire cars. The use of public transports is not allowed.

However, it is essential to note that stricter travel restrictions have been mounted with the new development in the news about the virus- the Omicron variant and the spread of the virus. You are mandated to undergo Covid-19 self-testing every day after their arrival.

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