Easy guide for Malaysians to enter Singapore for business travel

Kiran Sidhu
Kiran Sidhu
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A step-by-step guide to help business travellers from Malaysia enter Singapore.

The success of your business travel is dependent on meeting the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) requirements and safety procedures. Since travel restrictions change from time to time, start your business travel plans with research. Check here to see if the safe travel lanes are active or suspended.

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Can I travel from Malaysia to Singapore?

Yes, as residents or citizens of Malaysia, you can enter Singapore under short-term essential business travel and official purposes. And your maximum length of stay in Singapore is 14 days. 

Before travelling to Singapore, you must have remained in Malaysia (either East or West Malaysia) for at least 14 days prior to your travel date to Singapore. 

You can travel by air or by land into Singapore. If you are travelling by air, you must be on a direct flight into Singapore with no internal transits in between. You are required to show a valid return air ticket to Malaysia.
If you are travelling by land via Tuas and Woodlands under the RGL, you will need to exit the same way back into Malaysia.

Do note on the prevailing procedures and fees involved in arriving via land.

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How to apply for Safe Travel Pass?

Any travel into Singapore begins with the Safe Travel Pass application. This applies to all countries under the Green and/or Fast Lane arrangement.

As a business traveller from Malaysia, it is important that you are sponsored by a Singapore government agency or a Singapore-based company. 

What this means is that you need the sponsoring company to apply for your Safe Travel Pass. They are required to log into the Safe Travel Pass portal with their Corp Pass, as a proof of business.

It is best that the sponsoring company applies for your Safe Travel Pass 2 to 4 weeks prior to your intended date of travel. The processing of the application can take up to 7 working days. Applications submitted less than 7 working days from planned departure will not be accepted and therefore, rejected.

When your application is approved, an approval letter will be issued to the sponsoring company /agency by email within 3 working days. Do note that your Safe Travel Pass application and issued Safe Travel Pass cannot be amended. You have to ensure that all details in the application form are accurate at the point of submission.

Safe Travel Pass TruTrip Entry Restrictions from Malaysia into Singapore
Corp Pass log in required to proceed with STP application

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What documents are required for the Safe Travel Pass application?

If you’re a Malaysian citizen, you are required to submit a copy of your passport.

As for a Non-Malaysian citizen who is residing in Malaysia, you are required to include a copy of your Malaysian long-term pass ID too along with a copy of your passport.

Both citizens and residents of Malaysia are required to provide a Proof of Residency in Malaysia. For instance, you can submit a utility bill that is registered under your name.

If your Safe Travel Pass application is rejected, some of the reasons may be because of the following:
1) The quota is full for the week of entry 
2) Application submission was out of the permissible window of application
3) Inadequate information provided

If you hold a Singapore-visa-required passport, you can apply for your travel visa after receiving your approved Safe Travel Pass letter.  

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What is the next step after my Safe Travel Pass is approved?

You can now electronically submit your pre-trip health and travel history declarations via the SG Arrival Card, before departing for Singapore. The SG Arrival Card can also be accessed via the Visit Singapore Travel Guide App.

You can do this at least 3 days prior to your arrival. However, do take note that you will have undergo both pre-departure and post-arrival Covid-19 tests. You are also responsible for the cost of these tests. 

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What type of Covid-19 test is needed and where do I take the Covid-19 test?

You must take a pre-departure Covid-19 test in Malaysia within 72 hours before departure and obtain a certificate of having tested negative from accredited laboratories by the Ministry of Health Malaysia. Here is a list of assigned private clinics and hospitals by the MOH that can conduct the Covid-19 test.

In Singapore, you will have to take a Covid-19 test at Changi airport or at land checkpoints – Tuas or Woodlands. Only card payments or PayPal are accepted for these tests.

Good news for those flying in, you can pre-register and pre-pay for the Covid-19 PCR test prior to your entry into Singapore. Pre-registration and pre-payment can be made on the online portal here. You should expect to pay around S$300 (inclusive of GST) for the test.

If you are arriving to Singapore by land, you can make payment at the testing station located at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoint. You should expect to pay around S$200 (inclusive of GST) for the test.

Changi Covid-19 PCR Test - TruTrip Entry Restrictions

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What do I need to look out for upon my arrival in Singapore?

Besides taking the Covid-19 test as stated above, a Host will be assigned to you upon arrival. This will happen at Changi Airport, Tuas or Woodlands checkpoints.

We advise that you have all your documents (ie STP, SG Arrival Card, Itinerary, TraceTogether app, etc) ready in hand.

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What are the things I must do while in Singapore?

1) Commute by the same pre-arranged, private transportation, especially upon arrival into Singapore.

2) Travellers are allowed to use private hire cars or taxis, but it’s best that you have pre-arranged private transportation. You are not allowed to take any public transport. 

3) Only stay at the declared commercial place of accommodation and self-isolate (for at least 48 hours) while waiting for any test results.
 
4) Follow the submitted and approved Controlled Itinerary, that is supervised by the host company or government agency.

5) If you can’t follow the Controlled Itinerary for any reason, you must report any deviation to your Host in advance.

6) Download and utilise TraceTogether and SafeEntry apps.

7) Follow all safety distancing measures according to the Singapore’s government. 

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How to return to Malaysia from Singapore?

To return to Malaysia, you do not need to take a Covid-19 test before you leave Singapore. But upon arrival in Malaysia, you are required to take a Covid-19 test and serve a 14 day quarantine at an assigned quarantine facility. Here’s a recent coverage from Bernama on quarantine centres in Malaysia.

You are required to update your status on Singapore’s TraceTogether app if you test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days after returning to Malaysia.

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What is the role of the Host and what must the sponsoring company comply with?

The company is responsible for monitoring and ensuring that the traveller complies with the RGL terms and conditions. The Safe Travel Pass may be revoked by the Host, which will impact future applications, if any of the terms and conditions are not complied with.

Should there be any deviation in the traveller’s Controlled Itinerary, reported or otherwise, the Host shall inform the government agency Sponsor, or the Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

The sponsoring agency/company should resubmit the updated Controlled Itinerary on behalf of the traveller via the ‘Submission of Supporting Documents for Safe Travel Pass Application’ Form, at https://go.gov.sg/rglsuppdocs (currently suspended as of February 2021). This should be done even if the traveller is already in Singapore.

If the traveller is assessed to be a Covid-19 suspect case or confirmed to be Covid-19 positive, the Host shall inform the government agency Sponsor, or MTI at the earliest possible opportunity.

The company is be responsible for supervising the traveller’s compliance with these terms and conditions, including the use of the TraceTogether and SafeEntry app during the duration of their stay.

The company must ensure that the apps remain installed and data retained for at least 14 days after returning from Singapore. 
If the traveller does not have a TraceTogether-compatible device, the company shall be responsible for sourcing said device for the traveller.

In the event of repatriation during your business travel, the company and the traveller are liable for all costs incurred. 

You can access the terms and conditions of the Singapore-Malaysia RGL at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/malaysia/rgl/terms-and-conditions. Actions will be taken against the traveller and the host company in the event of non-compliance.


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