Indonesia-Singapore Green Lane: Are You Approved For Travel?

Kiran Sidhu
Kiran Sidhu
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Since the start of the global pandemic, Singapore has been working with a number of key countries to establish Safe Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGL). On 12 October 2020, the route between Indonesia and Singapore became a RGL / Travel Corridor Arrangement making it far easier for essential business travellers. This is welcome news on the business front since Indonesia and Singapore are major economic partners. Indonesia’s large population presents Singapore with a sizable workforce and consumer market for business opportunities. 

Update (23 November 2021): Singapore has since announced a vaccinated travel lane with Indonesia for quarantine-free travel. Read this article for all you need to know: Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane is quarantine-free and easy

Indonesia to Singapore
Indonesia-Singapore past 7-day Covid-19 statistics reported on Covid Entry Check, 8 April 2021

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. As both countries focus efforts on vaccination, the route will be reopening soon with a number of entry requirements and strict health regulations in place.

Singapore Indonesia vaccinations
Vaccination data in Singapore and Indonesia as at 6 April 2021

Taking into consideration the tricky travel conditions of the near future, Singapore’s new Connect@Changi facility is a promising initiative to help business travellers have face-to-face meetings without the need to quarantine. Connect@Changi is the first facility of its kind in the world and the first phase of the development opened in February 2021 (More details in this article). In Indonesia, the only RGL entry point will be Soekorno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta). 

Are you planning to travel to Singapore from Indonesia (or vice versa)? Here is all you need to know.

Are travellers from Indonesia allowed to enter Singapore?

The Reciprocal Green Lane between Indonesia and Singapore is currently suspended. However, Singaporean citizens and PRs in Indonesia can enter Singapore via the returning PR/SC lane.

Under the RGL, travellers must be sponsored for the journey either by a Government Agency or company and will need to obtain a Safe Travel Pass -RGL. They must also fulfil the following requirements:

● Hold a valid passport

● Be seeking single entry, short term essential travel (i.e. under two weeks)

● Be travelling for business or official purposes between the two countries

You will need to apply for RGL entry into Singapore. Be sure to make your travel reservations before the RGL Application as your sponsor will be required to provide your travel details including flight numbers.

Applications for RGL entry must be submitted by your sponsor at least 14 days prior to your planned date of entry and can be submitted up to 5 weeks prior. The applications take 7 days to be processed and can be submitted electronically. Once approval is granted, you and your sponsor will receive a letter.

You can stay up to 14 days in Singapore, but when the RGL application is made, you will be requested to submit a detailed daily itinerary for your time in Singapore. Please note that RGL applications made less than eight days prior to travel will be refused.

What are the mandatory steps to take before entering Singapore from Indonesia?

First, you need to have travel insurance with a minimum coverage of $30,000 for Covid-19 related medical and hospital treatment. Don’t forget to bring a copy of your travel insurance when entering Singapore.

As an Approved Reciprocal Green Lane traveller to Singapore, you will be required to take a COVID-19 PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test 72 hours prior to your departure. The negative test result must be on official paper in English and must clearly state the date and time that the test was taken. Travellers are required to submit their pre-trip health and travel history declarations online using the SG Arrival e-Card service

Singapore arrival card
Health declaration via SG Arrival Card

At Soekarno-Hatta airport in Indonesia,  you will be required to produce a valid letter stating that you have a Safe Travel Pass. You will also be asked to produce your certificate for your Negative COVID-19 PCR test (the test must have been completed within the previous 72 hours).

You can take the COVID-19 PCR test at one of the following authorised centres:-

• RS Pertamina Jaya Jakarta

• RS Pertamina Pusat Jakarta

• RS Medistra 

• Laboratorium Prodia 

• Mitra Keluarga Hospitals 

• Mayapada Hospitals 

• SIloam Hospitals 

• RSUP Sanglah Denpasar 

Prior to your departure to Singapore from Indonesia, you will also be required to register and pre-pay for a COVID-19 PCR test to be completed at Changi International Airport.The result of this test will be known within 48 hours. The cost of the test is S$160 (with GST) per person. You will need to register and pre-pay here before leaving Indonesia.

Travellers need to have pre-booked two days isolation accommodation at an approved hotel, following their COVID-19 PCR test at Changi Airport. A list of approved hotels can be found here.

Singapore tracetogether
Download the TraceTogether application

You must download and register your profile on the TraceTogether app on a mobile device that is compatible. For those who do not own or prefer not to use a mobile phone, you may collect a physical TraceTogether token.

When arriving at Changi Airport from Indonesia

The first entry requirement upon arrival at Changi Airport is to take a COVID-19 PCR test. After that, you are required to head straight to your self-isolated accommodation to await your test results within 48 hours. During this short commute (between the airport to your hotel), it is advised to hire a pre-arranged, private transportation to take you to your hotel. You are not allowed to take any public transport for this commute.

While waiting for your Covid-19 test results, you are allowed to share the same room with your family members, travel companions or a caretaker, provided they share similar travel history to you in the past 14 days prior to your departure for Singapore. Meaning they are people who have travelled with you and are in your travel circle. You’re not allowed to have outside visitors during your isolation period. 

However, if your test result is confirmed to be positive, all persons who had shared the same room with you, as well as those identified to be a close contact with you, will be issued a Quarantine Order by the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH). You are also individually responsible for your medical treatment and expenses in Singapore too.

Once you have been cleared of the Covid-19 test results, you can leave your declared accommodation and go about your activities in Singapore.

While staying in Singapore

Wearing a mask at all times is mandatory and can only be removed when eating or drinking. You must upload all your information on the TraceTogether app and check in and out of each location using the locations SafeEntry QR codes. The bluetooth mode on your mobile must be on at all times to enable TraceTogether’s functions. These apps must remain installed and data retained for at least 14 days after returning from Singapore. 

During your stay in Singapore, you must adhere to your submitted itinerary at all times. For travelling, you can use a private hire car or the same designated vehicle that transported you from the airport. You are not allowed to use public transport at any time. Should you require an extension of this visit pass, submit your application to at least 7 days prior to the expiry of the visit pass to avoid overstaying. Each application will be reviewed and there is no guarantee that an extension will be granted.

Extension of stay
Application for extension of stay

Singapore has successfully minimised the impact of COVID-19 and still has strict regulations in place. Any breach of quarantine or other COVID-19 regulations carry steep penalties including a six month jail sentence, a S$10,000 fine – or both. 

When travelling back to Indonesia

Before your trip back to Indonesia, you are required to take another COVID-19 PCR test at a certified clinic or SHN facility. It is also a requirement of the Singapore Government that all RGL travellers who have visited Singapore must retain the Trace Together app on their mobile for 14 days after leaving the country. If you test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of leaving Singapore, you must contact your Singaporean host so that they can provide your Trace Together data to the Singapore Ministry of Health.

Singapore to Indonesia
Singapore-Indonesia past 7-day Covid-19 statistics reported on Covid Entry Check, 8 April 2021

When travelling back to Indonesia, ensure that you have all your important documents to hand as they will be required. These are:

● Passport

● Health declaration to have been completed online

● Negative COVID-19 PCR test performed at an authorised clinic in Singapore that is listed on the Safe Travel website. 

All arrivals in Indonesia must produce a negative COVID-19 test result on their arrival and undergo a second test at the airport. The cost for this test is 900,000 rupiah (about US$61). Travellers must then go straight home and remain in isolation until the test result is known – which is usually within 48 hours.

Can Singaporean residents enter Indonesia? 

Yes, only Singaporean travellers who already have existing Reciprocal Green Lane approvals may continue to utilise the RGL to enter Singapore. New applications under the Singapore-Indonesia RGL are currently suspended until further notice.

Indonesia infographic
The RGL/TCA arrangement from Singapore to Indonesia

Before making the journey to Indonesia, your sponsor must apply for an online visa on your behalf. You must also test negative on a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of your departure to Indonesia. Once the e-Visa is approved, you are required to submit the following details through an electronic health card (e-HAC) application:

  • Your travel history
  • Your itinerary while in Indonesia
  • Negative COVID-19 PCR test results 
  • Return flight or ferry ticket 

Upon arrival in Indonesia, you will be subject to body temperature checks, validation of your pre-departure PCR-test results and take an on-arrival PCR test. Travellers are required to undergo a 5-day self-funded quarantine at accommodation that is certified by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health.

After completion of quarantine, you will be required to take another COVID-19 PCR test. If you test negative, you can proceed with your travel itinerary. However, travellers that test positive, will be treated at a designated hospital at their own expense. 

When travelling back to Singapore, there is no need to have a COVID-19 PCR test before you travel as there is an obligatory 14 day quarantine prior to your travel date.

Travelling in 2021

Travel throughout 2021 is going to be challenging because countries will be continually assessing the situation and adjusting their travel restrictions. To ensure your travel plans go as smoothly as possible, it is essential that you continually check the travel requirements for the country you are visiting.


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