Repatriate to Singapore – All You Need to Know When Moving Back Home During COVID-19
Has COVID-19 caused you to repatriate to Singapore? Here’s everything you need to know about taking that return flight back to our sunny shores in the midst of this pandemic.
You will get to know:
- Singapore’s Entry Requirements
- Arrival in Singapore
- Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) and its exceptions
- The logistics of moving home and what to take note of
Singapore’s Entry Requirements
The country’s borders remain open to all Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs). As a Singapore resident, you do not need to obtain any approvals to repatriate to Singapore.
However, you must submit a health declaration within 3 days prior to your date of arrival. The health declaration can be submitted via the SG Arrival Card (SGAC) e-Service.
For SG Pass Holders (including In-Principle Approval Holders)
- All Long-Term Visit Pass and Dependent’s Pass holders must obtain the ICA’s (International Checkpoints Authority) approval by submitting an application for entry before entering Singapore
- All Student Pass holders must obtain permission from the Ministry of Education by submitting an application to the respective educational institutions.
- All Work Pass holders, including dependents and those with in-principle approvals (IPAs), must seek approval from the Ministry of Manpower.
Once permission is granted, you will get an approval letter of entry. You must present this letter to airline staff upon check-in at the departure airport. Upon arrival in Singapore, you must present the letter to the ICA officer.
*Important note to all returning residents: if you travelled out of Singapore before 27 March 2020, the Singapore government will subsidise all screening tests and Stay-Home Notices (SHNs) expenses. However, if you departed Singapore after 27 March 2020, you will have to bear all the expenses incurred.
Arrival In Singapore
If you’re arriving from the Philippines, Indonesia and India, you will have to present a valid negative COVID-19 test result before entering Singapore. Otherwise, you must take a COVID-19 Swab Test, at your own expense, upon arrival, or during your SHN.
You will have to serve SHN when you return to Singapore. You can find SHN information concerning different countries in this table. Do refer to the SafeTravel website for more information on the fast lane, and reciprocal green lane schemes.
| Travel history in the past 21 days | SC/PR Familial Ties Lane (with valid approval letter for entry) | Student’s Pass Holder Lane (with valid approval letter for entry) |
|---|---|---|
| - Australia (excluding Victoria state) - Brunei Darussalam - Mainland China (excluding Guangdong province) - New Zealand | Short-term visitors coming from these countries/regions should consider applying for the Air Travel Pass instead. If approved to enter under the SC/PR Familial Ties Lane, the following health measures apply: • No pre-departure test required • COVID-19 PCR test on arrival*, with self-isolation at self-sourced accommodation or own place of residence, until test results are released to traveller | • No pre-departure test required • COVID-19 PCR test on arrival*, with self-isolation at self-sourced accommodation or own place of residence, until test results are released to traveller |
| - Australia (Victoria state) - Hong Kong Note: ATB launch deferred – new launch dates of ATB flights to be reviewed in Jun 2021. - Macao - Mainland China (Guangdong province) | • No pre-departure test required • COVID-19 PCR test on arrival* • 7-day SHN at self-sourced accommodation, including place of residence, and COVID-19 PCR test at the end of SHN period |
|
| - Fiji - Taiwan | • COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departure for Singapore and obtain a valid negative test result • COVID-19 PCR test on arrival* • 14-day SHN at SHN Dedicated Facility (SDF), and an additional 7-day at place of residence, with COVID-19 PCR tests on Day 14 of SHN, and another test at the end of their 21-day SHN period Note: For the additional 7-day SHN stay at a place of residence, the following criteria must be met: • The traveller has not travelled to other country/region other than the above specified list in the last consecutive 21 days prior to departure for Singapore. • The traveller must remain in the place of residence at all times during the SHN period. • If sharing a place of residence with others, the traveller should stay in the room at all times, and use a dedicated toilet. The traveller should also avoid contact with other persons residing in the same place of residence who are not serving SHN. If the place of residence does not meet the criteria above to safely serve SHN, travellers can choose to serve their 7- day SHN at a self-sourced accommodation (e.g. non-SDF hotels). |
|
| - Bangladesh - India - Nepal - Pakistan - Sri Lanka | Entry not allowed. All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history (including transit) to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka within the last 21 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore. This will also apply to all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore. |
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| All other countries/regions | • COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departure for Singapore and obtain a valid negative test result • COVID-19 PCR test on arrival* 21-day SHN at SHN Dedicated Facility (SDF), with COVID-19 PCR tests on Day 14 of SHN, and another test at the end of their 21-day SHN period |
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For smoother clearance at the customs, please present the following documents to the immigration officer:
- Passport/Travel Document that is valid for at least six months
- SG Arrival Card acknowledgement email
- Approval Letter of Entry from the relevant authority (if applicable)
- SafeTravel Pass / Periodic Commuting Arrangement Pass / Air Travel Pass (if applicable)
- Long-Term Visit Pass (In-Principle Approval) letter (if applicable)
- Valid Singapore visa (if applicable)
Stay-Home-Notice (SHN)
This refers to quarantining in an assigned place. You can’t leave your room. However, you will have food and other necessities delivered to your doorstep.
As of 1 September 2020, SHN applies to all Singaporean Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass holders who travel to Singapore during Covid-19.
You will be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 – Stay Orders) Regulations 2020, if you breach your SHN. First-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months or both.
SHN Exceptions
There are, however, exceptions to Stay-Home-Notices if you repatriate to Singapore from the following countries (As of 1 September 2020).
- Those arriving from Brunei and New Zealand will not have to serve SHN but will have to undergo a Covid-19 test upon arrival.
- Those from Australia (except Victoria), Macau, Mainland China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia who stayed in these countries in the last 14 days prior to entry to SG have to serve a 7-day SHN in their own homes. (As of 1 Sep 2020).
Moving Home
Now that you are aware of Singapore’s entry requirements, it is time to kickstart the logistical process of moving home.
It is important to find a reliable and suitable mover to transport your belongings back to Singapore. After all, you won’t want to have any of your precious items get damaged along the way. Fortunately, Moovaz is an expert in helping individuals and families relocate across the globe, having served more than 10,000 customers worldwide. Our packers and movers are well-trained and our international relocation services can be tailored to suit your specific moving needs.
Here are some key pointers that you must note prior to your repatriate to Singapore.
- Liaise with your mover to book your packing day in advance. Due to COVID-19 regulations and health measurements, there might be slight delays in the relocation process.
- Check with your apartment or condominium estate management back in Singapore if there are activity restrictions as a result of the pandemic. This will help avoid delays or additional charges for unpacking and unloading.
- Factor in transit time and expect potential post-custom delays, as different organisations and countries have their own regulations during this period
- Expect delayed responses from various parties or vendors during your relocation as operations may be affected by COVID-19 regulations
- Prepare clearance documents in advance. This is because Singapore requires clearance documents for goods and personnel entering the country during the pandemic.
Relocation is definitely not a simple task, so it is highly recommended that you browse this relocation journey page before getting a price estimate, in order to fully understand the process.
Conclusion
Now that you have all the information needed to repatriate to Singapore, you can start preparing for your return here!
Want to get the latest global mobility news concerning the pandemic? Check out our COVID-19 Global Mobility updates.
(Note: Information has been compiled from the following official websites: International Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Ministry of Health (MOH) and The Finder.)
