Singapore, South Korea now quarantine-free for fully vaxxed visitors

A traveller, wearing a protective facemask amid fears about the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, walks past the Rain Vortex display at Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore on February 27, 2020. (Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)

MANILA Philippines — Singapore and South Korea are scrapping quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated visitors starting Friday, April 1.

The two countries’ tourism organizations issued separate announcements as early as March.

The Singapore Tourism Board said last March 24, that Singapore will reopen its borders to all fully vaccinated travelers without the need for quarantine beginning Friday.

Visitors planning to head to Singapore are required to present a proof of vaccination and purchase travel insurance with at least $30,000 Singapore dollars for COVID-19 related medical charges.

They are also required to present a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a professionally administered antigen test taken 48 hours before departure.

Travelers must also submit a Singapore Arrival Card and an e-health declaration via the official and free e-service on the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website three days before departure.

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), meanwhile, announced on March 23 that visitors to South Korea who have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be exempted from mandatory quarantine.

The KTO identified fully vaccinated individuals as those who have completed their inoculation with a World Health Organization-approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before traveling “but within 180 days,” or those who have received a booster shot.

Tourists must enter their vaccine status to a Q-CODE website prior to their arrival in South Korea and scan the provided QR code upon immigration.

Aside from vaccine records, the Q-CODE will require personal information, such as the visitor’s passport number, as well as entry information, which includes departure country, airline, address in Korea and phone number.

International travelers to South Korea will also need to present a negative result certificate of a PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to departure, according to the KTO.

The KTO also reminded travelers of documentary requirements for tourists.

“Eligible travelers can enter South Korea as a tourist for up to 90 days without a visa, but you must be in possession of a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA),” it said.

“You can complete your K-ETA application up to 24 hours before boarding your flight and it will be valid for two years from the date of approval,” it added.

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JPV