Skip to main content

New! You can personalise your feed. Try it now

Advertisement

Advertisement

Singapore-Malaysia land border to reopen on April 1; no quarantine or testing for fully vaccinated travellers

SINGAPORE — From April 1, fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to make trips across the land border between Singapore and Malaysia without the need to undergo quarantining or testing, including pre-departure and on-arrival tests. 

A view of the Causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia.

A view of the Causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — From April 1, fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to make trips across the land border between Singapore and Malaysia without the need to undergo quarantining or testing, including pre-departure and on-arrival tests. 

The leaders of both countries announced the change on Thursday (March 24) and this will apply to all categories of travellers and modes of transport via the land border.

In a joint press statement, the two countries' prime ministers stated that they "recognise the good progress that both countries have made in vaccinating their respective populations and managing the Covid-19 pandemic, and note the progress made in resuming cross-border travel through the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (Air) and (Land)". 

A Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) press release on Thursday stated that fully vaccinated travellers crossing the border will not need to apply for entry approvals such as the vaccinated travel pass. 

Travellers must also have valid travel documents, such as their Vehicle Entry Permits, before arrival at the checkpoints. They may also use the vaccination check portal on the SafeTravel website to submit their digital vaccination certificates before their trip. 

All travellers including citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders must complete their SG Arrival Card three days before arrival and motorists must ensure that their vehicles comply with emissions requirements in Singapore. 

MTI also urged the public "not to rush to travel if they have no urgent need to do so" because there might be a surge in commuters and potential traffic congestion at the checkpoints following the eased measures. 

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob spoke on the phone on Thursday before agreeing to announce the relaxing of border controls. 

Their joint statement read: "As Singapore and Malaysia (transit) to living with Covid-19, both prime ministers have agreed that it is timely to further reopen the land border."

PM Lee added: "Today’s announcement is a significant milestone in our transition towards living with Covid-19.

"It reflects the strong collaboration both sides have enjoyed throughout the pandemic and will help both countries emerge stronger from this crisis.”

Mr Ismail said that the announcement reflects the two countries' "long-standing relations and multifaceted cooperation as well as strong people-to-people ties". 

The news came after the health ministers of Singapore and Malaysia agreed to work on resuming travel completely since the pandemic situation has stabilised in both countries. 

Malaysia is reopening its borders to fully vaccinated travellers after two years of restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus, marking its shift towards the endemic phase of the outbreak. 

Singapore plans to further open borders to fully vaccinated travellers and aims to restore passenger volume this year to at least 50 per cent of the level before the pandemic, Transport Minister S Iswaran said on March 9. 

Singapore and Malaysia allowed cross-border visits last November by air and land, but on a limited quota basis. 

Related topics

travel quarantine Causeway Malaysia vaccination vaccinated travel lane

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.