SINGAPORE — Singapore and Japan have launched a residence track for essential travel between the two countries by businesspeople who are work-pass holders, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Friday (Sept 25).

The scheme will enable the movement of “business executives and business professionals who are work-pass holders”, with the necessary public health safeguards in place, MFA said in a press statement. 

For example, Japanese nationals who are Singapore work-pass holders, or those who have been granted in-principle approval for a work pass but have yet to set foot in the country, are eligible to enter Singapore under the residence track.

Those interested in the scheme may file their applications from next Wednesday (Sept 30).

Singapore and Japan have been in talks on the residence track since July.

It comes on top of an existing business track, or reciprocal green (or fast) lane, between the two countries that started on Sept 18, paving the way for short-term essential business and official travel between Singapore and Japan.

More information on the residence track — including the eligibility criteria, health protocols and application process — will be available before Sept 30 on the website of Japan's MFA for entry into Japan, and on Singapore’s MFA website for access into Singapore.