Singapore as a precautionary measure to reduce the risks of importation and spread, defer the launch of our Vaccinated Travel Lanes with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Deferment of Vaccinated Travel Lanes with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE
The previous announcement to launch Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 6 December 2021, with applications for the Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) for short-term visitors and long-term pass holders opening on 29 November 2021.
On 26 November 2021, the WHO classified a potentially more contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus, known as Omicron (B.1.1.529), as a variant of concern. Scientists around the world are presently working to determine the characteristics of the new Omicron variant, such as whether it is more transmissible than the Delta variant, and it is more likely to lead to severe illnesses. Singapore has not detected any cases of this variant to date.
As a precautionary move to reduce the risks of importation and spread of the Omicron variant to Singapore, Singapore deferred the commencement of the VTLs for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE until further notice. This is in view of their proximity as transport nodes to the affected countries of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
