Update: Singapore will reopen to fully vaccinated US travelers beginning Oct. 19
Editor's Note
U.S. travelers will soon be able to arrive or transit through iconic Changi Airport (SIN).
Beginning Oct. 19, 2021, fully vaccinated travelers from eight additional countries will be permitted to enter Singapore without the need to quarantine upon arrival. After a limited reopening to residents of Germany and Brunei last month, Singapore is expanding its "vaccinated travel lane" program to the following nations:
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- United States
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) made the announcement on Oct. 9, noting that only two COVID-19 cases were detected among the 1,926 people from Germany or Brunei that participated in the program thus far.
About 83% of the population in Singapore is fully vaccinated, one of the world's highest rates.
Just one day earlier, on Oct. 8, the CAAS said fully vaccinated South Korean residents would also be allowed into Singapore through the travel lane program beginning Nov. 15, 2021.
In total, 11 countries will be participating in the vaccinated travel program. Singapore authorities will initially admit up to 3,000 travelers to enter Singapore daily.
Travel requirements
Those traveling from the eight newly-announced countries will first need to apply online for a vaccinated travel pass, beginning on Oct. 12. To travel to Singapore, you must have remained within the countries under the vaccinated travel lanes for 14 consecutive days prior to departure.
Visitors will still be required to take two PCR tests (down from four previously). A first test is required within 48 hours of departure to Singapore and a second upon arriving at Changi Airport. Only once a negative test result is received will travelers be able to leave self-isolation.
All tourists must also use the TraceTogether app for contact tracing and have mandatory travel health insurance.
Getting to Singapore (or transiting)
Related: Singapore Airlines will resume popular JFK-FRA route on Nov. 2
Travelers bound for Singapore must still fly on designated vaccinated travel lane flights. These include services on Singapore Airlines between Singapore and the following cities: Amsterdam (AMS), Barcelona (BCN), Copenhagen (CPH), London (LHR), Los Angeles (LAX), Milan (MXP), New York (JFK), Paris (CDG), Seoul (ICN) and Rome (FCO).
Singapore Airlines said additional flights and frequencies will be announced in the coming days and weeks.
Additionally, travelers will now be allowed to transit through Singapore as long as COVID-19 requirements are met and they are on a designated vaccinated travel lane flight.
If you want to use your miles to get to Singapore, you have a choice of Star Alliance partners to book with including Singapore's own KrisFlyer program, United MileagePlus and Aeroplan. If you don't have miles, KrisFlyer is a partner of all five major transferable points currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One and Marriott Bonvoy.
Here are the round-trip rates for saver awards from the U.S. to Singapore:
- Economy: 76,000 miles (80,000 miles from the East Coast)
- Premium Economy: 130,000 miles (140,000 miles)
- Business: 176,000 miles (184,000 miles)
- First: 236,000 miles (240,000 miles)
Related: Singapore is reopening soon: Here's how to get there using points and miles
As the city-state seeks to rebuild its standing as an international aviation hub, that's good news for U.S. travelers looking to visit or even transit Singapore.
Singapore will not accept your CDC card
Be sure you know all the rules before applying to visit Singapore.
As first reported by the travel blog "Paddle Your Own Kanoo," Singapore, unlike almost any other country in the world, will not accept the standard proof-of-vaccination handed out to most vaccinated Americans. Singapore isn't accepting CDC cards as proof of vaccination.
Instead, you will need to come from a state that uses the Smart Health Card format. It's part of the CommonTrust Network that verifies and tracks health data for companies and countries. In New York state, for example, they use the Excelsior Pass, which incorporates Smart Health Card technology.
According to Paddle Your Own Kanoo, only the following states are using the technology so far:
- Arizona
- California
- Hawaii
- Lousiana
- Maryland
- Missisipi
- North Dakota
- New York
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
Related: Some states rolling out vaccine passports
Additional reporting by Clint Henderson.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month