Post-Arrival Day 3 and Day 7 Antigen Test (ART) for JB-Singapore VTL Bus Passengers

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There are no more Post-Arrival Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 Antigen Tests (ARTs) in Singapore for all passengers arriving in Singapore.

✅ No Post-Arrival Day 3 and Day 7 COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (ART) in Singapore for VTL (Land)

Vaccinated Travel Lane (Air) [VTL (Air)] travellers entering Singapore from Thursday, 2 December 2021, 11.59pm will face additional measures in view of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant. VTL (Air) travellers entering Singapore from Thursday, 2 December 2021, 11.59pm are required to undergo post-arrival Day 3 and Day 7 COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) at Quick Test Centres (QTCs) by 9.30pm on Day 3 and Day 7.

However, there are no changes to Malaysia-Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (Land) [VTL (Land)] arrangements.

✅ No post-arrival Day 3 and Day 7 COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) in Singapore have been announced for VTL Bus passengers.

✅ The SafeTravel VTL (Land) page also makes no mention of the post-arrival Day 3 and Day 7 ARTs. 

This new testing rule only affects VTL (Air) travellers coming in to Singapore by plane.

Post-Arrival Day 3 and Day 7 Antigen Test (ART) for VTL (Air) and VTL (Land) [NEW]

For Singaporeans visiting Malaysia with the VTL (Air), like me, this means 2 additional supervised Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) upon return to Singapore by 9.30pm on Days 3 and 7 post-arrival, [NEW] and 4 additional self-administered Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) on Days 2, 4, 5, and 6 post-arrival. CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED DETAILS.

This is similar to the initial VTL arrangement with Brunei and Germany, except that the Day 3 and 7 tests were the more invasive PCR tests instead.

The new post-arrival Day 3 and Day 7 COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) for VTL (Air) passengers is not expensive, costing just S$15 (inclusive of GST), with appointments to be made here. Payment is to be made at the Quick Test Centres (QTCs) or Combined Test Centres (CTC) directly through cashless modes such as Mastercard, NETS, PayNow, and Visa. Cash payments will not be accepted.

The test will be self-administered by you, and supervised by an approved COVID-19 test provider. Children aged 3 to 12 must be accompanied by a caregiver, aged 21 years old and above. The caregiver may be required to help administer the test if the child is unable to do so.

However, there is the additional time needed to go down to a Quick Test Centre (QTC) or Combined Test Centre (CTC) to have the ART done.

Travellers leaving Singapore any time between Day 2 and 7 (both dates inclusive) of their arrival are exempted from taking the self-administered ART or supervised ART on their day of departure. The traveller’s time of departure from Singapore is defined as the scheduled time of departure of their flight or ferry, or the time they clear departure immigration if they depart by land.

Coming from Malaysia? Land alternative from Malaysia to skip these new measures:

There is no more land alternative to avoid additional tests. All VTL travellers entering Singapore on both air and land vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) will be put on a daily COVID-19 testing regime over 7 days using antigen rapid tests (ARTs) from 11.59pm on 6 December 2021. CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED DETAILS.

The VTL (Land) to Singapore is open to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and holders of a Singapore-issued Long-Term Pass.

For VTL (Air) passengers from Malaysia, like me, considering that there will be an on-arrival PCR test to be done at Changi Airport for S$125, and now with 2 additional ARTs to be done at S$15 each, this now brings up the post-arrival Singapore COVID-19 tests costs to S$155.

However, if time and/or cost is of an essence to you, then perhaps sacrificing the flight ticket from KLIA to Changi Airport, and returning instead via JB by the VTL (Land) bus might be a better option. Sure, you may burn the already-paid-for air ticket on the way back to Singapore, and add travel time from KL to JB, but your total post-arrival Singapore COVID-19 test now costs only S$15, with only 1 post-arrival test needed to be done. Your breakeven point is if your one-way KL-Singapore airfare costs S$140.

Personally, I’m currently sticking to my plan of flying back despite the higher post-arrival Singapore COVID-19 tests costs, since I’ve already booked my ticket and I haven’t flew in 1.5 years. Also, I reckon it would be easier to lug my 1.5 years worth of shopping by plane and compulsory Grab, rather than in public buses.

However, I may just decide to heed my own analysis here if the self-administered ART changes to a full-fledged PCR test instead.

Do note that what I’m really paying for is the experience of flying and eating Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak. A S$155 Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak.

If you’re not into travelling as a hobby, but travelling as a process or necessity, I might recommend you to change your return route to Singapore by the VTL (Land) bus.

🚌 VTL Buses To Enter Singapore 🇲🇾➡️🇸🇬

NEW: Additional Post-Arrival Day 3 and Day 7 RTK/ART Test in MALAYSIA for All Singapore-Malaysia VTL Passengers