Singapore and Malaysia to launch land vaccinated travel lane

Travellers will be required to use designated VTL bus services in the first phase of reopening. Travellers must be citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders of the country they are entering, according to an announcement by Singapore’s prime minister’s office (PMO).

Mayumi Soh of Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore joint law venture between MPillay and Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “Many Malaysians and Singaporeans have been separated from their families on both sides of the causeway, and this has been a long-awaited chance for them to be reunited.”

There will be 32 land VTL designated bus services entering each country per day, with a maximum capacity of 45 passengers, for a maximum of 2,900 travellers per day. The designated bus services will be operated by two companies.

According to an earlier local report, the two countries ran a trial of the scheme at the Johor-Singapore causeway early this week. The causeway is a road and rail link between Singapore and Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

Singapore and Malaysia agreed to launch an air-based vaccinated travel lane (VTL) between Changi airport and Kuala Lumpur international airport on 29 November. Fully vaccinated travellers will be tested for Covid-19, but will not have to comply with quarantine or Stay-Home Notice requirements.

To date, Singapore has announced VTLs with 21 countries including two in North America, 10 in Europe, six in Asia Pacific and three in the Middle East.