A Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) commenced between Singapore and Indonesia as of the 12th of October, 2020. This was initiated to facilitate smooth business operations and travel operations between the two locations. On the 26th of October, applications for the Reciprocal Green Lane were opened. There are extremely stringent health measures that need to be adhered to by travelers in order to be eligible to make use of the RGL. These measures include taking up COVID-19 tests before, as well as after, arrival. This is in addition to the rule that requires travelers to keep a strict travel itinerary. Singapore has started various RGL’s with a large number of countries. Among these, the notable ones are Brunei, New Zealand, China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan.
The RGL is very important for these countries to be able to resume business activity in a bilateral manner. The strong business and economic ties only strengthen this that Indonesia has with Singapore.
What are the conditions travelers need to adhere to before entering Singapore?
In order to gain travel access through the RGL, travelers must be sponsored either by Singapore-based companies or by an agency belonging to the government. They will be responsible for filing what is known as a safe travel Pass on behalf of their travelers. This document is compulsory for all travelers entering Singapore. On approval of the SafeTravel Pass, the traveler’s sponsor will receive a notification via email. This would hold within it an approval letter. Both of these documents must be provided or shown to officials that are responsible for immigration by travelers on their arrival. Visa applications can be made on a requirement basis after travelers receive their SafeTravel Pass.
Are there any measures to be taken prior to a traveler’s departure to Singapore?
Before leaving for Singapore, all applicants must complete the pre-departure quarantine requirements. All travelers must have stayed inside Indonesia for a period of at least two weeks (14 days) before their departure. The COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) exam must be fulfilled before every traveler’s departure. This must be done at least three days (72 hours) before leaving for Singapore. In addition to all of these, applicants must fill in their respective SG Arrival Card, which holds details regarding their health as well as their travel history. Travelers must also provide proof of their air tickets in regards to their return as a mandatory task.
What do I need to know after arriving in Singapore?
On arriving in Singapore, all travelers would be required to produce their respective SafeTravel passes as well as visas wherever they are applicable. These would need to be shown along with other important travel documents. Additionally, travelers would need to undergo a COVID-19 test again, which will be self-payed. The Singapore officials and authorities have deemed it advisable for travelers to finish registration and pre-payment for their coronavirus test. Payments may, however, be made upon the travelers if that is seen as more convenient.
The sponsor is duty-bound to provide their traveler with all the accommodations for transport from the airport to their accommodation location. The accommodation must be in a non-residential area. The travelers will be required to remain at their self-declared locations until the results of the COVID-19 test are released.
Travelers that test negative for COVID-19 are allowed to proceed along their itineraries while also adhering to various health protocols. In case a traveler tests positive for COVID-19, they will mandatorily be required to undergo self-paid treatments.
All travels must download and subscribe to the TraceTogether application and the SafeEntry applications responsible for tracing via contact.
What are the conditions travelers need to adhere to before entering Indonesia?
Indonesia has made it compulsory for sponsors belonging to either a company based within Indonesia or a government agency to apply for a traveler’s visa on the online portal belonging to the Directorate General of Immigration. These visa applications are required to be submitted at least a week (7 days) before the traveler’s departure. This requires about 50 USD for a visitor’s visa and payment of around 13 USD for the visa application.
Are there any measures to be taken prior to a traveler’s departure to Indonesia?
The applicant is required to have stayed within Singapore for at least two weeks (14 days) before their departure to Indonesia. The COVID-19 PCR test is mandatory for all aspiring travelers and must be conducted at least three days before their departure. This must be conducted by a healthcare institution within Singapore that is registered.
The traveler’s respective sponsor is responsible for submitting an individual healthcare certificate, which states that the applicant is fit for the travel ahead of them. This must be submitted along with a consent letter that states that the traveler will cooperate with the requirement of mandatory quarantine or undergo medical treatment within Indonesia in the case of infection. These procedures are all part of the visa application.
Along with all of these requirements, there is an additional consent letter that needs to be provided stating that the traveler is willing to be observed as well as monitored under Indonesia’s laws during the quarantine period and agree to self-payment of all the costs. The sponsor is duty-bound to provide their applicant with a minimum sum of 10,000 USD to support all their travel expenses. The visa will finally be delivered to the applicant electronically.
The RGL entry points are located at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as well as the Batam Centre Ferry Terminal in Indonesia.
What do I need to know after arriving in Indonesia?
Upon their arrival, applicants must produce their negative COVID-19 results along with their travel health card as well as their effective e-visas. Another COVID-19 test will be conducted when travelers land in Indonesia. This would cost about 61 USD. Travelers will then be required to move to their accommodation to declare themselves until they receive their test results.
If the traveler tests negative for COVID-19, they will be given permission to proceed with their itinerary. In case the applicant tests negative, they would be required to take up the treatment mandatorily and pay for it out of their own pocket.