Your guide to COVID-19 vaccination and moving to Singapore

Have you been following news from the land “Down Under”? Tennis player Novak Djokovic has had his Australian visa canceled for circumventing the country’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for entry, and this row has sparked debate worldwide on whether such a requirement is fair or just. But that’s beside the point because more and more countries are coming up with similar requirements. In this Pacific Prime Singapore article, we’ll tell you about the latest COVID-19 vaccination rules for those applying for or renewing their work passes, long-term passes, and permanent residence in the city-state.

Note: This article is for reference purposes only and is subject to change without prior notice. Given the ever-changing nature of the situation, please check with your nearest Singapore embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.

COVID-19 vaccination for moving to Singapore

If you’re planning to move to or live in Singapore, chances are you’ll need to be vaccinated against COVID-19*. Starting February 1st, 2022, vaccination will be mandatory for the approval of all new work passes, long-term passes, and permanent residence. This includes those who are renewing their passes. Children below the age of 12 and those who are medically ineligible for vaccination are exempt, while children between the age of 12 and 17 can make a declaration to complete the full vaccination regimen after arriving in Singapore.

*An individual is considered to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they have received the full regimen of any vaccine of the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing Procedure (WHO EUL) list of vaccines at least two weeks previously.

The Ministry of Health’s (MOH’s) policy statement justifies the move:

“These measures will help sustain our high vaccination rates and facilitate the safe reopening of our society and economy.”

Verification of COVID-19 vaccination status

At the point of application, employers must declare that their work pass holders and any dependents (except those that are exempt from the vaccination requirement, as outlined in the previous section of this article) are fully vaccinated upon arrival in Singapore. Pass holders must also submit or present their vaccination certificates as part of the verification process using the applicable method below:

For those with digitally verifiable certificates, they must upload the certificate to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s Vaccination Check Portal system.
For those without digitally verifiable certificates, they must present their vaccination certificates to airlines or ferry operators, or at the checkpoint, before boarding.

Note: Those applying for long-term visit passes, student passes, and permanent residence will have their vaccination status verified when their passes are issued.

Updating vaccination records for those vaccinated overseas

Individuals vaccinated overseas must also update their vaccination records in the National Immunisation Registry (NIR). These individuals will have 30 days after arrival in Singapore to undergo and show a positive serology test* result taken at a Public Health Preparedness Clinic. In the event of a negative test result, they must complete the full vaccination regimen in Singapore or their passes may be revoked.

*A positive serology test indicates that the body has produced antibodies in response to vaccination.

Get in touch with Pacific Prime Singapore today!

While we’re on the topic of COVID-19 and vaccination, let’s talk about healthcare matters in Singapore. The city-state is home to some top-notch healthcare facilities, but its state-of-the-art care doesn’t come cheap. Like most things in Singapore, healthcare costs are rising year-on-year so it’s important to plan ahead. In addition to budgeting and managing your expenses, one ingenious way to save money on healthcare costs without compromising on the quality of care is to secure a comprehensive health insurance plan.

Whether you’re looking for individual health insurance, family health insurance, or any other health insurance plan, Pacific Prime Singapore is at your service. With 20+ years in the health insurance space, we’re the expat and newcomer’s go-to brokerage. Our highly-trained, impartial advisors take the time to understand your healthcare and lifestyle needs, and recommend suitable plans. From helping fill out forms and filing claims to hospital recommendation and more, you’ll also receive plenty of support and assistance throughout your insurance journey.

Suphanida aims to demystify the world of insurance by creating informative and engaging content. As a wordsmith, she spends the majority of her day writing and editing website content, blog posts, in-depth guides, and more.