When travelling during the pandemic, one of the most tedious tasks would be to find a place to take the pre-departure test. After all, airport test centres were expensive and finding downtown options could be problematic if their ART test rules differ from Singapore.
In particular, it could be challenging if you don’t speak the native tongue or if they do not accept walk-ins or online bookings. However, this procedure is inevitable if we want to stay safe, just like how you need to keep your mask on.
To make it more convenient, remote and virtual ART tests are now valid to travel to Singapore, as this rule relating to pre-departure tests has been established:
“Self-administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) remotely supervised by an approved ART provider in Singapore.”
This means that instead of hunting high and low for a suitable place to take the pre-departure test, you could now do it in the presence of a virtual doctor in Singapore.
What is Singapore’s pre-departure requirement?
To recap, those travelling to Singapore must submit a negative test result from a COVID-19 PCR or ART test that is taken within two days before their flight to Singapore.
For example, if your flight to Singapore is at 10 pm on 16 March 2022, you should take your test starting from midnight on 14 March 2022.
A side note is that this pre-departure test is fulfilled as long as you take the PCR or ART two days before departure. Let’s say a traveller has taken a pre-departure ART in Singapore on 5 April and enters Malaysia on the same day. Should he wish to return to Singapore through the VTL between 5th and 7th April 2022.
All travellers travelling to or transiting through Singapore must undergo a Pre-Departure Test (PDT) within 2 days prior to the departure. Additionally, the results obtained must be negative.
In this case, he can use the pre-departure test that he had taken before he left for Malaysia. The tests should be professionally administered, although, with tele-art, remotely-supervised self-swabs would suffice.
This requirement applies to both VTL and non-VTL passengers, and only those below the age of 2 are exempted from the condition.
From 1 April 2022, all completely vaccinated travellers and partially or non-vaccinated children aged 12 and below are allowed to step into Singapore. This means they do not need to apply for a vaccinated travel pass (VTP) or air travel pass (ATP) to enter Singapore.
While a pre-departure test before coming to Singapore is still required, they will not need to serve a Stay Home Notice or go through an unsupervised Antigen Rapid Test (ART) upon arrival in Singapore.
This tele-ART service is accessible to travellers who meet the following criteria:
- Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, Long-Term Pass or Work Pass Holders
- Physically present in the country
- Using a certified ART provider in Singapore
Because fully-vaccinated individuals who had a recent recovery from COVID-19 has a strong immunity, thanks to the combination of infection and vaccination, the chances of being infected again is slim.
That is why who just recovered from COVID-19 are also exempted from taking the pre-departure tests. However, in this scenario, two conditions will need to be met:
1) They have to be completely vaccinated
2) They will have to submit a positive result for the PCR or an ART test that has been administered professionally, taken within 7 to 90 days before departing to Singapore. Alternatively, a medical discharge report that states the date of the infection that is within 7 to 90 days before departure to Singapore will suffice.
Tele-ARTs are now accepted for departure to Singapore
Now that Tele-ARTs are accepted as part of travelling to Singapore, all travellers, except for short-term visitors that are travelling to Singapore, from any country can make use of the tele-ART method to satisfy the requirement of a pre-departure COVID-19 test.
Inversely, the following VTL countries do accept ARTs and pre-departure tests:
- Australia
- Fiji
- Malaysia (VTL-Land only)
- Philippines
- Netherlands
- United States
MyCLNQ Health is offering Tele-ART to those who are travelling to Singapore
Because of Tele-ART’s high relevance to the pandemic and being one of Singapore’s best telemedicine and telehealth providers, MyCLNQ Health has added Tele-ART services to the MyCLNQ app.
MyCLNQ Health offers tele-art tests in Singapore, which are available daily, at 24/7. Hence, you do not need to worry about the time zone. The service includes video supervision and an ART test result certificate.
Our Tele-ART service costs $12, including GST, and you are required to procure your own Singapore HSA-certified ART kits during the video call. If you intend to use Tele-ART for a pre-departure test, you should prepare your passport and itinerary before starting the video call.
An important thing to note is that to book an appointment, you are required to use your MyCLNQ profile, and you should not book appointments for multiple people.
For more convenience on your pre-departure test, download the MyCLNQ app and make a supervised ART test booking in Singapore today.