SINGAPORE: All fully vaccinated short-term visitors entering Singapore under its General Travel Category countries or regions via air, land and sea borders will no longer be required to purchase compulsory travel insurance, effective April 1, 2022.

However, travellers are still encouraged to purchase travel insurance to safeguard against any unforeseen circumstances while travelling, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in a statement issued in response to media queries today.

These may include medical emergencies and hospitalisation costs, as well as travel-related disruptions, it added.

For more details, CAAS said visitors may refer to https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/general-travel/fully-vaccinated.

Travellers who need assistance can write to the Safe Travel Office through its enquiry form at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/contact-us or call the SafeTravel Enquiries helpline at +65 6812 5555.

According to CAAS, travellers are considered fully vaccinated only if they meet two conditions at least two weeks before arriving in Singapore, namely, receiving the full regimen of World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing (EUL) COVID-19 vaccines; and meeting the minimum dose interval period.

They may refer to https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/health/vtsg for more information.

Singapore had earlier introduced the travel insurance requirement to help short-term visitors pay for the costs of their medical treatment in Singapore, should they be suspected of being infected with COVID-19 or require medical treatment for COVID-19 while in Singapore.

Visitors were required to have a minimum coverage of S$30,000, and could purchase the travel insurance from Singapore-based or overseas insurers.

Singapore will reopen its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers from its General Travel Category countries or regions and will transition to a new Vaccinated Travel Framework from April 1, 2022.

-- BERNAMA