IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government and the African Union have announced that they will mutually recognize each other’s COVID-19 vaccination certificates.

Key Points: 

  • Beginning May 23, fully vaccinated travelers from Singapore or countries in the African Union who have digital COVID-19 vaccination certificates will be able to enter each other’s countries without have to quarantine or test upon arrival.
  • Travelers from countries in the African Union must have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate that was issued by the Trusted Travel and Trusted Vaccines platforms and upload them through the Vaccination Check Portal or the Singapore Arrival Card.
  • Singaporean travelers must upload their COVID-19 vaccination certificates on the African Union’s Trusted Travel and Trusted Vaccines platforms.
  • More information regarding Singapore’s COVDID-19 entry requirements for travelers from other countries is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Singaporean government has announced that it will relax its border measures and testing requirements for all travelers.

Key Points: 

  • Beginning April 26, fully vaccinated travelers and those ages 12 and under who are arriving in Singapore through air or sea ports of entry will no longer be required to take COVID-19 tests before departure or upon arrival.
  • Beginning May 1, fully vaccinated non-Malaysian Work Permit Holders (WHPs) will no longer need to apply for entry approval to enter Singapore.
  • Travelers over the age of 12 who are not fully vaccinated and able to enter Singapore must still take a COVID-19 test within two days before departure, undergo a seven-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN), and take a PCR test on the last day of their SHN.
  • Entry permissions are not required for Singaporean nationals, permanent residents and Long-Term Pass (LTP) holders ages 13 to 17. LTP holders ages 18 and above and Short-Term Visitors (STV) ages 13 and above are not allowed to enter Singapore unless they meet an entry exemption listed here.

Additional Information: More information regarding the current and upcoming changes to Singapore’s entry and health requirements is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government has announced that it will ease its COVID-19 entry and health requirements on April 1.

Key Points: 

  • Beginning April 1, Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) will be replaced with the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF). Countries will be classified as either “General Travel” or in the “Restricted Category.” Under the VTF:
    • VTL flights and ferries will no longer be used.
    • Fully vaccinated individuals traveling from countries on the “General Travel” list will be able to take any flight or ferry to Singapore and will not have to quarantine, test or carry out a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) upon arrival.
    • Fully vaccinated travelers will not have to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) or Air Travel Pass (ATP) to enter the country.
    • Individuals traveling from countries on the “Restricted Category” list will be subject to on-arrival COVID-19 testing and must undergo a seven-day SHN.
  • Singaporean and Malaysian authorities have agreed to allow fully vaccinated individuals to travel across land borders between the countries without having to quarantine or take COVID-19 tests beginning April 1.

Additional Information: There are currently no countries on the “Restricted Category” list. More information regarding the updated entry and health requirements is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – HIGH

The Singaporean government has announced that it will introduce the new Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) for evaluating Employment Pass (EP) applications in September 2023.

Key Points: 

  • Under the COMPASS points system, EP applications will be scored based on four major categories:
    • Salary. Applicants will have to meet the new EP salary requirements. Salary points will be awarded relative to the standard salaries of local professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMET).
    • Qualifications. Applications will receive points based on the applicant’s qualifications, such as education and related work experience. More information regarding qualifications is available here.
    • Diversity. COMPASS awards more points to applications in which the applicant would make the company more diverse based on his or her nationality.
    • Support for local employment. Applications earn more points if the employing company has a higher share of Singaporean PMETs compared to other businesses in the same industry.
  • Applications must earn a minimum of 40 out of 80 points to pass the COMPASS evaluation; applicants who do not meet the 40-point requirement can earn extra points by exceeding standards in specific categories or by earning bonus points. Those who still do not meet the 40-point threshold will be ineligible for Employment Passes.
  • COMPASS evaluations will apply to new EP applications beginning Sept. 1, 2023, and renewal EP applications from Sept. 1, 2024.

Additional Information: The current Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising requirement will continue to apply. Firms with fewer than 25 PMET employees will automatically score 10 points on the Diversity and Support for Local Employment categories. Applicants will be exempt from COMPASS if they earn at least 20,000 Singaporean dollars per month, are filling a short-term role for less than one month or are applying as an overseas intra-corporate transferee. More information regarding COMPASS and how EP applications will be scored is available here.

BAL Analysis: The Singaporean government’s announcement of COMPASS is welcome news as it provides a clear and predictable framework for how EP applications will be assessed and how employers and employees can improve their EP applications.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government has announced that it will increase its monthly salary for employment pass holders in September.

Key Points: 

  • On Sept. 1, Singapore’s minimum salary per month for Employment Pass (EP) applicants will be increased from 4,500 Singaporean dollars to 5,000 SGD. For EP applicants in the finance sector, the new minimum monthly salary will be increased from 5,000 SGD to $5,500 SGD.
  • Singapore’s minimum salary for S pass applicants will increase from 2,500 SGD to 3,000 SGD. For S pass applicants in the financial sector, the new minimum monthly salary will be increased from 3,000 SGD to $3,500 SGD.
  • New applications submitted on or after Sept. 1, 2022, will be subject to the new salary threshold; employers must meet the new salary requirements for renewal applications by September 2023.

BAL Analysis: Businesses may see a slight increase in labor costs because of the new minimum wage. Employers should take the new wage minimums into account when planning their budgets.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

COVID-19: Border restrictions to be eased

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government has announced that it will ease its border restrictions on Feb. 22.

Key Points: 

  • Individuals who hold an Employment Pass, Dependent Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or S Pass will be able to enter Singapore with their Long-Term Passes and proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Previously,  they had to apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass or obtain entry approval under the Work Pass Holder Lane (WPHL).
    • Work Permit holders must still apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass or obtain approval under the WPHL to enter Singapore.
  • Travelers are required to carry out a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) for seven days instead of 14 days.
  • Individuals will be required to take supervised self-administered rapid tests at designated testing centers within 24 hours after arrival instead of a PCR test at the airport. Unsupervised self-administered rapid tests will no longer be required for those using the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) program.

Additional Information: On Feb. 25, Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will join the VTL program; authorities will add Israel and the Philippines to the program on March 4. More information regarding the VTL program is available here. More information on Singapore’s border restrictions is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government has provided updated information about the new COVID-19 vaccination requirement for work pass applicants.

Key Points: 

  • Beginning Feb. 1, employers who are submitting new or renewal applications for their employees must:
    • Declare that the pass holder or new applicant is fully vaccinated.
    • Remind pass holders to upload their digitally verifiable vaccination certificate to the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority’s (ICA) Vaccination Check Portal before arrival.
    • Remind pass holders without a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate to show their vaccination certificate to the airlines, or border crossing authority before departure.
  • Individuals who are certified as medically ineligible for vaccination and those who have recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days are exempt from the vaccination requirement.

Additional Information: Dependent pass holders who are younger than 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. However, new dependent pass holders between the age of 12 and 18 must declare that they will complete the vaccination process in Singapore if they are not vaccinated. For renewal cases, employers must ensure all existing pass holders and their dependents are fully vaccinated before submitting renewal applications. More information regarding the Feb. 1 vaccination requirement is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government has eased its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) testing requirements and its health policies for certain travelers.

Key Points: 

  • As of Jan. 24, travelers using VTLs:
    • Only need to take self-administered antigen tests if they leave their home between the second and seventh day after arrival. Previously, travelers were required to take antigen test daily from the second day of arrival until the seventh day.
    • Are not required to take an antigen test if they are not leaving their residence.
    • No longer need to take a confirmation PCR test if they receive a positive antigen test.
  • As of Jan. 24, travelers who are fully vaccinated and recovered from COVID-19 within 90 days of departure to Singapore are exempt from Stay-Home Notice (SHN) and testing requirements. To be exempt, travelers must provide proof of a:
    • Vaccination certificate.
    • Positive PCR test or professionally-administered antigen test taken between seven to 90 days before departure to Singapore.
    • Discharge memo issued by state authorities or a licensed medical professional that has the traveler’s name, one personal identifier corresponding to the traveler’s passport, the date of infection and the recovery date.

Additional Information: Travelers who are not fully vaccinated and recently recovered from COVID-19 are exempt from pre-departure testing requirements but must quarantine upon arrival. More Information on the VTL program is available here. More information regarding Singapore’s travel health control measures, including country-category lists, is available here.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Singaporean government has increased requirements for using Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs).

Key Points:

  • VTL travelers are now required to quarantine for seven days upon arrival and take a PCR test on day one and six of arrival and ART tests on the following six days.
    • Individuals must take tests for day three and seven at designated facilities; VTL travelers are not required to undergo quarantine.
  • As of Jan. 8, non-VTL travelers, such as Work Pass Holder Lane travelers, coming from category 2, 3 or 4 countries no longer need to take a PCR test upon arrival.
    • Travelers from category 1 counties who are not required to quarantine must still take a PCR test upon arrival.
  • Authorities have suspended air ticket sales for all VTL countries as well as bus ticket sales for those intending to use the Malaysian VTL. The suspension will remain in place until at least Jan. 20.
    • Beginning Jan. 21, authorities will reduce the quota for ticket sales by half.
    • Travelers who already hold a ticked for a VTL flight or bus can continue to use the VTL scheme.

Additional Information: More information regarding Singapore’s travel health control measures, including country-category lists is available here. Information on the VTL scheme is available here.

BAL Analysis: Due to the increase in Omicron variant cases, travel to Singapore may be more difficult in the coming days and weeks. Health control measures may change with little to no notice. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Singaporean government has announced that it will update its vaccination polices on Feb.1  to require those who hold a work pass, a long-term pass or permanent residence to be fully vaccinated.

Key Points: 

  • Beginning, Feb. 1, employers will be required to make a declaration that their work-pass holders and dependents are fully vaccinated upon arrival.
    • Pass holders will be required to verify their vaccination through the Vaccination Check Portal system or by presenting the certificate to airline authorities or checkpoint authorities before arrival.
  • Individuals applying or renewing permanent residence, long-term visit passes or student passes will be required to prove that they are fully vaccinated to be approved.
    • Vaccination records must be updated in the National Immunization Registry (NIR) if the individual was vaccinated overseas.
    • Individuals who are not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated but receive a negative serology test must complete a full series of vaccination in Singapore to be granted permanent residence or long-term passes.

Additional Information: Individuals ages 12 and younger and those who are medically ineligible for vaccination are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Individuals between the age of 12 and 18 are not required to be fully vaccinated upon arrival but must declare that they will complete the vaccination process in Singapore.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2022 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.