Singapore_CAAS Circular

CAAS Circular 2021/41
10 July 2021
GUIDANCE ON PRE-FLIGHT MEASURES –
PRE-DEPARTURE COVID-19 POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) TEST REQUIREMENT FOR PASSENGERS ON FLIGHTS TO SINGAPORE
This Circular provides guidance to air operators on the conduct of pre-flight measures as required in paragraphs 5(ba) and 5(baa) of CAAS Directives 9/2020 (as amended by Amendment No. 9) and 10/2020 (as amended by Amendment No. 7), or “Directives”, which takes effect on 12 July 2021, 2359 hours (Singapore time).
2 Currently, all travellers (including Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents) entering or transiting/transferring through Singapore who had been in any country, except the countries stated in paragraph 4(b), in the last 21 days1 prior to departure for Singapore, are required to take a COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (“PCR”) test within 72 hours of their flight to Singapore. Please refer to paragraph 7 on how the 72-hour period is determined.
3 The Ministry of Health has specified that, with effect from 12 July 2021, 2359 hours (Singapore time), all travellers entering Singapore with recent travel history to Indonesia within the last 21 days1 prior to departure for Singapore, will instead be required to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 48 hours of their flight to Singapore. Please refer to the Ministry of Health’s press release dated 10 July 2021 in Annex A. Please refer to paragraph 7 on how the 48-hour period is determined.
4 The requirements in paragraphs 2 and 3 do not apply to:
(a) children below 3 years of age2;
(b) travellers who have only had travel history to Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong, Macao, Mainland China, New Zealand and/or Singapore, within the last 21 days1 prior to departure for Singapore;
(c) travellers who have been issued with a letter by a relevant Singapore government agency exempting them from the requirement to take a PCR test.
1 To illustrate, if the scheduled day of departure of the flight is D (e.g. 31 July 2021), the last 21 consecutive days refer to D-21 to D (i.e. 10 to 31 July 2021).
2 To illustrate, the age is calculated based on calendar year. If a passenger is entering Singapore in year of 2021, those born in or after 2019, are not required to take COVID-19 PCR test prior to departure for Singapore.
5 Air operators must require such travelers to provide proof that they have taken the PCR test and that the proof meets the requirements of paragraph 5AA of the relevant Directive. Air operators must not allow the traveller to board their flight to Singapore if that traveller fails to produce the proof that he or she has taken the PCR test or if the result of that PCR test is positive.
6 Pursuant to paragraph 5AB of the Directives, the Director-General of Civil Aviation has specified that a passenger who has been issued with a letter by a relevant Singapore government agency3 exempting him or her from the requirement to take a PCR test is not a “relevant passenger” for the purpose of paragraph 5AB. Paragraph 5(d) of the relevant Directive will not apply to that passenger. This means that airlines may allow such a passenger to board without presenting a pre-departure PCR test result.
7 Please see below for details on how the 48-hour or 72-hour period is to be determined:
(a) For passengers on non-stop flights to Singapore, the period of 48 or 72 hours will commence from the scheduled departure day of the flight to Singapore. For example, in the case of 72 hours, if the flight is scheduled to depart on 15 July 2021, the COVID-19 PCR test must be taken no earlier than 12 July 2021.
(b) For passengers who are taking connecting flight(s) to Singapore:
(i) if the total scheduled transit duration does not exceed 24 hours, the period of 48 or 72 hours will commence from the scheduled departure day of the first flight of his journey to Singapore. For example, if the passenger’s flight itinerary is LAX-NRT-SIN and his transit duration at NRT is within 24 hours, the COVID-19 PCR test must be taken within 72 hours of the scheduled departure day of his flight from LAX.
(ii) if the total scheduled transit duration exceeds 24 hours, the period of 48 or 72 hours will commence from the scheduled departure day of his last flight of his journey to Singapore (i.e. the flight to Singapore). For example, if the passenger’s flight itinerary is LAX-NRT-HKG-SIN and his total scheduled transit duration at NRT and HKG adds up to more than 24 hours, the COVID-19 PCR test must be taken within 72 hours of the scheduled departure day of his flight from HKG.
8 Each air operator should keep a record of each passenger’s pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test result, and date of the test taken, for a minimum of four weeks. Upon request by CAAS, the air operator is required to furnish CAAS with the necessary information and evidence of such records.
3 CAAS will keep airlines informed of the sample exemption letters issued by relevant Singapore government agencies.
9 Each air operator should remind its passengers that should they be found to have produced false or forged COVID-19 test certificates, it will affect their ability to obtain or sponsor immigration facilities in the future.
10 Please note that the requirement to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours or 48 hours before departure is in addition to existing prevailing entry requirements and border health measures for all inbound passengers. For more information on Singapore’s entry requirements, please refer to the SafeTravel website (https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg). The related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be found at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/health/covid19-tests/pcrtest.
11 Existing Not-To-Land (NTL) policies and procedures will apply for passengers who are denied entry into Singapore if they do not meet Singapore’s prevailing entry requirements.
12 Information on the additional requirement for all inbound and transit and transfer passengers will be updated in the IATA Timatic service.
13 This Circular will, with effect from 12 July 2021, 2359 hours (Singapore time), supersede CAAS Circular 2021/38 dated 24 June 2021 (“Guidance on Pre-flight Measures – Pre-Departure COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test Requirement for Passengers on Flights to Singapore”). This Circular does not supersede CAAS Circular 2020/46 Rev 1 issued on 28 April 2021 (“Guidance on Pre-flight Measures – Basic Health Assessment of Passengers”).
Margaret Tan
Director (Airport Operation Regulation & Aviation Security)
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
[no signature required]

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