Singapore-Malaysia Land VTL to Launch on 29 November 2021

(Photo Credit: Malay Mail)

The land borders between Singapore and Malaysia will finally open on 29 November 2021. However, only citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders of the country they are entering are allowed to use the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) by land.

Starting from 29 November 2021, Singaporeans and Malaysians alike are able to travel between both countries using 64 daily designated buses without the need for quarantine. 

This plan has been in the works for weeks with authorities from both sides conducting a dry run on Tuesday to finalize the details. 

This coincides with the launch of the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. So far 4,000 travellers have been approved to travel to Singapore via that route. 

Tickets cost S$15 for adults and S$8 for children in Singapore. As for Malaysia, tickets cost RM20 and RM10 respectively. 

As of now, only Citizens, Permanent Residents or Long-term Pass Holders of each country would be allowed to enter both countries, however, that is set to expand to the general public in mid-December. 

Additionally, as of now only a total of 3,000 people per day, approximately half from each country, can travel between the two neighbours.

This was “to give priority to those who have been working in either country, to visit their families” said the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday.

“We seek the understanding of workers who may not be able to purchase bus tickets to travel home immediately due to the limited capacity of the initial phase”, said Mr Gan Kim Yong in a PMO statement. 

He also mentions that Malaysia and Singapore will work together to expand the VTL (land) arrangement to more travellers within the coming weeks. 

Travelling via VTL

To travel to Malaysia under this scheme, you must first book the aforementioned bus trip. Bus tickets will go on sale at 8am on Thursday, 25 November 2021. Do note that you must book the tickets at least three days in advance before the departure date.

You will also need to be fully vaccinated and have stayed in a VTL or Category 1 country recognized by Singapore for the last 14 days.

The Singapore operator Transtar will be operating 32 designated trips between Woodlands Temporary Bus Interchange in Singapore and Larkin Bus Terminal in Malaysia. 

Similarly, Handal Inda (also known as Causeway Link) will operate 32 designated trips between Queen Street Terminal in Singapore and Larkin Sentral in Malaysia. 

Each bus seats 45 passengers and will run daily from 9.30am to 7.30pm (Malaysia to Singapore) and 8am to 6pm (Singapore to Malaysia).

Should you want to go by your own private transport or walk, you will be subject to the prevailing border control restrictions of the respective countries, which include serving a seven-day stay-home notice.

You must be tested negative for COVID-19 via ART or PCR in Singapore, then again in a supervised ART in Malaysia once immigration is cleared.

Those coming back from Malaysia will have to test negative via PCR or ART within two days of departure. There is no on-arrival PCR test for Singapore. 

An SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration would also need to be submitted via the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority website and must be done three days before arrival. 

It seems it's just a matter of time before we ourselves would be able to have road trips again. 

Read More: Malaysian Tourism Minister: Singapore-Malaysia Borders to Reopen to Travellers on November 29th

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