Covid-19 vaccination a must for PR, long-term pass applications from Feb 1

Work pass holders must submit or present their vaccination certificates as part of the verification process. ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

SINGAPORE - Vaccination will be a mandatory condition for the approval of new applications for work passes, long-term passes and permanent residence in Singapore from Feb 1 next year.

Those renewing their work passes will also have to be vaccinated.

This, however, will not apply to children aged below 12 and those who are medically ineligible for vaccination.

The multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 announced the new measure on Sunday (Dec 26) as part of the nation's adjustments to dealing with the Omicron variant.

"These measures will help sustain our high vaccination rates and facilitate the safe reopening of our society and economy," the task force said.

At the point of application, employers will have to make a declaration that their work pass holders and dependants are fully vaccinated upon arrival in Singapore.

Work pass holders must submit or present their vaccination certificates as part of the verification process.

Those with digitally verifiable certificates will have to upload them to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's Vaccination Check Portal system.

Those without digitally verifiable certificates will have to present their vaccination certificates to airlines or ferry operators, or at the checkpoint, before boarding.

Those who cannot produce the necessary documents will not be allowed to board the plane or enter Singapore, unless prior exemptions have been granted.

Individuals who were vaccinated overseas must update their vaccination records in the National Immunisation Registry (NIR) and will be given a grace period of 30 days upon arrival in Singapore to undergo and show a positive serology test result taken at a Public Health Preparedness Clinic.

Should they test negative, they will be required to complete the full vaccination regimen in Singapore or their passes may be revoked, the task force said.

As for dependants of work pass holders, the vaccination condition will not apply to children aged below 12.

Children aged 12 to 17 can continue to make a declaration to complete the full vaccination regimen after arriving in Singapore.

Pass holders who are medically ineligible for vaccination will have to submit a doctor's memo at the point of application and undergo a medical review upon arrival in Singapore.

Those applying for permanent residence, student passes and long-term visit passes will have their vaccination status verified when their passes are issued. Their vaccination records will have to be updated in the NIR.

If applicants are unvaccinated or vaccinated overseas but test serology negative - an indication that the body has not produced antibodies in response to vaccination - they will have to complete the full vaccination regimen in Singapore to fulfil the vaccination condition before they can be granted permanent residence or long-term passes.

The vaccination condition will not apply to permanent residence, long-term visit pass and student pass applicants for those who are aged below 12 years old, as well as those who are medically ineligible for vaccination.

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