Singapore, China opens fast lane for essential business and official travel

The Lion City will be connected to six Chinese provinces and municipalities.

Singapore and China have agreed to create a fast lane to facilitate essential business and official travel between both countries, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The fast lane will be established between six Chinese provinces and municipalities (Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang) and Singapore. The scheme is open to residents in Singapore and China who need to make essential business or official trips between the two countries.

They also plan to gradually expand the arrangement to other Chinese provinces and municipalities.

Singapore has been exploring fast lane arrangements with a few other countries and regions, as part of Singapore’s gradual reopening of borders for locals and residents to conduct essential activities overseas, the press release stated. This will also allow safe travel for foreigners entering Singapore in limited numbers, with the necessary safeguards in place to ensure public health considerations are addressed.

For inbound travel to Singapore, business or official travellers sponsored by government agencies may submit applications through their respective sponsors from 8 June. Applications for company-sponsored travellers can be submitted in a later phase.