South-East Asia Open up for International Travel with Boat Movement Easing Up

International travellers are starting to see more relaxed measures, with movement between countries becoming easier as the South East Asia borders open up two years after the Covid-19 pandemic first began. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia have progressively lifted restrictions for boat movement and travels within the region, restoring life to how times were pre-pandemic. 

The following procedures and prerequisites apply to all yacht captains, crew, and visitors on board private vessels. 

Singapore

All travellers arriving in Singapore (including Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents) who are:

Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with WHO EUL vaccines*; OR

Aged 12 and below (i.e. born in or after 2010) and not fully vaccinated

Can follow the following protocol for a smooth entry to Singapore:

1.  Ensure COVID-19 vaccination documentation is in order
2.  Obtain entry approvals and additional travel documentation if needed
3.  Fill in SG Arrival Card up to three days before arrival
4.  Take a COVID-19 Pre-Departure Test (PDT) if required, up to two days before departure
5.  Install the TraceTogether app
6.  Immigration clearance in Singapore
7.  Observe local health protocols

Details of this procedure are available here.

Additional information for Sea Crew & Pleasure Craft Owners

Under the Vaccinated Travel Framework, fully vaccinated foreign sea crew and pleasure craft owners can enter Singapore without submitting an undertaking to MPA or ICA. If you are not fully vaccinated, you will continue to:

• Submit to MPA an undertaking via this link, for having:
• Taken a pre-departure test within two days before arrival in Singapore; and
• Completed quarantine in your home country for at least seven days before arrival.
• Submit the following types of applications to ICA via digitalPORT@SG:
  • Arrival or departure immigration clearance of vessel and crew
  • Crew sign-on or sign-off
  • Transfer of crew from one vessel to another
  • Extension of stay of crew

Click here for the latest Port Marine Circulars/Notices. For further information or assistance, write to: crew_change@mpa.gov.sg

Malaysia

Travellers to Malaysia must fulfil the following General Protocols by the Malaysian authorities:

Before departure to Malaysia:

1. Download, register and activate MySejahtera app 
2. Complete the pre-departure form in the Travellers icon 
3. Results of COVID-19 test to be done two days prior to departure 
4. Travel and health insurance (minimum USD 20,000)

Fully vaccinated travellers will receive a BLUE traveller’s card on arrival at the point of entry while partial or unvaccinated travellers will receive a RED traveller’s card at the point of entry. 

For Blue traveller card holders, an RTK-Ag test will need to be conducted within 24 hours of arrival. 

For Red traveller card holders above the age of six, travellers will need to undergo fever screening through the thermal scanner upon arrival followed by an HSO issue documentation and conduct an RTK-Ag at any health facilities at PoE.

Note: International passengers transiting from KLIA to Sarawak must undergo the COVID-19 RTK-Ag test in KLIA. 

Please click here for General Procedure for Travellers at Air, Sea and Ground Crossing to Malaysia by the Ministry of Health.

Thailand

Travellers may apply for entry to Thailand via the online “Thailand Pass” system (http://tp.consular.go.th) under the following schemes:

a. Exemption from Quarantine (Test and Go) scheme for vaccinated travellers from any country. Travellers are free to travel to any part of Thailand after testing negative from their on-arrival PCR test.

b. Sandbox Programmes for vaccinated travellers from any country. Travellers intending to travel to other parts of Thailand after testing negative from their on-arrival PCR test must stay at least the first seven days (nights) within the Sandbox destination/s. Travellers staying less than seven days (nights) will need to depart from the Sandbox destination to another country.

c. Alternative Quarantine scheme for travellers from any country who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. 

More information on eligibility and requirements for the respective schemes are listed at http://tp.consular.go.th and https://www.tatnews.org/

Please refer to full details here.

Indonesia

All visitors (yachters, foreign crew members or cabin arriving via vessel) need to apply for a visa to enter Indonesia here. 

Foreign nationals with the purpose of leisure travel can enter the territory of the Republic of Indonesia with the following conditions:

• Through the airport entrance in Bali or the port of Riau Islands;
• Having received a COVID-19 vaccine;
• A negative RT-PCR test result;
• A short-visit visa or other entry permit;
• Proof of ownership of health insurance with a minimum coverage value of USD25,000 which includes financing for handling COVID-19;
• Proof of booking confirmation and payment for accommodation while in Indonesia.

PCR Test Requirement 

• Foreign travellers must show a negative RT-PCR test result in the country or region of origin in which samples were taken within a maximum period of 2 x 24 hours before the departure time. 

• All international travellers (Indonesian citizens and Foreign citizens) are required to quarantine with the following categories:

1. 1. ​Quarantine period 5 x 24 hours for those who have not been vaccinated or have received the first dose of vaccination.
   2. Quarantine period for minors under 18 years, or those requiring exceptional protection, should follow the provisions of the parents/ legal guardians/ travel companions.

Please refer to details here.

As the travel restrictions within the South-East Asia region are easing up, we are seeing more and more yacht owners travelling within the region for leisurely cruises, charters, and yacht visits and purchase procedures. Many owners are using this time to purchase their next yacht within the region from Simpson Marine – the ownership dynamics in Asia are now very active, with many new owners being welcomed into the fold. 

Our dedicated team remains available to advise and assist on yacht purchases anywhere, with customers able to select from our large range of New Yachts and Pre-owned yachts for sale. 

Please contact our teams at their local offices today to discuss with us your own ownership or chartering plans.

Note: the Simpson Marine team are dedicated to providing the most accurate and updated information to our customers. The above requirements are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to changes according to each country’s regulations. We are happy to advise on the current status of each country.