You and your workers must ensure that they do not have any movement restriction such as Stay-Home-Notice (SHN), Movement Restriction Order (MRO) or Isolation Order before they leave Singapore. If they are under any movement restriction, they must complete them before repatriation.
It is an offence if they fail to comply.
Employers must:
- (If a pre-departure test is required) Arrange and ensure your worker visits any of the approved clinics to take the pre-departure test required by the destination country, and gets a copy of the result memo.
- Pay for all the COVID-19 ART, PCR and IgM Antibody Serology tests expenses.
- Pay directly to the clinic.
Travellers are subjected to their destination country or region’s requirements for entry, which may include proof of vaccination. Individuals can use the Notarise website to get their Vaccination HealthCerts prior to travel.
Please remind your foreign workers to retrieve their Vaccination HealthCert because without proof of their vaccination, they might be subject to longer quarantine periods and additional testing in their destination countries.
You should check the websites of embassies and airlines regularly for updates to PDT and quarantine requirements.
As an employer, it is your responsibility to buy an air ticket and pay for any connecting transport costs to the international port of entry in your worker's home country, nearest to their hometown. You must pay for the air ticket and it must include check-in luggage.
Employment Pass or S Pass holders' employers are required to bear all repatriation costs unless the pass holders have given written consent to pay for the repatriation themselves.
For Work Permit holders, employers must ensure that the departure date is within 2 weeks from the Work Permit cancellation.
Flights are currently limited due to the COVID-19 situation. You should check for availability and book early by regularly checking:
Before booking, check that the flight is scheduled for departure, using:
Choosing the airline
Employers are advised to check respective airlines’ websites for any boarding requirements before booking the flight ticket.
You should choose airlines that allow flexibility in rescheduling or cancellation of flights for passengers with positive COVID-19 test results.
You should check the
websites of embassies and airlines regularly for updates to PDT and quarantine requirements.
Before their flight departure, employers need to ensure that your workers fulfil all PDT requirements and have their necessary documents ready.
You should check the websites of embassies and airlines regularly, for any specific COVID-19 related landing requirements, such as a fit-to-fly doctor’s certification or quarantine requirements on arrival.
For countries or regions that require a PDT before travellers depart from Singapore, you should contact an approved clinic to make an appointment for PCR tests or serology tests.
After swab appointment
You need to ensure that your worker:
- Has a copy of the notarised digital HealthCert containing a QR code, when checking in at the airport.
- Does not have any movement restriction on departure day.
Certain countries would not allow your workers to board the flight if their test results are inconclusive or positive.
You should check the
websites of embassies and airlines regularly for updates to PDT and quarantine requirements.
Positive test results
Workers who are tested positive may be subjected to isolation or treatment. You and your worker will be informed on the procedures by the medical professionals. You should:
- Check with the airline for refunds or deferment of your worker’s flight ticket.
- Arrange for another swab test before the next available flight.
Inconclusive results
If your worker has inconclusive results, you should:
- Check with the airlines to schedule the earliest available next flight.
- Arrange for another swab test for your worker as soon as possible before the rebooked flight.
All passengers departing from Singapore for China are required to be tested negative for COVID-19 before boarding. Workers who have recovered from COVID-19 may continue to test positive due to shedding of non-viable viral fragments even though they are non-infectious. Employers would need to rebook their flights and arrange for them to be re-tested before their rebooked flights.
Employers are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of work permit holders until they have been successfully repatriated. This includes providing acceptable accommodation, adequate food, medical treatment, arranging any necessary PDT requirements and covering all repatriation related costs.
For Employment Pass or S Pass holders, employers are required to bear all repatriation costs unless the pass holders have given written consent to pay for the repatriation themselves.