Joanna James
As a premium short-stay accommodation hub for those who are passing through Singapore, Connect@Changi provides a safe environment for all travellers. Here are 5 things every visitor must do before visiting this facility.
The eligibility to secure accommodation at Connect@Changi frequently alternate so checking what new restrictions are in place before you book your ticket to Singapore is crucial. For the time being, travellers who are originating from India and arriving from flight via India are not allowed to stay at Connect@Changi until further notice. Other parties who are ineligible to stay at this purpose-built building include Singaporean permanent residents as well as Singaporean citizens returning home from holidays or business trip. Family members of permanent residents and Singapore citizens are also not allowed to stay at the venue. All travellers can get the latest information of who is granted access to Connect@Changi by checking the Immigration & Checkpoint Authority website.
Before reserving accommodation at the facility, one must check eligibility and also secure approval from the Safe Travel Office. Connect@Changi will apply for a SafeTravel Pass on your behalf as soon as you forward the necessary particulars to your host. The applicants must be aged between 14 and 35 years of age during their trip to Singapore. All those who make reservations at Connect@Changi must wait for their stay to be approved and expect a penalty-free cancellation should their application be denied. This applies to both holidaymakers and those travelling for a business trip to Singapore.
Singapore has and continues to grant visa-free entry for tourists hailing from numerous countries around the world provided that their stay in the Lion City does not exceed 90 days. This visa-upon-arrival mechanism is still in place although foreign nationals who do require a valid visa to enter the country must make their Connect@Changi and SafeTravel Pass well ahead of time as the visa application must first be approved for the SafeTravel Pass to be granted. This should ideally be completed a few weeks before your departure date so that the pass can be obtained in a timely fashion. Those who wish to check whether they need a tourist visa to travel to Singapore can also check in with the ICA or Immigration & Checkpoint Authority webpage.
The TraceTogether App is a state-of-the-art digital tracing application for contract tracing purposes that employs Bluetooth technology to determine your distance from other TraceTogether devices in the vicinity. Travellers need not be alarmed that GPS location data, mobile network, and other Wi-Fi data is being collected by the app as it is not used for third party data collection. Everyone who is touching down in Singapore must download the app before leaving their home country and activate it by registering a mobile number and creating a profile. The TraceTogether download and activation are not necessary for children under 12, those with special needs, or disability.
The documents that must be presented to Immigration officers at Changi airport include a valid passport, your SafeTravel Pass approval letter, and a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. A completed Singapore Arrival Card email copy must also be presented along with your mobile device's TraceTogether app information.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
