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Ministry of Health (MOH) Public Health Advisory

Travellers should refer to the  ICA website  for the latest information on travelling to/from or transiting through Singapore. For the latest updates on Singapore’s COVID-19 situation, please refer to the MOH website at  https://www.moh.gov.sg/ covid-19 .

As of 11 May 2023, all international air travellers entering the US are no longer required to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine. Singaporeans are advised to stay abreast of the latest medical developments by referring to the advisories on the websites of U.S. CDC ( https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ )  and the local and state government depending on the location you are visiting or residing in. Please maintain appropriate health insurance and coverage  while in the U.S.

Entry and Exit

The  U.S. State Department’s travel guidelines for the Visa Waiver Programme are at  https://travel.state.gov/ content/travel/en/us-visas/ tourism-visit/visa-waiver- program.html .  As visa requirements often change at short notice, we advise you to contact your travel agency, or the United States Embassy in Singapore (Email:  support-singapore@ ustraveldocs.com , Tel: +65 3158 5400 ) for up-to-date information. Singaporeans who require further information on entry into the United States can also visit the United States Department of State’s Visas website at  https://travel.state.gov/ content/visas/en.html . 

Safety and Security

Crime: To prevent petty theft and pickpocketing, ensure that your travel documents and personal belongings are secure at all times.  Be reminded not to leave bags or valuables unattended or in plain view in parked cars (especially rental vehicles).

Active Shooter:  Active shooter incidents happen from time to time.  Advice on how to respond in an active shooter incident can be found on the United States Department of Homeland Security website at https://www.dhs.gov/publication/active-shooter-pamphlet .

Terrorism: The United States Department of Homeland Security also provides information about credible and specific terrorism threats.  For current alerts, please visit the National Terrorism Advisory System website at https://www.dhs.gov/national-terrorism-advisory-system .

Laws in the United States vary from state to state. You are subject to the laws of the state where you are physically present.  Please visit the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at  https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Services/Singapore-Citizens/I-Need-Help-Overseas/Arrest-or-Detention to find out how MFA may assist you if you are arrested or detained.  Additionally, Singaporeans are reminded to carry a photo ID with you at all times.

Additional Information

Some parts of the United States experience natural disasters and severe weather.  If you are in areas affected by natural disasters, you should monitor media reports and follow the instructions of local authorities, especially if mandatory evacuation orders are issued. 

Singaporeans are encouraged to visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency website at https://www.fema.gov and the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Ready website at https://www.ready.gov to learn how to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. 

Earthquakes: Several US states are prone to earthquakes.  To learn more about what to do before, during and after an earthquake, please visit https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes .

Hurricanes: The Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November, and can affect several US states.  You should monitor the progress of approaching storms on the United States National Hurricane Center’s website at www.nhc.noaa.gov and follow instructions issued by the local authorities.  To learn more about how to prepare for hurricanes, please visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes .  

Snowstorms: Snowstorms during winter can cause delays and cancellations throughout the major airline hubs in the United States.  Contact your travel company or airline before you travel.  To monitor airport conditions in the United States, visit the Federal Aviation Administration website at www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp .  You may also visit https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather to learn what to do before, during and after a snowstorm.

Wildfires: Wildfires can be a danger in dry areas, and especially in canyons, hills and forests.  High winds can cause fires to spread very rapidly.  More information about wildfires can be found at the United States National Interagency Fire Centre website at https://www.nifc.gov/ .  You may also visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires to learn what to do before, during and after a wildfire.

General Travel Advice

Overseas Travel – Be Informed & Be Safe [Updated on 5 February 2024]

Singaporeans planning overseas travel are reminded to take the necessary precautions, including being prepared to deal with accidents, natural disasters or terrorist attacks. Singaporeans are also reminded to be familiar with your destination’s local laws, customs, and COVID-19 regulations.

Demonstrations do occur in major cities across the world. Such demonstrations can sometimes escalate into violence. It is important for Singaporeans to keep abreast of local news, avoid any protests or demonstrations and heed the advice of the local authorities.

When participating in outdoor leisure activities overseas, Singaporeans should be mindful that certain sporting activities, especially in open seas, may carry risks. Besides ensuring that one has the physical competencies and appropriate condition to undertake the activity, every effort should be made to ascertain if the trip organiser or guide is reliable and competent, and that appropriate safety and contingency plans are in place. When in doubt, Singaporeans should consult the relevant professional bodies or sporting associations for specific advice.

For those planning to travel, here are some tips:

Before travelling

  • Familiarise yourself with our network of overseas missions.
  • Purchase comprehensive travel insurance and be familiar with the terms and coverage.
  • Equip yourself with research about your destination’s entry requirements, current situation, local laws and customs.
  • eRegister with us on our website ( www.mfa.gov.sg ) so that we may reach out to you during an emergency.

While travelling

  • Always take care of your personal safety, remain vigilant and monitor local weather news, advisories, and security developments.
  • Exercise caution around large gatherings and avoid locations known for demonstrations or disturbances.
  • Be prepared for possible delays and last-minute changes in travel plans especially during unforeseen events such as natural disasters, social unrest or terror attacks.
  • Stay connected with your friends and family. Inform them of your whereabouts and provide them with your overseas contact details.
  • In the event that you require consular assistance, please contact the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission or call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office at +65 6379 8800/+65 6379 8855.

Advisory: Email Scams

There have been reports of individuals receiving scam emails/messages purportedly sent from friends in distress overseas. These emails/messages typically originate from an email address/social media known to the receiver bearing claims of the sender getting into trouble overseas and urgently requesting financial assistance. The sender would also claim to have approached a Singapore Embassy/Consulate and the local Police for help to no avail.

MFA takes the safety of all Singaporeans very seriously.  Singaporeans in distress approaching our Overseas Missions for assistance will be rendered with all necessary consular assistance.  If you receive such emails/messages from purported friends seeking funds transfers, we strongly advise you to call them first to verify the authenticity of the emails/messages before responding to their request.  It is also not advisable to give out any personal information such as NRIC/passport numbers, address, telephone number, etc.  Any form of reply, even one of non-interest, could result in more unsolicited emails.  Members of the public who suspect that they have fallen prey to such scams should report the matter to the Police immediately.  Should Singaporeans abroad require consular assistance, they can contact the nearest Singapore Overseas  Mission  or call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24-hr Duty Office at +65 6379 8800/+65 6379 8855.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

  • Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
  • During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
  • Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

  • More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
  • 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

  • Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
  • Children under 18 years of age;
  • Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
  • Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
  • Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
  • Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
  • Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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United States Travel Restrictions

Traveller's COVID-19 vaccination status

Travelling from Singapore to the United States

Open for vaccinated visitors

COVID-19 testing

Not required

Not required for vaccinated visitors

Restaurants

Not required on public transportation.

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Can I travel to the United States from Singapore?

Most visitors from Singapore, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United States.

Can I travel to the United States if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from Singapore can enter the United States without restrictions.

Can I travel to the United States without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from Singapore can enter the United States without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter the United States?

Visitors from Singapore are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering the United States.

Can I travel to the United States without quarantine?

Travellers from Singapore are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in the United States?

Mask usage in the United States is not required on public transportation.

Are the restaurants and bars open in the United States?

Restaurants in the United States are open. Bars in the United States are .

Update January 10, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Singapore Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 24, 2023, singapore - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed . 

Exercise normal precautions in Singapore.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Singapore.

If you decide to travel to Singapore:

  • Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.   
  • Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and Twitter .
  • Review the  Country Security Report  for Singapore. 
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.   
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .    

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, singapore map, search for travel advisories, external link.

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COVID-19 international travel advisories

If you plan to visit the U.S., you do not need to be tested or vaccinated for COVID-19. U.S. citizens going abroad, check with the Department of State for travel advisories.

COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S.

  • As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S.  arriving by air  or  arriving by land or sea  no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 
  • As of June 12, 2022,  people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test . 

U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

Find country-specific COVID-19 travel rules from the Department of State.

See the  CDC's COVID-19 guidance for safer international travel.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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USA ESTA Visa Waiver Requirements for Singaporeans

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The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an online platform that allows citizens of visa waiver countries, like Singapore, to obtain authorization to enter the United States, providing they meet the ESTA requirements.

Singaporean travelers can use the ESTA to visit the country for the purposes of tourism, business, or transit without the hassle of going to apply for a B1/B2 visa in person.

Fill in the simple US ESTA application form online to gain authorization to visit the US from Singapore visa-free .

What Is the US ESTA for Singapore Citizens?

The ESTA for Singaporean nationals is a multiple-entry visa waiver that is valid for 2 years from the date of issue (or until the traveler’s passport expires — whichever comes first).

Travelers can enter the United States via a commercial flight or cruise with their ESTA and stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days .

Singapore passport holders can use the ESTA to visit the US for the following purposes:

The ESTA is the easiest and most common way for travelers from Singapore to enter the United States. Applicants can register with the travel authorization system from their home or office, avoiding an unnecessary trip to a US embassy or consulate.

However, there are a handful of restrictions when traveling on this visa waiver. For example, employment, paid work, and studying are not permitted under the ESTA . If the traveler wishes to partake in these activities or stay longer than 90 days, they should consult with their nearest embassy to obtain the appropriate visa.

US ESTA Requirements for Singapore Citizens

One benefit of applying for the US ESTA is that there are only a handful of requirements for Singaporean citizens. There are only 3 items that are necessary to apply for the ESTA. They include the following:

  • Valid Singapore passport — this passport must be valid on the date that you plan to enter the United States.
  • Form of payment to pay the application fee (credit or debit card).
  • Email address to receive notifications about the status of the ESTA. We recommend checking this email inbox often so that you do not miss the email.
  • Contact details — home address and phone number
  • Emergency contact details (optional)

What to Do if One of Your ESTA Documents From Singapore Expires

If your Singapore passport expires or is lost, damaged, or stolen, you must reapply for the ESTA with your new document.

This is because the ESTA is electronically linked to the passport registered in the application and this passport must be presented when entering the country.

If this document is no longer valid or in the possession of the traveler, the ESTA associated with it cannot be used to enter the US.

When do I need to re-apply for ESTA?

You will need to reapply for ESTA if you get a new passport, change your name or sex, change your country of citizenship, or if you have changed circumstances that affect your eligibility for ESTA, e.g., if you are convicted of a certain crime, if you develop a contagious disease or if you applied for a U.S. visa and it got denied.

Do I need to have ESTA authorization valid throughout the duration of my trip to the U.S.?

No, you only need a valid ESTA to enter the U.S. A CBP officer at the port of entry will determine the length of your authorized stay in the U.S., which cannot exceed 90 days.

Can I extend my stay within the U.S.?

Once you enter the U.S. with the approved ESTA, you will need to leave the U.S. before your authorized stay expires. If you wish to extend your stay or to change your status to allow for work or study, you need to visit a U.S. embassy or consulate in Singapore to apply for an appropriate visa.

How to Apply for a US ESTA From Singapore

There are a number of steps to obtain the ESTA visa waiver for citizens of Singapore . The first step is to fill out the online application form .

This form is quick to complete, taking most people less than 15 minutes to finish. It includes a few questions about the Singaporean traveler’s personal information , including the following details:

  • Full name (first name and surname)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Nationality

The applicant must also enter their passport details , including the following:

  • Passport number
  • Date of issue
  • Date of expiry
  • Issuing country

The form then asks for contact information , including a current email address.

There are also a number of security questions regarding health, previous activities in the United States (if any), and if the visitor from Singapore has any criminal record.

Applicants must then pay the ESTA  processing fee with a valid form of payment, such as a credit card or debit card.

Before submitting the ESTA application, it is highly recommended to go back through the form and double check to make sure that the information is accurate and correct . Inconsistencies or errors in the application can lead to a possible delay or even a rejection of the ESTA. US Customs reserves the right to revoke a traveler’s ESTA at any time.

Once the US ESTA has been approved, Singaporean travelers should print out a copy of the confirmation email . Although this is not a formal requirement, it is a good idea to do so in case the gate agent asks for proof of an ESTA when you are boarding your flight.

How long does it take to get an ESTA from Singapore?

The average processing time of the US ESTA is short, with many applications being processed almost instantly. Most ESTAs are issued within 2 business days.

In rare cases it may take longer. Because of this, we recommend that all travelers apply for their ESTA at least 72 hours before their flight to the United States, in case there are delays.

In fact, travelers are able to apply for their ESTA from the moment that they start to plan their trip to the United States.

Application Steps

Country policy.

Familiarize yourself with the United States visa policy and discover the US visa requirements for your nationality.

This content has been reviewed by

travelling to usa from singapore

Ekaterina Powell

Us immigration attorney.

Ekaterina Powell is a U.S. attorney licensed in the State of California, working in the area of U.S. immigration law for over 12 years . She has been featured as one of the top immigration lawyers in her state and city several times and has contributed to notable industry publications.

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Venturing abroad is an exciting experience, filled with new cultures to explore, foods to taste, and vistas to see. However, before immersing oneself in these novel experiences, one must navigate the labyrinthine process of obtaining a visa. While the general rule of thumb dictates that visa requirements ask you for a sober, straightforward exchange of

Hardest Visas to Get

Traveling the world can be an enriching experience, opening doors to new cultures, customs, and unforgettable memories. However, not all countries are as welcoming to tourists, and obtaining a visa can be a daunting task. In this article, we’ll explore the hardest countries to get a visa for, and the reasons behind their strict visa

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Quarantine-free Travel requirements to Singapore

We’ve been eagerly anticipating your arrival to our sunny shores! Singapore is open to all travellers without quarantine or testing requirements, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.

travelling to usa from singapore

SINGAPORE: Travellers coming from the United States to Singapore on the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme can use their digital vaccination record as the US rolls out the Smart Health Card (SHC) to more states, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Saturday (Nov 13).

Singaporeans had earlier reported difficulties getting proof of their COVID-19 vaccination in the SHC format, a form of vaccination certificate that Singapore accepts for travellers arriving from the US on the VTL scheme.

It contains a person's clinical information, including vaccination history, and comes with a QR code that needs to be uploaded on the VTL application portal before arrival. 

While more states are rolling out the SHC, VTL travellers to Singapore can provide their digital vaccination record retrieved through their state's or local health authority's public health database, said Ms Margaret Tan, CAAS' director of airport operations regulation and aviation security, in a response to CNA queries.

They can also use their physical vaccination record and a letter signed by their vaccination provider to attest to their vaccination status. The letter should contain the traveller’s details and details about the vaccination.

Singaporeans and permanent residents do not need to apply for the vaccinated travel pass (VTP) and can show either of the above documents for verification at the airlines' check-in counter pre-departure and on arrival in Singapore, added Ms Tan.

Short-term visitors and long-term pass holders who need to apply for the VTP but cannot upload their vaccination certificate can apply to the Safe Travel Office with either of the above documents attached for verification.

travelling to usa from singapore

Singaporeans hoping to return from US on VTL face challenges getting proof of COVID-19 jabs

"Under the VTL, vaccination is an important safeguard for quarantine-free entry into Singapore without compromising public health. We require digitally verifiable proof of vaccination to guard against forgery," said Ms Tan.

NO STANDARDISED VACCINATION PROOF IN US

Ms Tan said that all digital vaccination certificates issued in 15 of the 16 VTL countries can be verified, with 14 having a national system for such certificates to be issued. In the case of Canada, it does not have a national system but has recently developed a standardised proof of vaccination in the SHC format that is "secure and verifiable".

The only exception is the US, which does not have a national system or a standardised proof of vaccination, said Ms Tan. The country instead has "multiple issuers", including individual states, pharmacies, and supermarkets.

Singapore currently accepts vaccination certificates that are issued in the predominant SHC format by "trusted issuers" in the US on the CommonTrust Network or Vaccination Credential Initiative.

There are currently nine US states issuing SHCs: California, Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, Virginia, Colorado, New Jersey, Utah and Washington state.

travelling to usa from singapore

FAQ: Travelling to Singapore and how visitors can get their vaccination status recognised

travelling to usa from singapore

Singapore to extend vaccinated travel lane scheme to eight more countries, including US, UK, Spain

Five more states, namely Arizona, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota and West Virginia are "in the process of doing so", as is the District of Columbia.

Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oklahoma have started testing the system, said Ms Tan.

Besides the states, pharmacies and healthcare providers such as CVS Health, Rite Aid Pharmacy, UCHealth and Walmart are also issuing SHCs.

THIRD-PARTY ISSUERS

Some third-party issuers do not administer the vaccination but provide their users with a digital vaccination record, often for a fee.

Ms Tan said that the CAAS is onboarding third-party issuers that check and verify the vaccination records submitted by their users, for example, with state vaccination registries.

"We are not able to accept the digital certificates issued by third-party issuers which do not do such checks," she added.

"With the roll-out of the SHC across more states and the onboarding of credible third-party issuers, we expect most travellers from the USA to be able to produce a digitally verifiable vaccination certificate within the next one to two months."

Travellers are advised to refer to the Safe Travel website for updates on the list of accepted digital vaccination certificates. Travellers who require further assistance may write to the Safe Travel Office through their enquiry form  or call the Safe Travel Enquiries helpline at +65 6812 5555.

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Advice for Singaporeans Travelling to the US with Non Machine-Readable Passport or Passport With Child Inclusion

A Comparison of Direct Flights from Singapore to the USA

It’s a hefty distance to travel, but thankfully you can make the journey between Singapore and the United States without any lengthy layovers these days. 

travelling to usa from singapore

There are at least four daily direct flights between Singapore and San Francisco (Photo: Thomas Hawk via Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

There are dozens of indirect options on offer, but a direct flight from Singapore to the United States is by far the quickest and most convenient way to travel. At 18 hours 50 minutes and a distance of 5,9191 miles the flight to New York is the longest direct flight from Singapore to anywhere in the world, though you can reach the West Coast in a slightly more palatable 15 hours. Only two airlines currently offer direct flights and Singapore Airlines is the only airline to offer flights beyond San Francisco. We’ve analysed the best direct flight options between Singapore and the United States taking into consideration prices, departure times, onboard facilities and amenities. 

The longest flight from Singapore is a 5,919-mile non-stop route to New York City (JFK). 

Singapore Airlines

best direct flights Singapore to US

Singapore Airlines is renowned for its high-quality service (Photo: Singapore Airlines)

Singapore Airlines operates daily flights from Singapore to San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, as well as a less frequent direct flight service from Singapore to Seattle. It’s a top choice for customer service and luxury, with an economy class that regularly ranks as a far-above-average experience and renowned First Class cabins, though not all direct flights offer anything above Business Class. 

The airline offers two daily flights from Singapore to San Francisco departing at 09:20 am (08:50 am arrival) and 07:50 pm (7:30 pm arrival) respectively. Flights average 14 hours and 40 minutes. 

Flights to New York (JFK) take 18 hours and 50 minutes. The airline operates two direct flights to the city per day, one to Newark Airport (EWR) and one to John F Kennedy Airport (JFK). Flights to Newark depart late in the evening and arrive at 06:00 am, while flights to JFK Airport depart at midday and arrive shortly before 07:00 pm. 

Singapore Airlines also offers one daily flight to Los Angeles (LAX), which departs at around 09:00 pm and lands at 9:40 pm. The flight takes 15 hours and 55 minutes. Luxury travellers should note that there is no First Class/Suite service on this flight. 

Those travelling to the northern stretches of the country can hop on a non-stop 14-hour and 45-minute flight to Seattle too. Flights depart and land in the morning on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

Singapore Airlines is the best option for those looking for more flexibility when it comes to US destinations. As the only airline offering travel to the United States in First Class/Suites, it’s also the best option for those looking for a more refined flight experience. 

Book at Trip.com

United Airlines 

best direct flights Singapore Airlines United States

United Airlines offers the most affordable direct flights between Singapore and the United States (Photo: United Airlines)

United Airlines offers daily flights from Singapore to San Francisco. Flights depart at either 09:00 am (and arrive at 08:50 am) or 09:00 pm (and arrive at 08:50). Flights average 14 hours and 50 minutes, so there’s little difference between the two airlines when it comes to departure times and journey duration. Passengers can choose from five classes of tickets, with four variations on Economy and one Business Class ticket. There is no First Class option. 

Most flights use the retrofitted Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which seats around 300 passengers in a three-class configuration. All passengers have access to entertainment through seatback screens, as well as power outlets and USB ports. WiFi is available for purchase in all cabin classes. All passengers can enjoy complimentary soft drinks, juices and hot drinks, as well as two hot meals. 

This is the best option for budget-minded travellers. Prices are always cheaper than Singapore Airlines, with potential cost savings of hundreds of pounds. Even with the most basic ticket, travellers are entitled to one personal item, one carry-on bag and one checked bag. Ticket changes and seat selection costs extra. 

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travelling to usa from singapore

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This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from singapore to the united states departing on 3/25. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to the united states.

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Faqs for booking flights from singapore to the united states, how does kayak find such low prices on flights from singapore to the united states.

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Singapore to the United States.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Singapore to the United States?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to the United States from Singapore is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Singapore to the United States?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to the United States with an airline and back to Singapore with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Singapore to the United States?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to the United States from Singapore up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top 5 airlines serving from Singapore to the United States

Pleasant crew. Very long flight, a bit uncomfortable at times being seated, but not too bad.

No ice for the drinks. Only gave a half a cup of your beverage. Not enough water. I got very dehydrated.

Eva is one of the top airlines in Asia... but often are over priced. Finally found a reasonable rate.

My original flight was rescheduled & EVA did a good job rescheduling my flight & connecting flight.

Polite hard working crew. No complaints really. Meals were not to my liking.

Very uncomfortable and crowded seats in economy. Flight attendant refused request to move to nearby unused seat with more legroom because “It was more money for that seat”. It was also near impossible to reach airline directly by phone. Waits upwards of an hour and not very helpful customer service representatives after long wait. Cannot recommend this airline.

Everything was fantastic! The crew really went above and beyond to make it a great flight. I felt cared for with EVA.

t and I Flight crew did excellent job taking care of us and feeding us and staying professional. The boarding was delayed by an hour and then extra security measures were taken. No real explanation except for they said it was more of a maintenance dey

The flight was on time. Boarding process was smooth. The crew was friendly, helpful, and they kept plane facility clean. The food could've been better.

On time. Easy online check-in. But always give me a middle economy seat with wacky passengers (or even a seat next to the toilet room). Also could be more courtier staff.

It was one of the best experiences. The staff were amazing. JAL is my second favorite Asian Carrier I have flown on. Korean Air was my first. Thank you JAL for bringing me home safely and for such an amazing staff and service.

JAL is quite nice in business class. Comfortable, spacious seats. Their entertainment, especially their film selection, isn’t that great though as their are not many new releases like some airlines offer their first and business class customers. . Food is excellent and the option to order on demand is always quite nice, which JAL offers. Flight attendants were very friendly and kind. Overall very good experience with JAL.

Very comfortable unlike my first trip where they switched my flight from JAL to AA which was a disaster!

They layover in Japan was too long , it took 11 hours.

Boarding was quick and efficient, and despite leaving a bit late we landed right on time. The crew were friendly and helpful. Seat was comfortable and sufficient too: 2-4-2 in economy is much better and more family-friendly than the cramped 3-3-3 formation used by other airlines. The only problem was that dinner was not served until 2+ hours into the 9 hour flight. This meant it was gone midnight destination time before the service was concluded and the cabin lights were turned off, leaving us only about 4 hours in which to sleep.

Movie dis not play smoothly. During play, it was interrupted several times, and could not RESUME where I was.

I requested a vegetarian meal, and somehow that wasn’t processed from Japan airlines to the new carrier American Airlines when it was on the ticket. Don’t know if that was KAYAK or Japan air or American Airlines. But the crew scrounge together something for me and that was very good. Also I think American has the tiniest seats in the industry. It’s kind of annoying but it got me from .8 point B and now I’m at point B on the final point at LAX. I had to leave the airport and then go back through security to catch my next plane. I’ve never had to do that before. It was very annoying.

I was not given any food boats the times the entire flight. I had to go hungry for 10 hours the first flight and 12 hours the second one. They said they did not receive my special request for a vegetarian meal and they were very rude about it. I’m vegetarian because of religious reasons. I will never fly Japanese airlines ever again. And I really hope you are able to give me some compensation for this issue that was cars to me since you were also a Party to this whole transaction.

JAL, like Emirates, Qatar, ANA & Singapore Air Lines is a class act. Great service and immaculate aircraft. The complete antithesis of an American Airlines or Delta flight, which are absolutely abysmal.

serving nuts is great, but it would be even better if it was overnight roasted nuts.

When boarding, after business class should be premium economy, but economy class already lined-up at the gate blocking premium economy to board. Singapore airline crew should done a better job to organize this chaos :( Thank you.

It seems paying premium economy does not make difference with economy. No priority boarding, not worthy paying extra$$$ for premium economy.

A pc of cake or biscuit at least. The airport was like a maze need to take another bus to the main terminal to immigration.

Flying with Singapore airlines is always excelllent - the crew are lovely and the food too is great. It’s my number 1 airline

They were able to assist my elderly father and myself after not being able to check in to scoot. The counter service was phenomenal. They did what they could to get us on the next plane so we could catch our Connecting flight. Scoot closed early on us so we ended up missing our flight.

They are great with every aspect of customer service. Helped my elderly father and aided him with using the restroom.

Transfer within the same terminal and lots of facilities at the airport.

The seat comfort, the food and of course the crew, they made you feel welcome and relaxed 😊

Due to the delay of my first flight, my connecting flight with JetBlue was canceled by Singapore Airlines, but the JetBlue crew was very accommodating and rebooked a seat for me. The crew was very nice and had good attitude.

The overall operation needs to be improved. The in-flight services took forever and sometimes ran out of options.

That flight was smooth, and staff we courteous. it was a full flight so very tight. The boarding through security was not properly controlled. it was rushed and the scanning process for our bags, etc. was pilling up at the other end with no time to empty our belonging my personal items almost toppled over on the floor if i hadn't caught it rapidly. Was it just that time, or always like this - cant say. other than that all else was fine.

For a 22 minute flight all you expect is for it to be safe and comfortable

Good movies, iffy pay WiFi, food ok- on time though and that was great!

Some of these FA’s need attitude check. Snarky bitches

Flight was on time. Staff were friendly. I paid for Economy Plus but was required to check my standard carry-on luggage due to lack of space on the aircraft. This cost me 30 minutes, unexpectedly, in waiting at the baggage claim. This experience did not meet my expectations.

One of the best flying experiences I’ve ever had.

737 Max was leaking water into the cabin through the windows. Overhead bins opened on landing. Bad bad plane.

Unfortunately this is not a happy ending comment. Positive: flown United before no issue Negative: it only takes one bad experience to not plan future travel with United Cancún departure was delayed by 1h20 minutes, connection in Chicago was 1h30 minutes. Flight departure time 6:08 Miraculously 7 of us ran 4 kilometres through Chicago to arrive at 6:00 to be told very rudely by the 2 unprofessional United attendants you missed your flight and that we should of arrived early. Did I mention that reason I was flying? I received a call that my brother was dying and to get home. They provided no assistance would not answer any of our questions, ignorantly walked away. Deplorable

I was not able to buy food in the flight. They refer to include your Credit card in the APP, and if you are not from USA (i have a credit card form Canada) it is not possible

This flight was a code share on Air New Zealand.

Horrible. Flight was delayed and very bumpy. I was super unhappy

The flight was awful. Apart from the flight delays, it was bumpy and uncomfortable. I feared for my life.

While I received notice that AA 478 was delayed, the flight departed PHX and arrived PHL more than two hours late. The first class cabin service was mediocre; there were no pre-departure beverages offered; there were no warm mixed nuts served with cocktails; there was no personal greeting to me as an Executive Platinum member by the first class flight attendant. While the flight operated safely, its arrival at 0219 in the morning in PHL ended a very long day. I do not feel that American provided first class service.

Don't often sit in 1st class. Our experience was great.

The main flight was OK but the second flight was chaotic with delays

No meal on a cross country flight? SFO-MiA is pretty much the definition of a coast to coast flight. No meal provided. Sky high wi-fi rates too. Stop nickel and diming your customers.

The 2 hour delay was frustrating but our crew did a great job getting us out quickly and keeping communication especially with the people who had connecting flights

Got a much appreciated surprise upgrade to an exit row and the crew was very friendly and helpful.

The only problem experienced was a ground stop in Chicago due to weather. But the crew handled everything professionally. They prioritized rebooking those passengers who had connecting flights and then deplaning the other passengers. When the hold was lifted, they efficiently re-boarded all the passengers so that we could depart before our departure limit expired.

The staff was unprofessional and didn’t communicate very well. The boarding process was very disheveled, potentially due to a power outage the previous day but there was no contingency plan to properly get passengers boarded the following day. Once boarded the aircraft stayed on the tarmac for over 45 minutes due to high winds. The communication was sporadic but an announcement was finally made an additional 30 minutes later that the flight was cancelled but we couldn’t get off the plane. Prior to deplaning one of the gate agents came on the plane and made an announcement for everyone to pickup their checked bags and take a card to rebook a new reservation because they didn’t have adequate staff. Flights were missed, passengers went to different airports and there was little to no assistance from AA.

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I slept through the longest flight in the world. Here's my secret. | Cruising Altitude

travelling to usa from singapore

SINGAPORE — I did a lot of flying last week, even as an airline reporter. My journeys even helped me complete an avgeek rite of passage: I took the longest flight in the world from New York to Singapore on March 11-13 and returned on March 16.

I flew as a guest of Singapore Airlines to cover updates to its premium economy service offerings, and also to experience these flights while they’re still the longest in the world. Qantas, the Australian Airline, is set to claim that title from Singapore when it inaugurates nonstop round-trip flights from Sydney to New York and London in mid-2026.

Those Qantas flights are anticipated to take up to 20 hours each way, but for now, Singapore’s 18+ hour services between New York and Singapore remain the longest regularly scheduled commercial flights, even when favorable winds sometimes help them cover the distance faster.

Flying ultra-long haul is similar in many ways to other flights: you’re still in a pressurized metal tube screaming through the troposphere, but as I heard from Singapore Airlines executives – and witnessed for myself – onboard service takes on an even greater importance when you spend nearly a full day in the air.

So, here’s what it was like aboard the longest flights in the world.

The importance of meals

Antony McNeil, Singapore Airlines’ food and beverage director, told me that meal timing and composition make a big difference to passenger comfort on extra-long flights.

“The intention is that within three hours of departing, you’ve already started your first meal service,” he said. “Then six, seven hours (later), the crew will come back, so midflight you’re eating quite a large meal. If you want to sleep on departure, you know you’re not going to miss out.” 

McNeil said it’s important that meals don’t leave passengers feeling too bloated on such long flights.

“The meals that we offer at those times of the flight allow you to rest more comfortably,” he said. “They’re really designed to help you feel fuller for longer, so you’re not looking for snacks. Some American carriers on long-haul flights, they’re serving you really creamy dishes, creamy pastas, they’re heavy, you don’t feel good after you’ve eaten them, whereas we want to reverse that, we want to go in the other direction. Feel good, feel better for longer, enjoy the experience.”

On the way to Singapore I had:

  • Smoked salmon salad
  • Garlic bread
  • Sea bass with potatoes (if memory serves correctly)
  • A Lindor chocolate ball
  • Noodles with chicken
  • Lamb chops 
  • A Kit Kat bar

On the way home I had:

  • Lots of tea and water
  • Duck confit
  • Chocolate mousse cake
  • Chicken satay
  • Beef au jus with polenta
  • Potato chips
  • Cheese and onion potato chips

Meals also help break up such ultra-long flights into more manageable chunks if you can’t manage to sleep. 

The flight from New York JFK departs around 11:30 p.m. daily and arrives two days later around 6:00 a.m. (i.e.: my flight departed on the night of March 11 and arrived in Singapore on the morning of March 13). I slept quite a bit on the way to Singapore, so didn’t experience the full service flow, but on the way home, the flight departed Singapore around 12:30 in the afternoon and arrived in New York around 6 p.m. On that flight, I really appreciated the meal timing, which was great for watching a movie and taking a nap between services, and helped the nearly 18 hours onboard feel arguably reasonable.

How it compares to shorter flights

McNeil said longer flights allow Singapore Airlines to offer more stretched-out delivery with every meal service.

“Compared to a short haul, let’s say you’re going from here to Jakarta, one hour 40 maybe, that’s one meal service. First class, business class is a tray, everything’s on the tray,” he said. “On a mid-haul flight, your service may have a table layout. You may get your tray, salad, appetizer, they’ll remove the tray and then bring you a plated main course, so there’s different service elements in the distances you’re traveling and it’s differentiated by flight departure, distance and, of course, what the crew can deliver within safety requirements.” 

Singapore Airlines also flies special aircraft on its ultra-long-haul flights. The Airbus A350-900ULR jets it uses have only two service classes onboard: premium economy and business class, meaning all travelers experience an elevated inflight service on the airline’s longest flights. 

Tips for sleeping like a pro on a plane

One thing I’m very fortunate about is that I tend to sleep well on planes, even in the cheap seats. I wasn’t paying close attention, but on the way to Singapore I think I managed 8-10 hours of sleep total. At any rate, I slept enough that one of the flight attendants commented to me as we prepared for landing that he was impressed with my ability to be unconscious. On the way home, I made an effort to stay awake so I’d be ready for bed at a normal time in New York, but still snuck in two two-hour naps between meals.

Just before leaving for Singapore, I also flew back from another assignment in Cape Town. On the nearly 16-hour flight to Atlanta, I again managed 7-8 hours of sleep. 

I don’t say all this to brag, I say it to help. 

What’s my secret? On the Singapore trip, it was sheer exhaustion, but on most flights of 10 hours or more, I have a routine that helps me get down.

I try to book a flight as late in the evening as possible so I’m already tired as we’re leaving. I do my best to stay awake through the first meal service, which typically happens within the first hour or two of the flight, and have dinner so I don’t wake up hungry midway through the journey. Then I take a dose of a well-known over-the-counter cough and cold medicine that makes you drowsy (in gel cap form) as I wait for the meal tray to get cleared.

I acknowledge that there’s some debate about the safety of taking a sleeping aid on a plane: if an emergency happens, I know I won’t be firing on all cylinders if I wake up from a medically-induced stupor to evacuate, but it’s a risk I’ve decided I’m willing to take to catch some Zs and help the flight pass more quickly.

This cold medicine routine has helped me log nearly a full night’s sleep on most 10-plus-hour flights I’ve taken in recent years, and I now hereby pass my professional traveler wisdom onto you.

So next time you’re flying an especially long distance, pay attention to what you’re choosing to eat, and consider taking a sleep aid you know you tolerate well.

Also: Don’t forget to drink plenty of water. It’s no secret that being on a plane for a long time can dry you out.

The reporter on this story received access to this event from Singapore Airlines. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

Singapore Airlines unveils improved Premium Economy Class dining options and amenity kits

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To improve the in-flight experience for the Premium Economy Class, SIA has developed 200 new appetisers, main courses and desserts, as well as an eco-friendly amenity kit. Available from Mar 31.

A display of nine new dishes from the Book The Cook menu that Premium Economy class passengers may pre-order for SIA’s flights at the unveiling of the airline’s revamped Premium Economy in-flight experience on Mar 14, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Eugene Goh)

This audio is AI-generated.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be taking its Premium Economy Class in-flight experience to new heights. From Mar 31, passengers in the cabin class can indulge in larger portions, finer ingredients and a handful of new dishes, as well as enjoy new eco-friendly amenity kits.

This overhaul marks SIA’s first comprehensive revamp of the Premium Economy Class in-flight experience since the cabin class was launched in 2015, said the airline in a press release.

travelling to usa from singapore

“At Singapore Airlines… our philosophy is to never stand still. We regularly gather customer feedback and conduct market research, learn more about the evolving value drivers for travellers, and find innovative ways to continue delivering a personalised and world-class in-flight experience,” said SIA’s Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Yeoh Phee Teik.

“Based on these insights, we have undertaken this comprehensive revamp of our Premium Economy Class in-flight offerings, which we believe will delight our customers. The result reflects Singapore Airlines’ dedication to enhancing the Premium Economy Class experience to a class of its own,” he added. 

Over about two years, SIA has developed new recipes for 48 appetisers, 175 main courses and 34 desserts. While some are enhanced versions of existing meals, there are also some fresh dishes being introduced.

For instance, nine new dishes have been added to the menu of Book The Cook, a service that allows passengers to pre-order a dish, 24 hours before departure, in SIA’s featured rotating selection of up to 20 dishes.

travelling to usa from singapore

These nine new dishes include beef bourguignon, roti jala with Malay-style lamb curry and plant-based options such as mushroom eggplant meatballs.

One notable dish is the local favourite minced pork noodles, bak chor mee. 

Speaking to CNA Lifestyle, SIA’s Global Food and Beverage Director Antony McNeil shared that this dish was one of the hardest ones to perfect as the team took 10 to 12 months and tried 90 different recipes.

travelling to usa from singapore

“Whilst (the bak chor mee) might seem to be a very simple hawker dish, it is actually complex in terms of layers and flavours, and trying to get the right balance for the customer experience,” he said in reference to the ratio of sauces, such as vinegar and sambal.

McNeil added that to ensure the dish was as authentic as possible, the team conducted market research by visiting hawker stalls renowned for bak chor mee.

As for the 11 other Book The Cook meals, changes have been made to the existing recipes. The nasi lemak, for example, will be served with rendang chicken instead of fried chicken. 

Other than the Book The Cook menu, SIA also altered the menus of their regional dishes.

Indian main courses will have more variety as SIA has added one more side dish to accompany the rice. Also new to the tray is popular Indian snack papadum – a crispy cracker.

travelling to usa from singapore

As for the Japanese meals, one new appetiser is the Japanese soba, which will change according to season. Green tea soba will be served in spring, followed by somen in summer, buckwheat soba in autumn and finally, udon in winter.

travelling to usa from singapore

SIA has also enhanced their Special Meals – the menu for those with dietary restrictions, whether it’s for allergies or religious reasons. 

This menu even provides choices for Child Meals, allowing parents – or children – to choose between Western, Asian and vegetarian dishes. More snacks have been added to the Child Meals as well.

travelling to usa from singapore

Meanwhile, SIA’s panel of wine experts exclusively curated the 2023 Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc and 2022 St Hallett Faith Shiraz for the alcoholic drinks menu.

travelling to usa from singapore

There are new non-alcoholic drinks too, such as the peppermint and chamomile teas, as well as the hot chocolate from chocolate brand Cadbury. 

To complement these upgraded menus, SIA has improved the presentation of their meals. 

Accompanied by neatly tucked silverware, dishes will be served in contemporary, specially-designed porcelain with a stoneware finish on a linen-lined tray.

travelling to usa from singapore

Aesthetics aside, there are also practical purposes behind the change in serviceware.

Porcelain, a lightweight and durable material, is a sustainable replacement for the single-use plastic serviceware currently used. Besides that, it also retains heat, allowing the food to remain at a desired temperature for longer periods of time.

The new serviceware leaves room for more food to be packed in as well. 

McNeil shared that SIA wanted to maximise the space of their trays. “It just becomes a matter of process, to make sure we know what fits, what looks good, and how good it looks. We don’t look necessarily at weight first, we look at composition and we look at the visual,” he said.

When asked if SIA foresees an increase in food wastage, he said no as the meals are about the same as what people can get at standard restaurants, adding that the in-flight catering might be the passenger’s only meal for the whole day. 

travelling to usa from singapore

The amenity kit also received an extensive revamp. 

Based on evolving customer preferences and a demand for more sustainable materials, SIA collaborated with Out Of The Woods, a US-based manufacturer of eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle products, to introduce a new amenity kit for the Premium Economy Class.

travelling to usa from singapore

The pouch itself is made from eco-friendly Forest Steward Council (FSC)-certified kraft paper fabric, while the eyeshades and slippers that come with it are made from recycled PET material.

Another addition is a lip balm packaged in biodegradable material.

Unlike the current amenity kit, toiletries such as dental kits and moisturisers are not included, though they will be available in the lavatory on board the flight.

The new amenity kits are available only upon request on board flights that are seven hours and longer.

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Nikon could be about to launch the ultimate travel lens: a full-frame 28-400mm

It could be the last lens you buy for your Nikon

The Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 lens attached to a Nikon camera held up to person's eye with summer ocean backdrop

A new rumor about Nikon's next full-frame launch has certainly grabbed the attention, because if true we could soon see one of the most versatile and best Nikon Z lenses available that boasts a 15x optical zoom (approx). Details are sketchy at this point, but Nikon Rumors has shared a few details about what it believes will be a Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4.0-8.0.

The first point to note is that unmatched zoom range for full-frame. It covers your standard perspective – roughly that of a camera phone at the wide end – but then can zoom in more than 14x up to 400mm. This kind of coverage would make the rumored 28-400mm an ideal travel lens, able to capture everything from wide vistas and close-up street photography to distant details you can't get close to.

This would be be a full-frame lens that effectively does the job of a bagful of lenses singlehandedly, yet it's still expected to be compact and lightweight, adding to its travel appeal, and making it an ideal pairing with one of Nikon's entry-level full-frame models like the Nikon Z5 or Z6 / Z6 II , or even the retro Zf . 

Its maximum aperture would likely be f/4 at 28mm and f/8 when fully zoomed in, but we don't know over what section of the zoom range the maximum aperture drops from f/4 to f/8. This lens won't offer the creamiest bokeh and shallow depth of field in a way that a prime lens can, but it is designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras with which you'll get cameraphone-beating snaps. The last point to note at this stage is that Nikon Rumors says this will not be a 'S' lens – nomenclature for Nikon's professional lenses. Put simply, we can expect a compact 28-400mm lens such as this to offer versatility over outright image quality and low-light performance. 

We don't know the price of the lens yet, but it's tipped to be announced on March 26 or 27, so we might not have to wait long to find out more.

Could this be the last lens you buy for Nikon?

When I first purchased a Nikon DSLR for APS-C it came with a versatile 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens that has an equivalent 27-300mm focal length. My lens lacked the optical quality of the prime lenses that I consequently picked up, but it sure was versatile. It really could be the only lens I needed to pack for a holiday, even if I occasionally wished for a second lens for portraits.

Nikon's Z-mount lenses usually perform better than similar DSLR lenses, especially when shooting at the maximum aperture, and so I'd expect this rumored new lens for Z-mount to be sharper than my old one for DSLR, even with its longer zoom and greater versatility. 

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Optically, it won't be quite as sharp as a prime like the 35mm f/1.8 pictured above or a moderate-zoom lens, or be equipped for low-light photography on account of its smaller maximum aperture. However, with today's best AI image editors , which can work wonders to improve detail in our pictures by sharpening detail and reducing noise, outright quality is less of an issue – and the case for relying on a super-versatile lens like the 28-400mm is only stronger.

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Timothy Coleman

Tim is the Cameras editor at TechRadar. He has enjoyed more than 15 years in the photo video industry with most of those in the world of tech journalism. During his time as Deputy Technical Editor with Amateur Photographer, as a freelancer and consequently editor at Tech Radar, Tim has developed a deeply technical knowledge and practical experience with cameras, educating others through news, reviews and features. He’s also worked in video production for Studio 44 with clients including Canon, and volunteers his spare time to consult a non-profit, diverse stories team based in Nairobi. Tim is curious, a keen creative, avid footballer and runner, and moderate flat white drinker who has lived in Kenya and believes we have much to enjoy and learn from each other. 

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  1. ESTA

    An official website of the United States government. Here's how you know ... (CBP) announced that the fee for travelers intending to travel to the United States with an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) has increased from $14 to $21. As a result of Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (PL 115-123), which extended the ESTA fee ...

  2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

    As visa requirements often change at short notice, we advise you to contact your travel agency, or the United States Embassy in Singapore (Email: support-singapore@ ustraveldocs.com, Tel: +65 3158 5400) for up-to-date information.

  3. Singapore International Travel Information

    Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories.

  4. Visas

    Note: U.S. citizens do not need a U.S. visa for travel to the United States. When planning travel abroad a U.S. citizen may need a visa issued by the embassy or consulate of the country they wish to visit. What Type of Visa Do You Need? For short-term visits to the United States (for tourism, business, education, and more), you can go directly ...

  5. Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S

    Updated Date: April 21, 2022 Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.

  6. United States Travel Restrictions

    Find continuously updated travel restrictions for the United States such as border, vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements. ... Can I travel to the United States from Singapore? Most visitors from Singapore, regardless of vaccination status, can enter the United States.

  7. Singapore Travel Advisory

    Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.. Exercise normal precautions in Singapore. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Singapore.. If you decide to travel to Singapore: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.; Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.

  8. COVID-19 international travel advisories

    COVID-19 testing and vaccine rules for entering the U.S. As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant visitors to the U.S. arriving by air or arriving by land or sea no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As of June 12, 2022, people entering the U.S. no longer need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. U.S. citizens traveling to a country outside the U.S.

  9. United States ESTA

    The US Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is an online platform that allows citizens of visa waiver countries, like Singapore, to obtain authorization to enter the United States, providing they meet the ESTA requirements.. Singaporean travelers can use the ESTA to visit the country for the purposes of tourism, business, or transit without the hassle of going to apply for a B1/B2 ...

  10. Enter Singapore quarantine-free

    General Travel. All travellers are welcome to Singapore regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. Travellers from eligible countries/regions will also be able to use the automated lanes during arrival for immigration clearance at our checkpoints under the Automated Clearance Initiative.. From 13 February, all travellers can enter Singapore with no entry approvals, pre-departure tests, on ...

  11. VTL travellers from US to Singapore can use digital vaccination record

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  12. Can I travel to Singapore? Travel Restrictions & Entry ...

    Restaurants in Singapore are open. Bars in Singapore are . Find continuously updated travel restrictions for Singapore such as border, vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and quarantine requirements.

  13. Entering Singapore

    All travellers are required to submit the SG Arrival Card within three (3) days (including the day of arrival) before arriving in Singapore, except: Those transiting/transferring through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance; and. Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders entering via land checkpoints.

  14. COVID-19 Information

    COVID-19 Testing. ART self-test kits are available in retail pharmacies for approximately $5 USD per test. Administered ART and PCR tests are available at hospitals and clinics throughout Singapore. Costs for administered tests range from approximately $15 USD to $150 USD, depending on the provider and type of test.

  15. Advice for Singaporeans Travelling to the US with Non Machine-Readable

    Under the Patriot Act introduced by the United States of America (US) in 2001, foreign nationals visiting the US under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) are required to have a machine readable passport with effect from 1 October 2003. ... This allows Singapore citizens travelling on Singapore Passports to enter USA without having to obtain a US ...

  16. Traveling to US from Singapore in 2024: Passport, Visa Requirements

    Singapore citizens who are planning a trip to United States of America aren't required to apply for a visa if they wish to go for short stays (tourism). But it's required to obtain an electronic travel authorization (eTA or eVisa) before entering United States of America. Find more information about electronic visas in our articles.

  17. Travel to Singapore during Covid-19

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  18. A Comparison of Direct Flights from Singapore to the USA

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  19. Singapore to United States

    Rome2Rio makes travelling from Singapore to United States easy. Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Singapore to United States right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and ...

  20. Find cheap flights from Singapore to the United States from

    View more. Find flights to the United States from $334. Fly from Singapore on Philippine Airlines, China Airlines, Cathay Pacific and more. Search for the United States flights on KAYAK now to find the best deal.

  21. United States to Singapore

    Rome2Rio makes travelling from United States to Singapore easy. Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from United States to Singapore right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and ...

  22. Singapore Moves to Make Visitor Travel In and Out Even Easier

    Singapore is making it even easier for people to come and go from the tropical city-state, allowing drivers crossing into the country through two land checkpoints to use a QR code instead of their ...

  23. Travel Advisory for Singapore

    Reconsider travel to Singapore. Singapore - Level 3: Reconsider Travel Reconsider travel to Singapore due to COVID-19. Read the Department of State's COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Singapore due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country.

  24. What it's like to take the world's longest flight

    The reporter on this story received access to this event from Singapore Airlines. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York.

  25. Fancy flying: 5 airports with grand amenities

    Recently, a study from All Clear Travel Insurance analyzed almost 2,000 airports, highlighting amenities like designer shops, high-end hotels and passenger lounges that boast champagne bars ...

  26. Singapore Airlines unveils improved Premium Economy Class dining

    A display of the amenities that Premium Economy class passengers will receive on board SIA's flights at the unveiling of the airline's revamped Premium Economy in-flight experience on Mar 14, 2024. The new kit is created in collaboration with Out of the Woods, a US-based manufacturer of eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle products.

  27. Nikon could be about to launch the ultimate travel lens: a full-frame

    This kind of coverage would make the rumored 28-400mm an ideal travel lens, able to capture everything from wide vistas and close-up street photography to distant details you can't get close to.

  28. Book Air Canada flights to Singapore (SIN) from USD 1,242*

    Aeroplan member exclusive hotel deals in Singapore. With Aeroplan HotelSavers get up to 5,000 points back when you redeem for a hotel stay in Singapore through our member-exclusive platform, like the Capella Singapore. Valid for travel between April 3 and October 31, 2024. Book now

  29. ESTA

    If you have any questions or inquiries about ESTA, you can visit the CBP Info Center website for information, or contact CBP's Travel Communications Center - ESTA Helpdesk: +1 (202) 344 3710 . The ESTA helpdesk operations hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except closure on U.S. federal holidays. News.