Updated on 11 Nov 2020

This is the news that all of us have been waiting for! Singapore and Hong Kong to start a leisure travel bubble which will exempt residents from quarantine requirements.

The governments of Singapore and Hong Kong have announced plans to open up what will be the first leisure ‘travel bubble’ for residents in both cities, with COVID-19 testing replacing quarantine requirements at either end of the journey.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor revealed on 27 October 2020 that Hong Kong’s travel bubble with Singapore is expected to go ahead in November.

Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung announced in a media conference on November 11 that Singapore and Hong Kong will start their air travel bubble between the two countries on November 22.

Travellers under the Singapore & Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble (ATB) will have take note of the following:

1. There are no restrictions on travel purpose.

2. Travellers under the ATB will be subject to mutually recognised Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and would need to have negative test results.

3. Travellers under the ATB will be required to travel on dedicated flights that will only serve ATB travellers and no transit passengers or non-ATB travellers will be allowed on board.

4. Travellers under the ATB will not be subject to any quarantine or SHN requirements, or a controlled itinerary.

5. The ATB can be scaled by adjusting the number of dedicated flights upwards or downwards, or even suspended, in line with the latest developments and Covid-19 situation in the two cities.

6. All travellers, from both countries, need to be tested within 72 hours of departure.

7. Travellers from Singapore must book tickets on the designated bubble flight, and will have to book a PCR test with ICA, from now till 30 November, at least 7 days before departure.

8. Those who travel to Hong Kong will also have to take an arrival test, which will take up to four hours.

9. Travellers who test positive for Covid-19 will have to pay their own medical costs.

There are no details on ‘designated flights’ yet, but if you are planning to make use of the travel bubble to go to Hong Kong for a trip, you can consider making a hotel booking with free cancellation first before the prices shoot up.

Read our guides on the best places to visit in Hong Kong.