It’s the start of a new year, and it’s time to learn about new cultures and discover new countries. One of the countries that Filipinos can easily travel to is Singapore. Just like a busy day going from Makati to Quezon, Singapore is just an hour away from the Philippines. So, rather than getting stuck in traffic, have a short vacation to Singapore with your family or friends.
To get to know more about this Southeast Asian city-state, Liberty Insurance will help guide you on what you need, what you can do, and what you should try for your trip to Singapore. And to maximize your holiday, Liberty Insurance offers Travel Insurance PA, so you can indeed Travel Worry Free to Singapore.
Requirements for Filipino traveling to Singapore
Visa Requirements for Filipino Travelers
Filipino Passport holders traveling to Singapore for short-term leisure or tourism trips won’t need a visa and can stay up to 30 days. However, Filipino travelers still have to apply for the Singapore Arrival Card before they travel to Singapore.
Arrival Card for Filipino Travelers
Beginning in 2019, the Singapore government implemented the Singapore Arrival Card for all foreign nationals visiting Singapore, including Filipino citizens. This replaced the previous paper-based Disembarkation Card for foreign arrivals.
Before traveling to Singapore, Filipino citizens need to apply for and obtain their SG Arrival Card. Fortunately, Singapore has made it easy for anyone to apply. There is no need to go to the Singapore embassy or consulate. All you need is internet connection and a few minutes of your time to apply for the arrival card. Applicants must fill out the online application form and pay the processing fee using a credit or debit card. The Singapore Arrival Card application form will require the following information:
- Personal details: full name, nationality, date, and place of birth
- Philippine passport: Passport data, including number, issuing country, date of issuance, and expiry (at least 6 months of validity from the date of travel)
- Contact details: home address, phone number, and email address
- Travel plans/itinerary: travel dates and accommodation details
- Health declaration
The Singapore Arrival Card Applications are usually processed just within 48 hours. But to be safe, it is suggested that travelers should apply 5 days before the departure to give time to the processing and the validity. It is also worth taking note that travelers must enter Singapore in the three days following the approval of their SG Arrival Card, or it will expire. SG Arrival Card is only valid for a single entry. Filipino travelers who wish to re-enter Singapore must apply for an SG Arrival Card each time they travel.
Vaccine Requirements for Filipino Travelers
Another good reason Filipinos should travel to Singapore is the lenient COVID-19 measures. Since August 2022, the Singapore government has allowed all foreign travelers, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, to explore Singapore without needing to quarantine. However, there are still pre-departure requirements for Fully Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Travelers. Take note of the following:
Fully Vaccinated Filipino Travelers
- 3 days before departure: Submit SG Arrival Card and e-health declaration
- Proof of Vaccination/Vaccination Card
Unvaccinated Filipino Travelers
- 2 days before departure: Take a professionally-administered COVID-19 PCR Test or Antigen Rapid Test
- Travel insurance that covers COVID-19, with at least SGD 30,000 or around Php1,200,000 medical coverage. Liberty Insurance offers a Travel PA with COVID-19 hospitalization coverage of Php 1,500,000, perfect for the trip to Singapore! This Travel Insurance is also extended up to 14 days upon arrival in the Philippines.
Other requirements for Filipino citizens
- Onward travel ticket or return ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds for the trip to Singapore
Must-See Places in Singapore
Despite being the smallest country in Southeast Asia, Singapore offers some of the most exciting places to visit. From luxurious malls for shoppers to galleries for art enthusiasts, Singapore has every corner for your delight.
Marina Bay Sands
One of the first things that come to mind when you think of Singapore will surely be Marina Bay Sands. This resort complex has a high-end luxury hotel, casino, mall, and entertainment venues. Without needing to stay in its hotel, a must-visit in this resort is the ArtScience Museum to explore art, science, culture, and technology integrated together. As well as the Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck to see a great view of the entire city.
Gardens by the Bay
Whether it’s the longing for inspiration for architecture, design, and engineering, or just the love for nature, Gardens by the Bay is a must-see. After visiting Marina Bay Sands, it’s the perfect time to take a 10-minute walk to Gardens by the Bay and wander away at one of Singapore’s most well-known attractions. Famous for the Supertree Grove structures and its tallest indoor waterfall, this national garden takes you away from city life to enjoy the vibrant plant kingdom. Its biodiversity and environmentally sustainable efforts let you walk through the beautifully designed green space, including Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy, OCBC Skyway, Supertree Observatory, and the new Garden Pod.
National Gallery Singapore
Did you know that the National Gallery Singapore is the home of the most extensive public collection of modern art in Southeast Asia? Divided between two national monuments, the City Hall and the former Supreme Court, this leading visual arts museum holds 9,000-plus works, mainly focusing on the artworks of Singaporean and neighboring Asian artists from the 19th century. To immerse yourself more in its historical paintings, National Gallery Singapore offers free tours in English. And suppose you’re lucky while you’re in Singapore, the gallery hosts temporary exhibits, workshops, open performances, and special presentations for adults and children.
Universal Studios Singapore
Spend a day experiencing a Hollywood-like journey in Singapore! Located in Resorts World Sentosa, the 20-hectare theme park is arranged for you to feel like you’re in your favorite film and TV show with characters, restaurants, shops, and rides. Universal Studios Singapore will take you on a journey to Hollywood, New York, Madagascar, Ancient Egypt, Shrek’s Far Far Away, Lost World, Sci-Fi City, and even Jurassic Park’s Lost World.
Orchard Road
If you’re already tired of sightseeing, then it’s time to prepare your money and start a spending spree in the retail heaven for shoppers. Known as one of the shopaholics’ favorite stops for its luxurious style, Orchard Road is Singapore’s top destination for shopping with its 20+ malls and department stores. This world-class shopping district offers you more than retail stores but also restaurants serving international food, cafes, movie theaters, and museums.
Must Try Singaporean Food
While you’re away from the chicken adobo and pork sinigang, there are these dishes that you need to try in Singapore.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
Known as Singapore’s national dish, Hainanese Chicken Rice is a poached chicken accompanied by rice cooked in chicken stock. To make it more mouthwatering, this dish is served with sprigs of coriander leaf, sesame oil, and garlic-chili dip.
Laksa
Inspired by Chinese and Malay cuisines, the spicy coconut milk-based rice noodle soup, mixed with shrimp, fish cakes, egg, and chicken meat, offers many versions. But the most well-known version is Katong Laksa. And to add more to it, cockles and tofu puffs are sometimes added.
Hokkien Mee
Known initially as Rochor Mee, Hokkien Mee is served with stir-fried thick, flat egg noodles mixed with flavorful ingredients, including prawns, squid, fish cake, and chicken or pork. This is seasoned with soy sauce, vinegar, and chili. And you should remember to use the sambal sauce and lime wedge.
Satay
Although Satay is known to be a Malaysian and Indonesian dish, it’s still worth a bite in Singapore. The favorite street food by most tourists, Satay is marinated bite-size pieces of grilled meat, pork, chicken, beef, or mutton, served with rice cake, peanut sauce, and cucumber-chili relish.
Ice Kacang
To beat the heat in Singapore, Ice Kacang can refresh your traveling body on a hot day. Like our own Halo-halo, Ice Kacang is made of grated ice mixed with sweet syrups, jelly, red beans, corn, and attap seeds.
Get a Travel Insurance
Regardless if you’re flying to Singapore vaccinated or not, it’s always best to have a Liberty Travel Insurance to ease your mind so you can Travel Worry Free! Liberty Insurance offers Travel Insurance covering for unexpected travel expenses and losses such as personal accidents, travel inconveniences, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, and more. Once you have purchased Liberty Travel Insurance, you’ll have coverage starting 24 hours before your international trip, 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance, and a cashless basis for claims.
Liberty Insurance Corporation
Head Office: JCS Building 119 Dela Rosa corner Carlos Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Telephone No: 8819 – 1961 to 66
Fax No.: 818 – 8639 / 819 – 5217
