Singapore and Germany have agreed on a reciprocal green lane allowing essential travel for business or official purposes via direct flights between both countries.

This is the first such agreement between Singapore and a European country amid the pandemic, and could pave the way for similar arrangements with other European countries including the UK.

Operational details of the green lane, including the procedural requirements, health protocols and application process, will be announced at a later date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office said in a joint statement.

Germany also announced yesterday that Singapore residents will be able to enter the European country again for short-term stays, without the need for quarantine on arrival.

This follows the European Council’s recommendation this week that member countries of the European Union gradually lift entry restrictions for Singapore residents.

Singapore also has travel arrangements with 10 other countries such as Malaysia and Australia, with varied restrictions.