THE Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) today said it has further ramped up resources to handle the surge in Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) applications since the reopening of the Malaysia-Singapore land border on April 1, 2022.

“With the additional resourcing, VEP processing time is expected to be progressively reduced from seven weeks to three weeks,” it said on its website.

“To date, we have received around 120,000 VEP applications,” it said.

According to LTA, applicants will be notified of the expected processing time at the point of application.

Since applications opened on March 31, 2022, about 50,000 applicants or around 40% of total applications have received the outcomes of their applications ahead of the stated processing time at the point of application.

LTA assured the remaining applicants that they can expect to have their applications processed within three weeks.

LTA advised travellers to plan ahead and “strongly encouraged” leisure travellers to defer their plans to allow those with essential travel needs to make their trips first.

Earlier on April 8, LTA said it had received around 76,000 VEP applications as of April 7, 2022.

“This is more than six times the weekly average before the land borders were closed,” it said.

Application of the VEP must be done online beforehand via VEP Digital Services on LTA’s OneMotoring website and not at Singapore’s land checkpoints. 

When applying for the VEP, applicants should also ensure they have clear copies of all required documents such as their identity cards or passports, immigration pass cards, vehicle registration certificates, vehicle certificates of insurance, and vehicle road tax discs. 

Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles must have LTA’s VEP approval email and valid Autopass card before they travel to Singapore.

Those without Autopass cards must refer to LTA’s VEP approval email for instructions to collect their Autopass cards at LTA’s Johor Baru Service Centre located at 34, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Susur 1, 80000, Johor Baru, Johor, before entering Singapore. – Bernama, April 18, 2022.