Traffic flow through the land checkpoints at Woodlands and Tuas is expected to be heavy during the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays. Departing traffic is expected to be heavy between Friday, 17 January and Tuesday, 28 January 2020 while arrival traffic is expected to be heavy between Saturday, 25 January and Tuesday, 28 January.

2          About 415,000 travellers use the land checkpoints daily and this number increases during the festive peak periods. For the Friday before Christmas last year, we cleared 475,000 travellers across the land checkpoints – the highest number we have seen in recent years. Travellers using the land checkpoints during this Lunar New Year holiday season can expect delays.

Travellers Have a Part to Play

3          Security at our checkpoints remains the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)’s top priority against any potential threats to Singapore. With security checks coupled with large number of travellers using the checkpoints at the same time, traffic build-up is inevitable and delays can be expected. Travellers should factor the additional time needed for immigration clearance into their plans.

4          Before setting off on their journey, travellers are reminded to check and ensure that they bring their rightful passports with a remaining validity of six months or more. During peak periods, ICA has encountered many instances of travellers turning up at the land checkpoints either with a wrong passport, or without a passport. Such cases will cause unnecessary delays, add to traffic build-up and inconvenience other travellers. ICA would also like to remind travellers that passports which have been reported lost can no longer be used for travelling even if they are found subsequently. These passports will be cancelled by ICA, and any attempt to use them is an offence under the Passports Act and may be punished by a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both. Passports that have been recovered must be surrendered to ICA within 14 days. Failure to surrender the recovered passport is an offence under the Passports Regulations and may be punishable by a fine of up to $3,000 or imprisonment for up to 2 years, or both.

5          Travellers are also reminded not to bring in prohibited items such as firecrackers, “Pop-Pop” or controlled items such as ‘bak kwa’, eggs and potted plants. If travellers bring in dutiable or controlled items, they should proactively make declarations to our officers prior to checks.

Submit Electronic Arrival Card

6          Foreign visitors^[1] are encouraged to submit their arrival cards online via the “SG Arrival Card” e-Service on the ICA website (eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard) or mobile application (available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store) for greater convenience. They can submit the electronic arrival cards up to 14 days ahead of their arrival in Singapore. This means that they do not need to fill up the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation card and will only need to produce their passports for immigration clearance upon arrival.

Traffic Information

7          There were many instances of queue-cutting at both land checkpoints during peak periods. ICA advises against this as it can cause severe congestion and compromise motorists’ safety. Motorists are reminded to observe traffic rules, maintain lane discipline at all times and cooperate with checkpoint officers to ensure a safe environment at the checkpoints.

8          Before embarking on the journey, motorists are advised to check the traffic situation at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints through the One Motoring website or via the Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) installed along the BKE and AYE respectively. Motorists can also check the ICA’s Facebook and Twitter for updates on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints.

Clearance Efficiency Without Compromising Security

9          The ICA will continue to take necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security. Our checkpoint officers will continue to monitor traffic conditions on a real time basis and ensure optimal deployment of resources. We will also continue to work with the Traffic Police to ensure road discipline at the critical junctions leading to the land checkpoints. We seek travellers’ understanding and cooperation when using the land checkpoints during the peak periods.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
15 JANUARY 2020