From 19 March 2024, travellers arriving and departing Singapore by car via Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints can use QR codes in lieu of passports for faster and more convenient immigration clearance. This means that instead of handing their passports to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at the car counter, they will only need to have scanned a single QR code which they generate prior to arriving at the checkpoint, for all the travellers in the car.

Use of QR Code in lieu of Passport at the Car Counters for Immigration Clearance

2.           ICA has been leveraging technology to make immigration clearance more convenient and efficient, but without compromising on security.

Populating Passport Details

3.           To use the QR code for immigration clearance, travellers will need to download the MyICA mobile application on their mobile device and populate their passport details in the application to generate a unique QR code.^[1]

• Singapore residents can either auto-populate their passport details via SingPass when they access the MyICA mobile application, or use the built-in camera function in the mobile application to scan the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) of their passport biodata page.^[2],^[3]
  

• Foreign visitors who have visited Singapore before can use the built-in camera function within the MyICA mobile application to scan the MRZ of their passport biodata page to auto-populate their passport information.
  
  
• First-time visitors and those re-entering Singapore using a different passport from their last visit to Singapore will need to present their physical passport for immigration clearance. They will be able to use QR code for immigration clearance on their subsequent trips.

Generating QR Code

4.          Once the passport details are populated, travellers can generate an individual QR code or a group QR code. Travellers in the same car can populate their passport details and generate one group QR code for immigration clearance. For example, a family of four can have their passport details stored in the MyICA mobile application on one family member’s phone, and generate a family group QR code for immigration clearance.

5.          Travellers can also create multiple QR codes for travels with different groups of people. Up to 10 travellers’ passport details can be included in one group QR code and each group QR code can be stored and named in the application (e.g., ‘Family’ or ‘Friends’). The QR codes generated are encrypted, and can only be retrieved and decrypted by ICA.

Clearing Immigration using QR Code

6.          Travellers can scan their QR code stored in the MyICA mobile application, by the QR code scanners at the arrival and departure car counters at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Once the QR code is scanned, ICA officers will conduct face-to-face checks of the traveller(s) using the data retrieved backend through the QR code. Those travelling in a group must use a group QR code containing the passport details of those travelling in the same vehicle. QR codes that do not tally with the details and number of travellers in the vehicle will be rejected.

Faster, Contactless and Convenient Clearance

7.          The QR code initiative allows travellers to enjoy a faster and more convenient experience, with estimated time savings of around 20 seconds for cars with four travellers, to approximately one minute for cars with 10 travellers. Overall waiting time can be reduced by more than 30% if most car travellers use QR code for clearance. This initiative also offers travellers contactless and more hygienic immigration clearance.

8.          Even after this initiative is rolled out, travellers can still opt to present their physical passport to the ICA officer at the counter, as per current practice.

Upcoming Initiatives at the Land Checkpoints

9.           ICA plans to progressively extend QR code clearance to the other clearance zones at the land checkpoints. This will allow travellers in other means of conveyance to also enjoy faster and more convenient immigration clearance. Details will be announced in due course.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
12 MARCH 2024