Travellers will soon enjoy the convenience of passport-less clearance at the bus halls of Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints, as well as at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS), from 16 December 2024. Passport-less clearance will take the form of QR code clearance at the land checkpoints, and token-less clearance at the air and sea checkpoints.

QR Code Clearance at Bus Halls of the Land Checkpoints

2.          On 21 November 2024, ICA had announced that trials would be conducted at selected automated lanes and Special Assistance Lanes (SALs) at the arrival and departure bus halls of Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints. As of 1 December 2024, more than 48,000 travellers had participated in the trials. Feedback from these travellers has enabled ICA to finetune and improve the QR code clearance experience for bus travellers.

3.          Following these trials, ICA will roll out QR code clearance progressively at all automated lanes and SALs at the bus halls of both Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints, commencing with Tuas Checkpoint, from 16 December 2024. ICA is targeting to complete the implementation at both land checkpoints by mid-January 2025.

4.          All bus passengers, including travellers using wheelchairs and family groups of up to four persons, will be able to enjoy QR code clearance at the bus halls of the land checkpoints. First-time foreign visitors and those re-entering Singapore using a different passport from the previous trip will need to present their passport for immigration clearance. They will be able to clear immigration using QR code on their subsequent trips.

5.          Family groups of up to four members using the SAL can expect time savings of up to 40 seconds (from about 2 minutes currently with passports, to about 1 minute and 20 seconds with group QR code clearance) as they can simply present one group QR code for immigration clearance, instead of scanning multiple passports.

6.          With the full implementation of QR code clearance at the bus halls, ICA would have completed the roll-out of the passport-less clearance initiative for all modes of transport at the land checkpoints.^[1] As of 1 December 2024, close to 28 million travellers had used the QR code for immigration clearance at the land checkpoints.

7.          We urge all travellers at the land checkpoints to use the QR code for faster and more convenient immigration clearance. Those using a group QR code should ensure that the passport details stored in the group QR code tally with those seeking immigration clearance. Travellers are also encouraged to present the QR code using the MyICA mobile application instead of using printed or screenshot copies.

Token-less Clearance at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore

8.          ICA had implemented token-less clearance at all the terminals of Changi Airport since 30 September 2024, reducing the average clearance time from 25 seconds to 10 seconds per traveller. From 16 December 2024, ICA will extend token-less clearance to MBCCS. Singapore residents (Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass holders) arriving and departing at MBCCS can clear immigration using simply their facial and iris biometrics, and do not need to present their passport. All foreign travellers will also be able to enjoy the same convenience when they depart Singapore.

9.           With this, travellers at MBCCS can expect shorter queues and waiting time when clearing immigration. ICA will progressively implement token-less clearance at the remaining sea checkpoints.

Advisory to Travellers

10.           Even as we move towards passport-less clearance, travellers will still need to bring along their passport as it may be required for immigration clearance at their destination countries. ICA may also require some travellers to produce their passport for verification.

^[1] ICA implemented QR code clearance for car travellers on 19 March 2024, bus drivers on 15 April 2024, motorcyclists and their pillion riders on 15 August 2024, and cargo vehicle drivers and their accompanying assistants on 30 August 2024.

Annex: Infographic on QR code for immigration clearance at the bus halls of the land checkpoints