Passport-Less Immigration Clearance to be Rolled Out Progressively at Changi Airport from August 2024
Travellers will enjoy passport-less immigration clearance at Changi Airport starting from August 2024. This is part of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) plan to strengthen border security, and at the same time enhance the traveller experience, by digitalising border clearance. Under the New Clearance Concept (NCC), all travellers will enjoy automated clearance[1], and all Singapore residents and eligible foreign travellers will enjoy immigration clearance without having to present their passport.
Passport-less Immigration Clearance
2. There are two types of passport-less immigration clearance, to provide travellers with hassle-free and faster clearance.
- Token-less clearance at air and sea checkpoints: Singapore residents[2] at both arrival and departure, and all foreign travellers at departure, clear immigration using simply facial and iris biometrics, without the need to present their passport.
- QR code clearance at land checkpoints: Travellers use a QR code, instead of presenting their passport, during immigration clearance.[3]
3. Token-less clearance is possible at the air and sea checkpoints as ICA would know beforehand, the travellers who are coming through the checkpoints, from the advance manifests submitted by airline and ship operators.
4. At the land checkpoints, such traveller information is not available beforehand. As such, ICA has introduced the QR code as a token of identification in lieu of the passport, for faster and more convenient border clearance for both individuals and groups of travellers. Group QR codes can be stored and reused for future trips if the travel group remains the same.
QR Code Clearance to be Extended to Motorcyclists at Land Checkpoints by August 2024
5. ICA has been progressively implementing the QR code clearance initiative for travellers at the land checkpoints, starting with car travellers on 19 March 2024. On 15 April 2024, ICA extended the initiative to bus drivers. Today, over 70% of car travellers and bus drivers use the QR code for immigration clearance. ICA will be extending the initiative to motorcyclists and pillion riders, and cargo vehicle drivers and accompanying assistants, by August 2024, and to bus passengers by December 2024. The initiative will save travellers at the land checkpoints about 30% in time taken to clear immigration.
Token-less Clearance at Air and Sea Checkpoints to Start from 5 August 2024
6. We will be conducting live trials for arriving Singapore residents to enjoy token-less clearance at selected automated lanes in Changi Airport Terminal 3 from 5 August 2024. Token-less clearance will be progressively implemented at all terminals in Changi Airport by September 2024 and Marina Bay Cruise Centre by December 2024. Token-less clearance reduces the time taken for travellers to clear immigration by 40%.
Travellers Must Still Bring Along Their Passport
7. Even as we implement passport-less immigration clearance at Singapore’s checkpoints, travellers will still need their passport for immigration clearance overseas. ICA may also occasionally require travellers to produce their passport for verification.
8. ICA officers will continue to be around to help travellers who require assistance with automated and passport-less immigration clearance.
IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
31 JULY 2024
[1] Children below the age of six years will not be able to use the automated lanes for immigration clearance.
[2] Singapore residents include Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders.
[3] 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.
