Passport-less clearance fully available at Changi Airport, average clearance time of 10 seconds
Since 30 Sep, ICA has fully implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals at Changi Airport
It now takes an average of just 10 seconds to clear immigration at Changi Airport, with travellers having to use only their biometrics. On Oct 24, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said that since Sept 30, it has fully implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals at Changi Airport.
Singapore residents can now clear immigration there by using just facial and iris biometrics, without having to present their passports. Foreign visitors will still need to produce their passports upon arrival, but can use just their biometrics when they depart. The previous average clearance time for each traveller was 25 seconds, said ICA.
Travellers, such as those with young children, who have to use the Special Assistance Lanes will still have to present their passports to clear immigration. All travellers must submit their SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival in Singapore. As at Oct 15, almost 1.5 million travellers have cleared immigration without having to present a passport. These include those who were involved in a trial in August.
You only need 10 seconds to pass through Changi immigration
Changi Airport in Singapore has adopted facial recognition and iris biometrics to accelerate passenger processing.
The city-state’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority reports a significant reduction in wait times since the system’s full launch in September. The new system has reduced immigration processing times by 60%, from an average of 25 seconds to just 10 seconds.
The technology is operating across all four passenger terminals. This allows Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders to pass through immigration without a passport. Foreign visitors are still required to present travel documents upon arrival. However, they can use passport-less clearance when leaving Singapore.
Airport Scraps Passport Checks, Cuts Wait Times to 10 Seconds
It is the first in the world to implement a passport-free immigration check for residents of the country
Singapore's Changi Airport has eliminated the need for passports at its immigration checkpoints, cutting wait times for travelers to just 10 seconds. The initiative, which fully rolled out across all four terminals on September 30, marks a leap in airport efficiency and security, using advanced facial and iris biometric technology to streamline the process.
Under the new system, Singapore residents, including citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders, can bypass traditional passport checks entirely at what was voted by airport review site Skytrax as 2023's world's best airport. Instead, travelers' identities are verified through biometric data, cutting the average clearance time by 60 percent—from 25 seconds to 10 seconds.
This change has already benefitted nearly 1.5 million travelers as of October 15, according to Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), which oversees the initiative. The numbers include travelers involved in the trial that started on August 5. The move to biometric verification extends to foreign visitors as well. However, these travelers must still present their passports upon arrival: they can only use the passport-less system for departure, provided their biometric data was captured during entry. The ICA advised that all travelers, including those using the new system, should carry their passports anyway as some destination countries might still require them for immigration clearance.
Since Sep. 30, 2024, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has fully implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals in Changi Airport. With the full roll-out of passport-less clearance at Changi Airport, the average clearance time for each traveller has been reduced by 60 per cent, from 25 seconds to 10 seconds.
Singapore residents who are arriving and departing can clear immigration by simply using facial and iris biometrics, without the need to present their passport, according to a press release by ICA. As for foreign visitors, they will still need to present their passports when they arrive in Singapore, but do not need to do so when they depart.
ICA noted that as of Oct. 15, 2024, close to 1.5 million travellers have cleared immigration without having to present their passports under this initiative. All travellers should still bring along their passports as these may be required for immigration clearance at their destination countries, however. ICA said it may also require travellers to produce their passport for verification.
Passport-less Clearance Fully Rolled-Out at Changi Airport
Since 30 September 2024, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has fully implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals in Changi Airport. Arriving and departing Singapore residents can clear immigration by simply using facial and iris biometrics, without the need to present their passport. All foreign visitors can also enjoy the convenience of passport-less clearance when they depart Singapore.
As of 15 October 2024, close to 1.5 million travellers have cleared immigration without having to present a passport under the passport-less clearance initiative. With the full roll-out of passport-less clearance at Changi Airport, the average clearance time for each traveller has been reduced by 60%, from 25 seconds to 10 seconds.
Advisory to travellers - All foreign visitors will still need to present their passport for immigration clearance upon arrival in Singapore. They can enjoy passport-less clearance at Changi Airport when they depart. All travellers should still bring along their passport as these may be required for immigration clearance at their destination countries. ICA may also require travellers to produce their passport for verification.
Passport-less immigration clearance trials at Changi Airport to start from Aug 5
Travellers at Changi Airport can soon clear immigration without presenting their passports. From Aug 5, Singapore residents will be able to get through selected automated lanes at Terminal 3 simply by using their facial and iris biometrics, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said on Wednesday (Jul 31).
It is part of a trial for the new passport-less clearance system, which will be progressively rolled out across all terminals in Changi Airport by the end of September, and at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in December. Such a clearance process reduces the time taken by travellers to clear immigration by 40 per cent, the agency said in a press release.
The initiative is part of ICA’s plan to digitalise border clearance, in order to enhance each traveller’s experience and strengthen border security, it said. ICA added that the QR code clearance system at Singapore’s land checkpoints with Malaysia will also be extended to motorcyclists by next month. The system had been introduced for cars on Mar 19 this year, before being extended to bus drivers on Apr 15.
Passport-less immigration clearance for bikers by August, air travellers by September
Travellers will be able to enjoy an even easier and fuss-free immigration process at Changi Airport from August. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on July 31 said it will start passport-free clearance trials for arriving Singapore residents at selected automated lanes at Changi Airport Terminal 3 from Aug 5.
ICA expects to fully roll out the feature at all airport terminals by September. The move, which will allow Singapore residents and departing travellers to clear immigration using facial and iris scanners without having to present their passports, is part of ICA’s push to further automate the process and remove the need for passport checks.
Travellers will also be able to clear immigration with such scanners at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre by December. Meanwhile, QR code immigration clearance at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints will be extended to motorcyclists from August 15 and bus passengers by December. It will be extended for cargo vehicle drivers and passengers by end August.
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Passport-free immigration clearance to kick off with trial at Changi Airport from Aug 5
The passport-free clearance system will be progressively implemented at all terminals in Changi Airport by September and at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in December
Some travellers at Changi Airport can look forward to passport-free immigration clearance starting next Monday (Aug 5).
As part of a trial, arriving Singapore residents will be able to get through selected automated lanes at Terminal 3, simply by using their facial and iris biometrics, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday (July 31).
The passport-less clearance system will be progressively implemented at all terminals in Changi Airport by September, and at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in December. This clearance system will reduce the time taken for travellers to clear immigration by 40 per cent, ICA said.
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.
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.
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. 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.
