Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) has announced it will conduct trials of token-less clearance for Singapore residents on arrival at selected automated lanes in Changi Airport Terminal 3 from August 5, 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.
This is part of the ICA’s 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 aged six years and above will enjoy automated clearance;
- all Singapore residents (including citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders) and eligible foreign travellers will enjoy immigration clearance without having to present their passport.
Token-less clearance reduces the time taken for travellers to clear immigration by 40%.
Passport-less Immigration Clearance
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 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.
- 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.
- QR code clearance at land checkpoints: Travellers use a QR code, instead of presenting their passport, during immigration clearance.
- 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.
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.
Beyond 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.