Travellers flying into Singapore can now experience passport-less immigration clearance at Changi Airport beginning this month.
This is part of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) plan to strengthen border security, whilst enhancing the traveller experience through digitised border clearance.
Under the New Clearance Concept (NCC), all travellers will enjoy automated clearance, and all Singapore residents and eligible foreign travellers will enjoy immigration clearance even without presenting their passport.
Two forms of passport-free immigration clearance
There are two types of passport-less immigration clearance, to help travellers get through immigration faster.
Token-less clearance at air and sea checkpoints applies to Singapore residents at both arrival and departure, and all foreign travellers at departure. This entails clearing immigration through facial and iris biometrics without need for the presentation of individual passports.
The other is QR code clearance at land checkpoints. Here, travellers use a QR code, instead of presenting their passport to clear immigration. This is the form used at immigration counters at the border between Singapore and the Malaysian city of Johor Baru.
Changi Airport will gradually apply token-free immigration clearance at its terminals beginning 5 August.
