13-2-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore is set to revolutionize its immigration clearance process, as all foreign visitors entering the country will soon have the option to clear immigration at air, land, and sea checkpoints using automated lanes from 2024 onwards, regardless of nationality.
This groundbreaking move will eliminate the need for pre-registration, and departing visitors will no longer be required to present their passports upon exiting Singapore, making it the first nation in the world to implement such a system.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced in its 2023 annual statistics release on Feb 13 that the deployment of the next-generation automated border control system will facilitate this transition, expected to commence in the second half of 2024.
The new automated lanes, which will gradually replace existing lanes and manual counters, will enable both Singapore residents and departing visitors to undergo immigration clearance seamlessly without passport presentation. Over 160 automated lanes were installed in 2023, with an additional 230 lanes slated for setup in 2024.
Part of ICA’s New Clearance Concept, the automated lanes utilize multi-modal biometrics capturing iris, facial, and fingerprint details, ensuring efficient and secure immigration clearance for all travellers.
While traveller volumes surged in 2023, with nearly 193 million travellers cleared across all checkpoints, marking an 84 per cent increase from 2022, contraband, forged travel documents, and immigration offences also witnessed a rise.
Contraband cases escalated by 23 per cent from 35,000 in 2022 to 43,000 in 2023, while instances of forged and tampered travel documents tripled from 21 to 65. Additionally, the total number of immigration offenders arrested surged by 42 per cent, with illegal immigrants and overstayers comprising a significant portion.
Despite these challenges, ICA remains committed to enhancing border operations and service delivery capabilities. Notably, the installation of over 50 Special Assistance Lanes across various checkpoints in 2023 catered to travellers with special needs, while the implementation of paperless clearance for conventional cargo expedited cargo vehicle processing.
Furthermore, ICA’s digitalization efforts have streamlined service delivery, with close to 95 per cent of services digitized as of December 2023. Additionally, plans for the phased redevelopment of Woodlands Checkpoint over the next decade aim to enhance immigration clearance efficiency and bolster border security.
