17-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore has taken a significant stride towards revolutionizing the immigration clearance process, as all foreigners, regardless of nationality, can now utilize the automated lanes at Changi Airport. This groundbreaking initiative, rolled out in early May, allows even first-time visitors to Singapore to seamlessly clear immigration without any prior enrolment, marking a pivotal step towards the nation’s vision of faster and more secure border clearance.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has been at the forefront of this transformative endeavor, unveiling its new clearance concept in 2019. With over 160 automated lanes installed in 2023 and plans to deploy an additional 230 lanes in 2024, the ICA is well on its way to establishing a network of approximately 800 such lanes across all of Singapore’s checkpoints by 2026.
The automated gates have already garnered praise from international travelers, with Mr. Atul Sethi, a 46-year-old businessman from India, expressing his delight at clearing immigration in under a minute during his recent transit through Singapore. “It was very delightful, coming to Singapore and using the new facilities here. After staying in the US immigration lines for an hour or so, what a pleasure it is to clear (immigration) right here. Almost no human interaction required. The technology is a godsend, and we look forward to coming (here) again very soon,” he exclaimed.
Assistant Commissioner Phua Chiew Hua, the deputy director of ICA’s operations division, revealed that by the end of the year, arriving Singapore residents and all departing travelers would be able to enjoy contactless immigration clearance at Changi and Seletar airports, as well as the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. This cutting-edge system will scan travelers’ faces and irises, eliminating the need to present passports and reducing immigration clearance time by approximately 40 percent.
The ICA’s annual workplan seminar, held on May 17 at the Marina Bay Sands convention center, aptly themed “Redefining Border Clearance and Service Delivery,” served as a platform to showcase these transformative initiatives. Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, the guest of honor, highlighted Singapore’s position as one of the first nations in the world to introduce passport-free immigration clearance.
“The new clearance concept redefines border clearance, making automation the norm at all our checkpoints. It is a tangible expression of how we can harness technology to serve the public more efficiently and effectively. Many people see it, use it and benefit from it,” he remarked, underscoring the pivotal role technology has played in ICA’s transformation efforts.
Associate Professor Faishal Faishal further elaborated on the agency’s aim to provide a hassle-free experience for those requiring ICA’s services, with nearly 95 percent of applications already being processed online. The upcoming ICA Services Centre, scheduled for completion in 2025, will further enhance convenience by offering a comprehensive range of services, from passport matters to immigration passes, through a single counter.
As technology reshapes the immigration landscape, ICA officers will be empowered to take on higher-value tasks, such as risk profiling of travelers and handling more complex cases. Prof Faishal commended the agency’s forward-looking leadership and officers’ willingness to embrace change, stating, “ICA has made significant strides towards the vision we had in 2018 in a very short span of time. This was possible because it has a forward-looking leadership, and officers like yourselves who are willing to embrace change.”
