People walk in Changi Airport in Singapore, March 5, 2020. Photo by Reuters
Singapore’s immigration authority has officially launched passport-less immigration clearance across all four terminals at Changi Airport, enabling travelers to clear immigration in 10 seconds.
While Singaporean residents can pass through immigration using only facial and iris biometrics without presenting their passports, foreign visitors are still required to show their passports upon arrival but they can utilize biometric clearance for departures, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Thursday.
The new initiative, which officially commenced on Sept. 30 after months of trials, has reduced waiting times by 60%, cutting it down from 25 seconds to just 10, said Senior Assistant Commissioner Alan Koo, Commander of ICA, as cited by Channel News Asia.
Singapore is the first country in the world to implement such a large-scale biometric clearance system, The Straits Times reported.
Thu Thao, a tourist from Vietnam who visited Singapore in early October, shared her experience: “This was my first time using the service, but the system was quick and smooth. I didn’t encounter any issues with the passport-free clearance. Even though I’m not fluent in English, I could easily follow the clear instructions displayed on the screen.”
Thao added that immigration officers were stationed at the automated lanes to provide assistance if needed.
Changi Airport has consistently been ranked among the world’s best airports, thanks to its modern facilities and streamlined immigration processes.
This year, although Doha’s Hamad International Airport claimed the title of the world’s best airport at the annual Skytrax Awards, Changi retained the distinction of having the world’s best immigration services.
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