Singapore is implementing passport-free travel at its land border with Malaysia. Starting Tuesday, travelers can use self-generated QR codes instead of passport verification at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. This new rule will expedite immigration clearance without compromising security, according to Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
Singapore residents and foreign travelers can generate QR codes through the MyICA mobile app. Group codes for up to 10 people traveling in the same car can also be generated. However, travelers are still subject to a face-to-face check by immigration officers.
The QR-code clearance is not available to first-time visitors or those using a different passport from previous visits. This new procedure is expected to reduce immigration processing time by over 30%, saving around 20 seconds for cars with four passengers and up to one minute for cars with 10 people.
The checkpoint connecting Johor Bahru in Malaysia to Woodlands in Singapore is one of the busiest international border crossings globally. From March 7 to 10, over 1.8 million travelers crossed Singapore’s checkpoints linking the island with Malaysia. On March 8, a record-breaking 495,000 people crossed the checkpoints, surpassing the previous record of 485,000 travelers in August 2019.
Singapore plans to expand the QR code clearance to more travelers using other modes of transportation at a later date. This initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize border control and security procedures in Singapore to handle increasing traveler volume and address workforce challenges.
Changi Airport is also undergoing trials for “passport-free” immigration clearance based on biometric verification, although a launch date for this program has not been announced.
Singapore made headlines with the announcement that biometric processing will replace travel document verifications at Changi Airport in 2024. However, the city-state is going “passport-free” at its land border with Malaysia, allowing travelers to show self-generated QR codes at checkpoints. This new rule is expected to expedite immigration clearance without compromising security. Eligible travelers can generate QR codes via the MyICA mobile app, with group codes available for up to 10 people. The new procedure is expected to reduce processing time by more than 30%, saving travelers up to one minute at the checkpoints.
The Woodlands checkpoint linking Johor Bahru in Malaysia to Singapore is one of the busiest border crossings in the world. Over 1.8 million travelers crossed Singapore’s checkpoints from March 7 to 10, with a record-breaking 495,000 people crossing on March 8 alone. The QR code clearance will be rolled out to more travelers crossing checkpoints via other modes of transport in the future. This initiative is part of a larger push to modernize border control and security procedures in Singapore to manage higher traveler volume and address the country’s aging workforce. While the “passport-free” immigration clearance at Changi Airport based on biometric verification is still undergoing trials, a launch date for this program has not yet been released.
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