New System at Changi Airport Aims to Streamline Immigration Process by 40%

Starting August 5, 2024, Singapore will launch a new passport-less immigration clearance system at Changi Airport, enhancing convenience for travellers while maintaining robust border security. This initiative, part of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) strategy, will initially be available at Changi Airport and extend to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre by December 2024.

The New Clearance Concept (NCC) will allow Singapore residents, including citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders, to pass through immigration using facial and iris biometrics, eliminating the need to present a passport. However, children under six will not be eligible for this automated clearance.

Foreign visitors will be able to use this system only for departures, relying on information from airlines and ship operators. Additionally, a QR code system will replace traditional passport checks at land checkpoints, where traveller information isn’t pre-available. This system, already in use for car travellers and bus drivers, will expand to include motorcyclists and cargo vehicle operators by August 2024, significantly reducing processing times by approximately 30%.

At Changi Airport, the system will initially roll out in Terminal 3 and gradually expand to all terminals by September 2024. The ICA expects the passport-less process to cut immigration clearance times by up to 40%. By December 2024, the Marina Bay Cruise Centre will also adopt the system, aiming to enhance traveller efficiency across key entry points.

Although the system will streamline many procedures, foreign visitors arriving in Singapore for the first time or with a different passport from previous visits will still need to present their passport for immigration clearance. Future visits will allow them to use the QR code system for faster processing.