Singapore’s Changi Airport has achieved a significant milestone with the implementation of passport-less clearance across all four terminals.
It now takes an average of just 10 seconds to clear immigration at Changi Airport, as the airport checks their biometrics instead of their physical passports.
The system supports passport-free immigration at all four passenger terminals for Singaporeans, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders, who can depart and arrive using only biometric verification.
Foreign passengers must present passports upon arrival but can access passport-free clearance on departure after registering their biometric data, including face, iris and thumbprints.
Since May 2024, all foreign passengers arriving in Singapore can use biometric eGates at Changi Airport.
How it works
Passengers supply personal and biometric data in advance and then pass through ABC eGates that check the live passenger biometrics with the supplied details.
The passport-less system is possible as the Singapore Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA) knows the details of arriving passengers in advance.
ICA gets the details mainly from two sources:
- Airline Data: Airlines provide passenger details in advance.
- Passenger Biometrics: Passengers submit their information through the SG Arrival Card before their arrival. Despite the name, the card is electronic. The card has details like passport number, date of birth, nationality etc. All passengers must submit their SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival in Singapore.
- First-time foreigners arriving in Singapore enrol iris, facial and thumbprint biometrics on arrival. Then they can use passport-less clearance on departure.
Biometric immigration at all Singapore entry/exit points
By the end of 2024, all departing passengers and returning Singapore residents at Changi Airport, Seletar Airport, and Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore will not need to present their passports at automated lanes.
The system will be extended to all Singapore residents and departing passengers at Changi and Seletar airports and Marina Bay Cruise Centre by the end of the year.
Supplier
Paris-based IDEMIA supplies the ABC eGates for Singapore. IDEMIA (formerly known as OT-Morpho) is a French multinational technology company headquartered in Courbevoie, France.
IDEMIA was first awarded the contract for automated eGates for immigration clearance at Changi Airport in 2017.
In September 2023, IDEMIA was awarded the Automated Border Control System (ABC) contract for all passengers entering and exiting Singapore’s air, land and sea checkpoints, by Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
Internet links
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
