Singapore, 11 February 2021 – The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) continues to use technology to transform Singapore’s checkpoints and provide travellers with a safer, more secure and efficient immigration experience.
At the checkpoints, all immigration lanes (automated and manual) at the passenger halls have been equipped with the New Clearance Concept (NCC) by using iris and facial scanners. The NCC aims to make clearance experience even more efficient for all travellers progressively from 2022.
The use of iris patterns and facial features provides a more robust and reliable identity authentication of travellers. It also offers a more hygienic and convenient immigration clearance.
ICA is on track in the implementation of the NCC at its checkpoints. When completed, Singapore residents will be able to clear immigration at the checkpoints without the need to present a passport. The majority of foreign visitors, including first-time visitors, will be able to clear immigration at the automated lanes on arrival, without the need for prior enrolment of their biometrics.
At the onset of the pandemic, ICA expanded beyond its core responsibilities of border security, immigration control and registration services (i.e., issuance of passports, identity cards, immigration passes, etc.). To support the national response, ICA has also been involved in the enforcement of the stay-at-home notice (SHN).
ICA monitored more than 40,000 persons placed on SHN at its peak in April 2020 and ramped up its resources to conduct about 1,000 visits and 8,000 surveillance calls daily to ensure SHN compliance. As of 31 December 2020, it had issued over 280,000 SHNs.
To further tighten the SHN regime, the organisation also introduced the electronic tamper-proof wristband (e-wristband) for arriving travellers who are serving their SHN outside of SHN dedicated facilities. This has allowed monitoring in a more effective and efficient manner.
Singapore has since progressively reopened its borders and the number of travellers served with SHNs is expected to rise. As of 31 December 2020, more than 16,000 e-wristbands had been issued.
– Construction+ Online
