So efficient! Foreign visitors can skip passport checks when departing Singapore

Sana all!

Singapore is making arrivals and departures seamless for travelers. Foreign visitors, including Pinoys, can to go through immigration without presenting their passports before leaving the country.

In an effort to reduce the average clearance time per traveler, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Oct. 24 said that since Sept. 30, it has fully implemented passport-less clearance across all four terminals at Changi Airport. This makes them the first in the world to implement such a system.

Foreign visitors would still need to present their passports upon arrival in the country for immigration clearance. 

Singapore residents—including Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders—can just use facial and iris biometrics without having to present their passports.

Those who have to use the Special Assistance Lanes, including those with young children, will still have to present their passports to clear immigration.

This has reduced the average time spent on clearance from 25 seconds to 10 seconds.

“With automated clearance being the norm at our checkpoints, our officers are now redeployed to take on higher-value job roles, such as interviewing and profiling, to safeguard Singapore's borders,” Senior Assistant Commissioner Alan Koo, Commander (Airport) of ICA said.

ICA said that the biometric exit system will be implemented at Marina Bay Cruise Centre in December.