Singapore's Changi Airport Will Be Passport-Free Starting 2024
Passengers will no longer need to produce their passport, ticket, and boarding pass when going through the airport and its multiple checkpoints.
From bag drops to immigration clearance and boarding, Changi Airport is going passport-free
Image via Reuters
Singapore passed a series of amendments to the Immigration Act, including the end-to-end biometric clearance of passengers in Changi Airport, on Monday, 18 September
What this means is that passengers will no longer need to produce their passport, ticket, and boarding pass when going through the airport and its multiple checkpoints.
Channel News Asia reports that the new system will come into effect during the first half of 2024.
Instead, Changi Airport will introduce automated immigration clearance using only biometric data
Image via BBC
Biometrics refers to automated technology for authenticating and verifying human body characteristics. These can include fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, voice patterns, facial patterns, and hand measurements.
Changi Airport, and many airports across the globe, have already been using biometric technology, along with facial recognition software, at automated lanes in immigration checkpoints.
"Singapore will be one of the first few countries in the world to introduce automated, passport-free immigration clearance," said Communications Minister Josephine Teo
Communications Minister Josephine Teo announced several changes to Singapore's Immigration Act during a parliament session.
Image via Head Topics
CNN quoted the minister saying the new procedure will "reduce the need for passengers to repeatedly present their travel documents at touch points and allow for more seamless and convenient processing."
However, you will still need your passport for countries outside Singapore, Teo stressed.
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