From 2022, S’pore Residents Can Pass Through Local Immigrations Without a Passport

If all our passports mysteriously disintegrated in our drawers this year, we’d have no idea, as they’ve been as useless as a banana during a sword fight.

That’s because the Covid-19 pandemic has forced countries all over the world to close its borders, leaving its residents sad and unfulfilled.

In 2022, however, when the coronavirus has been defeated and flying cars finally become a thing, travelling will become a much smoother process for Singaporeans.

From 2022, S’pore Residents Can Pass Through Local Immigrations Without a Passport

Have you ever wanted to avoid the painfully arduous task of opening your passport and scanning it upon your return to Singapore?

Reader: Uh not really, it’s not that har-

Well, I’ve got great news for you.

From 2022, Singapore residents will be able to pass through local immigrations without using their passports, ICA said on Wednesday (28 Oct).

This means that you don’t have to present your passports when passing through the immigration gates.

But how is this possible?

It’s simple:

Okay, not really.

Iris & Facial Scans

Sadly, you can’t leave your now-dusty passport at home, as you’ll need to scan it at the automated gates.

After that, though, the rest of the process will be contactless, with the use of iris and facial scans to identify travellers.

This will not only offer a more hygienic form of clearance, but one that is more efficient as well.

Trials for this passport-less clearance started at Terminal 4 last year.

ICA said the contactless clearance will be implemented progressively from 2022 to 2024, which makes sense because the only travelling we’re doing now is to the supermarket and back.

The system was already in the works, but the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the process.

Enrolling Iris & Facial Biometrics

This new mode of clearance will be available to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, long term pass holders, and international travellers under ICA’s Frequent Traveller Programme who have enrolled their iris and facial biometrics.

According to ICA, 70% of Singapore citizens aged six and above have already enrolled these biometrics.

This either happened when they collected their new passport or IC, or used the manual clearance at immigrations.

Iris Scans More Reliabe

Contrary to what some might think, iris scans are actually more reliable than fingerprint scans when it comes to identification.

The Home Team Science and Technology Agency, who aided ICA in the implementation of the new system, said iris patterns have more variation and uniqueness.

This makes them more “robust and reliable” for identification purposes.

An iris scan provides 250 feature points for matching, while fingerprint scans offer just 100.

Fingerprint scans will still be available for those are unsuccessful in their iris and facial scans, or those who have not yet enrolled their biometrics.

Travellers should not wear any headgear or accessories that would obstruct their facial or iris images, such as sunglasses, face masks, or coloured contact lenses.

But, if we’re being honest, most Singaporeans wouldn’t mind scanning their passport 50 times and even doing a little dance for immigration officers as long as we’re able to travel.