ICA To Cease Passport Photo Service From 30 Jun 2019 Onwards

The ICA Building’s many things: lavender, passport-collection services and customer enquiries all come to mind when the grand old ‘estate’ is mentioned.

But it seems that form this 30 June onwards, there’ll be one thing the established building will not be:

A passport taking venue.

ICA To Cease Passport Photo Service From 30 Jun 2019 Onwards

Always relied on the ICA building’s photo taking service for passport-worthy photos?

Well, you might have to find an alternative way pretty soon.

According to a spokesperson from ICA, the contract with photo taking service provider, Yishun Broadway Studio, will cease on 30 June, 2019.

The space will reportedly be utilised for other operational purposes instead.

If you’ve been there before, you’ll know about the ironic “shop”: there’s always a long queue there (at least according to my colleagues) and the staff are usually friendly to everyone despite the crowd.

Digital photos and online applications

With the aforementioned notion in mind, ICA has encouraged the public to take digital photos, and submit online applications.

On the other hand, ICA also suggested that those in need of printed photos can get them ready at nearby HDB blocks, which are within walking distance from the building.

Those who choose to take passport photos on their own, however, will have to follow the expressed guidelines:

• Taken within the last 3 months
• Clear and in focus, 35mm wide by 45mm high, without any borders
• Coloured and should be taken against a plain white background without shadows
• Avoid white headgear and plain white clothing (headgear worn in accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide any facial features)
• Full face with the upper shoulders visible, facing forward with eyes open
• Hair must not cover the eyebrows or the eyes
• Even exposure (must not be taken under direct lighting)
• Spectacle frames must not cover part of the eyes
• Spectacle lenses must not reflect or glare
• You must look at the camera with a neutral expression and with mouth closed

For more details, like the classic Dos and Don’ts;

You can check them all out over here.

Or if you want to, there are various unmanned digital photo kiosk in places like shopping centres or just out of nowhere. I’m pretty sure if you think hard enough, you’ll remember coming across one on your way to work or school.

Fully digitalised nation

Lest you’re unaware, all 15 services will cease the use of paper forms from 2020 onwards, in order for Singapore to become a smart nation.

These services are available and can be done through the MyICA portal.

By 2023, members of the public will also be able to procure documents from self-service kiosks, using biometric technology.

Waiting time will be shortened, to around 15 minutes.

So well, one thing’s pretty clear;

The nation’s moving forward.

So if you’re not acclimatised to digital processes just yet, you might wanna start getting familiarised with it.

Gotta move with the nation, you know?