From August 5, some passengers arriving at Changi Airport in Singapore will not need to present their passports to complete immigration procedures. Passengers can go through automated lanes at Terminal 3 and use facial recognition technology to enter the country, according to a notice from the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
Under the new regulations, tourists can choose to complete immigration procedures using their passports or biometric data at Changi Airport. The Automated Biometric Checkpoints System (ABCS) does not require passengers to present their passports when entering the country, but they must still carry their identification documents and passports to travel to other countries.
This is part of a trial program for the new passport-free travel system. The program is expected to be rolled out gradually at all terminals of Changi Airport in the near future.
The program applies to "residents" including Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and holders of long-term passports. The program will be expanded to all terminals at Changi Airport in September this year. The program will also be implemented at Seletar Airport and Marina Bay Cruise Centre in December 2024, according to information from the Singapore government.
Under the passport-free travel program, Singapore residents do not need to present their passports at air and sea checkpoints. Foreigners can also participate in the program, but only when departing Singapore. Foreign tourists need to register their biometric data at immigration counters. Children under 6 years old are not allowed to use biometric checkpoints or automated lanes.
The passport-free travel procedure is part of the "new immigration concept" announced in May 2024, aimed at modernizing and automating immigration services in Singapore. This concept, known as "a shift in the immigration model," marks the end of the era of human passport checks, which Singapore has long desired.
By early 2026, the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority expects 95% of tourists to use automated lanes for immigration procedures, while the remaining 5% will be those who are not eligible, such as young children.
Although there have been some objections to biometric processing due to concerns about risks, authorities argue that this is Singapore's effort to enhance border security and improve tourist experiences, with predictions that biometric processing will reduce waiting times by 40%.
Mr. Sumesh Patel, chairman of SITA Asia-Pacific, predicts that around 85% of airports will use some form of biometric processing for immigration procedures within 3 to 5 years.
The biometric processing program is the second part of Singapore's passport-free travel model. In May, Singapore also launched a program allowing tourists to use self-generated QR codes for entry and exit at two land checkpoints connecting Singapore and Malaysia.
Both programs are part of a larger effort to modernize border control procedures and manage increasing tourist numbers in the context of an aging workforce.
In 2023, Changi Airport welcomed 58.9 million passengers, recovering 86% of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic numbers and increasing by over 83% compared to the previous year. Changi Airport also frequently tops the world rankings of the International Air Transport Association Skytrax and is considered one of the world's most trusted airports.
