Car Travellers can use QR Code for Faster and More Convenient Immigration Clearance at Singapore’s Land Checkpoints From 19 March 2024

From 19 March 2024, travellers arriving and departing Singapore by car via Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints can use QR codes in lieu of passports for faster and more convenient immigration clearance. This means that instead of handing their passports to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at the car counter, they will only need to have scanned a single QR code which they generate prior to arriving at the checkpoint, for all the travellers in the car.


Use of QR Code in lieu of Passport at the Car Counters for Immigration Clearance

2.  ICA has been leveraging technology to make immigration clearance more convenient and efficient, but without compromising on security.

Populating Passport Details

3. To use the QR code for immigration clearance, travellers will need to download the MyICA mobile application on their mobile device and populate their passport details in the application to generate a unique QR code.

• Singapore residents can either auto-populate their passport details via SingPass when they access the MyICA mobile application, or use the built-in camera function in the mobile application to scan the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) of their passport biodata page.

• Foreign visitors who have visited Singapore before can use the built-in camera function within the MyICA mobile application to scan the MRZ of their passport biodata page to auto-populate their passport information.
   
• First-time visitors and those re-entering Singapore using a different passport from their last visit to Singapore will need to present their physical passport for immigration clearance. They will be able to use QR code for immigration clearance on their subsequent trips.

Generating QR Code

4. Once the passport details are populated, travellers can generate an individual QR code or a group QR code. Travellers in the same car can populate their passport details and generate one group QR code for immigration clearance. For example, a family of four can have their passport details stored in the MyICA mobile application on one family member’s phone, and generate a family group QR code for immigration clearance.

5. Travellers can also create multiple QR codes for travels with different groups of people. Up to 10 travellers’ passport details can be included in one group QR code and each group QR code can be stored and named in the application (e.g., ‘Family’ or ‘Friends’). The QR codes generated are encrypted, and can only be retrieved and decrypted by ICA.


Clearing Immigration using QR Code

6. Travellers can scan their QR code stored in the MyICA mobile application, by the QR code scanners at the arrival and departure car counters at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Once the QR code is scanned, ICA officers will conduct face-to-face checks of the traveller(s) using the data retrieved backend through the QR code. Those travelling in a group must use a group QR code containing the passport details of those travelling in the same vehicle. QR codes that do not tally with the details and number of travellers in the vehicle will be rejected.


Faster, Contactless and Convenient Clearance

7. The QR code initiative allows travellers to enjoy a faster and more convenient experience, with estimated time savings of around 20 seconds for cars with four travellers, to approximately one minute for cars with 10 travellers. Overall waiting time can be reduced by more than 30% if most car travellers use QR code for clearance. This initiative also offers travellers contactless and more hygienic immigration clearance.

8. Even after this initiative is rolled out, travellers can still opt to present their physical passport to the ICA officer at the counter, as per current practice.


Upcoming Initiatives at the Land Checkpoints

9. ICA plans to progressively extend QR code clearance to the other clearance zones at the land checkpoints. This will allow travellers in other means of conveyance to also enjoy faster and more convenient immigration clearance. Details will be announced in due course.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
12 MARCH 2024

[1] The MyICA mobile application can be downloaded for free from either the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

[2] Singapore residents include Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass (i.e., Foreign Identification Number (FIN) Holders).

[3] The MRZ is the two or three rows of characters at the bottom of the passport biodata page.
 

狮城3月19日起采扫码通关　驾车出入境通关仅20秒

下周二（19日）起，驾车出入境新加坡可免递护照，改为扫码通关，通关时间最快仅需20秒。

新加坡移民与关卡局今日发表文告宣布，下周二（19日）起，驾车出入兀兰和大士关卡的旅客可使用QR码通关。 届时旅客无需将护照递交给出入境柜台的工作人员，在抵达检查站之前产生一个QR码，供车内所有旅客扫描即可。

旅客若要使用QR码办理出入境手续，得先用手机下载MyICA应用程式序，并在程序中填写护照资料，随后生成QR码。 

旅客可以在兀兰或大士出入境检查站使用扫描器扫描MyICA应用程式内的QR码。扫描后，关卡人员就能透过系统查看旅客的证件资料，然后对旅客进行脸部辨识。

当局强调，提高效率同时不会牺牲安全。 旅客也仍可到柜台向工作人员出示实体护照通关。

据观察，一辆载有两人的轿车停在检查站前，司机打开应用程式上的QR码，把手机伸出车窗，使用QR码扫描器扫描。扫描器随后发出声响，检查站内的人员开始进行脸部识别，通过后放行，整个过程约20秒。

同一辆车上的多位旅客填写护照资料后，可产生单一的群组QR码。 例如，一家四口可将成员的护照资料存在其中一名家庭成员的手机上，然后产生一个家庭群组QR码，在出入境时扫描。

一个群组QR码最多可以包含10名旅客的护照资料。不同的群组QR码也可依喜好储存、命名（例如，“家人”或“朋友”）。 

产生的QR码是加密的，只有移民与关卡局才能解密或呼叫。群组QR码包含的旅客资料必须是车内同行旅客的护照资料，与车中旅客资料或人数不符的QR码将被拒绝。

新加坡人可以透过Singpass自动填写MyICA应用程式的护照资料，或使用应用程式中的摄影功能扫描护照生物认证资料页（Biodata Page）的机读栏位Machine Readable Zone（MRZ）。 

曾经来过新加坡的外国旅客同样可以在MyICA应用程式中使用摄影功能扫描护照，以自动填写资料。

首次造访新加坡或使用不同护照入境的旅客，则需要出示实体护照入境，不过下次出入境时就能够使用QR码通关。

当局举例，一辆载有4名旅客的汽车，通关时间预计可以节省约20秒。 搭载10名旅客的汽车，预计可节省约一分钟。 

如果大多数驾驶旅客扫描QR码通关，整体等待时间可以减少超过30%。这项计划也为旅客提供无接触和更卫生的出入境通关服务。