Singapore Airport Removes Passport Checks, Reduces Wait Times to 10 Seconds with New Technology

A Singapore airport has eliminated the need for passport checks thanks to new technology that can cut time at airport immigration checkpoints by around 60%. Over a million travelers have already been scanned with the airport's new system without needing to present a passport, leading to shorter wait times and less congestion.

The New Face of Airport Security

Changi Airport in Singapore has introduced a quick and simple way for passengers to clear immigration checkpoints in very little time. This has been made possible with biometric technology that recognizes the passenger's face, removing the need to provide a passport.

The scanning technology was implemented at all four terminals on September 30. Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) press release notes that the time it has taken for each passenger to be cleared for boarding has greatly improved from 25 seconds to 10 seconds.

Nearly 1.5 million passengers have already been cleared using biometric scanners, spanning from an experiment starting August 5 to October 15. As of now, biometric scanning is only used for departure flights, as passports will still be checked when travelers arrive at Changi.

The ICA press release advises that passports will remain a requirement for international travel. This applies to both Singaporean residents looking to travel abroad as well as foreign travelers visiting Singapore. Singapore residents are classified as "Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders".

ICA's Assistant Commissioner Alan Koo shared these comments regarding the biometric technology with The Economic Times on Thursday:

"The implementation of passport-less clearance is a significant milestone in our efforts to streamline immigration processes and leverage technology for greater efficiency."
 

How to Get Approved for Biometric Scanning

The IGA has a three-step process for approving travelers for face scanning at immigration checkpoints. If you're looking to get through Changi Airport without a passport check, here's what you will need to do:

1. Submit your SG Arrival Card three days prior to your flight. ICA's website states the Arrival Card can be submitted either using your web browser or the MyICA mobile app.
2. Arrive at the airport and scan your face at the automated lane. This will register your name and face into the system. Once you register your face for the first time, you won't have to do so again in the future.
3. Scan your face once more at the second flapper. This will match your face with the one registered at the automated lane, in which the system will verify your identity and clear you for international travel.

In 2023, Changi Airport announced it would be one of the first airports in the world to remove the need for passport checks. Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo saw the need for face-, fingerprint-, and QR-scanning as means to "allow more seamless and convenient processing".

Next year, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, UAE will be the first to mandate the biometric scanning technology for all travelers. Reports state that it takes just on average 12 minutes for Zayed's travelers to reach their gate from the boarding process thanks to the new system.