Singapore travelers, foreigners, and permanent residents alike can use a QR code instead of their physical visa to get immigration clearance at land border checkpoints. This will take effect from March 19th onwards.
The two main Singapore land borders, Woodlands and Tuas, are under the QR code immigration clearance facility. Travelers from and to the Malaysian border will still need to present their physical passport.
How Will It Work?
Travelers who want to use the QR code immigration facility must download the MyICA app and generate the QR code. To do that, you will have to enter your passport details to autopopulate the information.
Additionally, they can also use their phone camera to scan their passport to autopopulate the details without physically entering them.
The QR code can be a combination of all the people in one car or individual. One QR code can have 10 people’s information maximum.
QR Code Validity
Each QR code will be valid for one year. There is also a catch. If your passport expires before that time, then your QR code will also be expired.
This is the same for both individual and group traveler QR codes. Whichever comes first, the validity of the passport or QR code and the expiration date will follow.
The ICA estimates that the QR code immigration will effectively save time in queuing. The minimum time for an vehicle checkup will be only 20 seconds for four travelers and one minute for a car of 10 travelers.
After the QR code scan, officials will have a face to face verification process, and you are good to go afterwards. The ICA has also announced that there will be a queue at the borders in March due to the school holidays. This will continue till March 18th.
Source: Channel News Asia
