ACI eligibility extended to more jurisdictions
More foreign visitors, including individuals visiting for the first time, can now use the automated lanes for immigration clearance without prior enrollment, according to ICA in a news release.
Under the ACI, eligibility has been extended to 51 jurisdictions, an increase from 16 when it was first introduced in May last year.
Some of the jurisdictions include Malaysia, the US, Australia, the UK, and Thailand, as well as holders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card are also allowed to use the automated lanes.
ICA has increased the number of lanes to 130 at Changi Airport, and 40 at Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints since May 2022.
The ICA is set to install 61 more automated lanes this 2023, on top of the 125 that were put in place in 2022.
More than 4 million foreign visitors have cleared immigration through these lanes, according to authorities.
Eligible foreign visitors can submit their arrival card through the MyICA mobile app or website three days before they arrive in the country. This is free.
They will be directed to automated lanes where their biometrics will automatically be enrolled in the clearance process. Enrollment information is included in the electronic visit pass. This will be sent via email after their immigration clearance.
Foreign visitors who are enrolled can then use the automated lanes during departure and on their future visits to Singapore.
“ACI is a critical component of ICA’s New Clearance Concept, which aims to make automated immigration clearance the norm at the checkpoints,” said ICA, adding that automated lanes leverage multi-modal biometric scanning technology to provide travellers with a “more secure, efficient, and seamless immigration clearance experience”
According to the authority, it expects 95% of all arrivals at Changi Airport to use the automated lanes for clearance by the first quarter of 2024.
“Correspondingly, the job roles of ICA officers will be enhanced, as ICA moves away from manual clearance,” it added.
“Prior to the ACI, most foreign visitors would have to queue at the manual counters upon arrival for immigration clearance. With the ACI, those eligible can now proceed directly to the automated lanes for immigration clearance, even if it is their first time visiting Singapore,” said ICA’s Assistant Commissioner Phua Chiew Hua, who is deputy director for operations.
“We have made the enrolment process as seamless as possible, so that travellers can perform self-enrolment at the automated lanes while clearing immigration. If required, our officers deployed at the automated lanes will assist them.”
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