If you’re planning a trip to Singapore soon, well rejoice because your trip is about to get a lot easier! ? Soon, visitors will be able to enjoy the convenience of an electronic arrival card instead of manually filling up the arrival papers at the immigration counters. Here’s what you need to know about this new upgrade:
Credit: Giphy
1. The system is on a 3-month trial period
Credit: Axel Drainville on Flickr
This move was announced just recently in an attempt to ensure smooth immigration process. Yay! ? That means you won’t have to that spend extra time looking for a pen ? Currently, a trial is being conducted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) for foreign visitors for 3 months from today (4th October 2018) at most of the air, land and sea checkpoints:
- Woodlands checkpoints
- Tuas checkpoints
- Changi Airport
- Singapore Cruise Centre
- Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
- Changi Point Ferry Terminal
- Changi Ferry Terminal
Credit: ICA on Facebook
2. Visitors will need to submit their personal information and trip details on the website or mobile app
But how does it work? It’s pretty simple! All visitors will have to submit their personal information and trip details on the ICA website or mobile app before arriving in Singapore. Upon arrival, all they need to do is show their passports at the immigration counter for clearance.
Credit: Caroline M.A Otieno on Flickr
However, Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders (students and workers) who are returning to Singapore will not be affected by the trial as they don’t need to submit the arrival cards.
3. It's very convenient and traveller-friendly!
As with any technological advance, this new initiative is traveller-friendly! Why? The application is available in various foreign languages, and it allows those travelling with families or in small groups to make a one-time group submission. ?
And that’s not all. Travel information like flight details, last point of embarkation and address in Singapore will automatically replicate for every person in the group. Visitors can also save the information submitted for future trips in Singapore. Now that’s what we call time-saving! ?
Whether you’re visiting Singapore via flight, ferry or even car/motorcycle, this electronic card system will be implemented for all modes of transportation. ICA has also said that this will be a significant step towards paperless immigration clearance which equates to saving up about 48 million paper cards a year ? Now let’s support this initiative and make the world a better place to live in, shall we? ?