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Just a month ago, I briefly mentioned that soon, we might not need passports for our land checkpoints.
Now, we have a definitive date and it’s way sooner than you think – we can start doing so next week via cars, but you still need a passport to enter Malaysia, though.
Here’s what to expect.
QR Code Immigration Clearance
From 19 March, travellers heading to Malaysia via cars can clear immigration using QR codes at Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints.
You won’t even need to flash your passport at all.
But please bring your passport to clear immigration at the JB side.
The QR codes can be used to clear individual travellers or groups of up to 10 people in the same vehicle.
Travellers will first need to download the MyICA mobile application and fill in their passport details.
Singapore residents can use Singpass to fill in their details automatically, or can use the built-in camera function in the mobile application to scan the Machine-Readable Zone (MRZ) – the two or three rows of characters – at the bottom of their passport biodata page.
Foreign visitors who have visited Singapore before can also use the built-in camera function to scan the MRZ of their passport biodata page.
After doing so, travellers can choose to generate either an individual QR code or a group one.
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Generating an individual QR code will require the details of only one person.
Generating a group QR code will require the details of each traveller in the group to be submitted via one person’s mobile phone.
One group QR code can have the details of up to 10 passports, and can be saved and given labels like “Family” or “Friends” in the application.
Do note that those using a group code must travel in the same vehicle. QR codes that do not tally with the details and number of travellers in the vehicle will be rejected.
So if you create a group QR code for your family of four, but your sister falls sick and can’t make it, you’ll have to generate a new group QR code for the remaining three crossing the border.
How to Use It at Checkpoints
At the checkpoints, travellers have to scan the QR codes at the counters, and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers will conduct face-to-face checks to confirm the information received on their side.
ICA has commented that the QR codes generated are encrypted. The codes can be retrieved and decrypted only by the authority.
First-time visitors and those re-entering Singapore using a different passport from their last visit to the country will need to present their passport for immigration clearance.
They will, however, be able to use QR codes to clear immigration on subsequent trips.
Faster, Contactless, and Convenient Clearance
Deputy Superintendent Seah Jing Ying from ICA operations division estimates that “the overall waiting time can be reduced by more than 30% if most car travellers use QR codes for immigration clearance.”
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This means we can expect shorter queues as cars will be moving faster.
ICA estimates that cars with four travellers will save about 20 seconds, while cars with 10 travellers will save about a minute.
This may not seem like a lot, but when you think about the fact that about 350,000 people cross the Johor-Singapore Causeway everyday, you’ll see that this will save a lot of time.
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.
This initiative is the first step towards the Automated Passenger Clearance System (APCS), which was previously known as the Automated Passenger In-Car Clearance System.
Other Clearance Zones at Land Checkpoints
ICA plans to progressively extend QR code clearance to the other zones at land checkpoints.
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ICA said that details will be announced in due course.
So for those who travel to JB by bus, you’ll have to wait for a while before you can use QR codes to clear immigration.
Going Passport-less at Airports
From the second half of this year, you’ll also be able to clear immigration at Changi Airport without having to present your passport. And, you won’t even need a QR code.
Even better than land checkpoints sia.
All you’ll need is your face and thumbprint.
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