Travelers arriving at Singapore’s Changi Airport can now benefit from a new token-less clearance system that offers a seamless and efficient experience. This innovative system allows eligible passengers to enter the country without needing a physical passport, relying solely on advanced biometric technology such as facial and iris recognition. This move aligns with Singapore’s commitment to enhancing convenience and speed in travel procedures.
Currently, this biometric clearance system is being piloted at Terminal 3 of Changi Airport, where passengers can clear immigration through their biometric data alone. By December 2024, the initiative will expand to cover all terminals at Changi, along with Seletar Airport and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre, providing widespread access to this technology. Singaporean citizens, permanent residents, and long-term pass holders are eligible for this program, allowing them to bypass the traditional requirement of carrying physical passports.
Foreign travelers, however, will also be able to use this biometric clearance option for departures. However, they must first register their biometric information, which includes iris, facial, and fingerprint data, at designated manual immigration counters before they can participate in the token-less departure clearance. Children under six years old, however, are currently excluded from this biometric system.
This system forms a significant part of Singapore’s New Clearance Concept, a forward-looking initiative launched in May. According to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), this concept envisions a future where 95% of all travelers can use automated lanes by early 2026, effectively eliminating the need for traditional passport verification. ICA’s projections suggest that this advanced system could reduce immigration wait times by up to 40%, significantly enhancing the overall travel experience. Within the first 15 days of launching this program, an impressive 1.5 million passengers had already benefited from its streamlined process.
Changi Airport’s latest passenger numbers highlight its prominence as a global travel hub. In September 2024, the airport recorded a notable 5.4 million travelers, a 10.8% rise compared to the same period in the previous year. This surge reflects Changi’s readiness to embrace technological advancements and set new standards in the aviation industry.
The ICA Commander, Alan Koo, remarked on the significance of this system, explaining that it allows airport staff to focus on more critical responsibilities, including security profiling, as the number of travelers increases and the workforce ages. He stated, “This new system will enable us to redirect staff efforts toward essential tasks like security profiling, which is increasingly necessary as we face growing traveler volumes and an aging workforce.”
Foreign visitors are still required to present passports upon arrival but can enjoy the convenience of token-less clearance upon departure. The ICA also advises all travelers to carry passports when traveling internationally to ensure smooth clearance at their destination.
Through this cutting-edge biometric system, Changi Airport not only enhances the travel experience in Singapore but also establishes a new benchmark for airports worldwide.