If you’ve ever dreaded the long waits and fumbling for your passport at border control, Singapore has some game-changing news! Thanks to the latest tech rollout, bus passengers passing through Tuas Checkpoint can now enjoy a passport-free clearance process from 16 December 2024.
Travel made easy
The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has rolled out QR code-based immigration clearance at Tuas Checkpoint for bus passengers, making border crossings faster and easier. And the best part? ICA plans to bring passport-less clearance to both Tuas and Woodlands land checkpoints by mid-January 2025
How it works
Travellers will use QR codes at automated lanes or Special Assistance Lanes (SAL) in the bus halls. ICA recommends using the MyICA mobile app to generate and present your QR code, which is way handier than printed copies or screenshots.
The rollout timeline
The QR code system is being introduced gradually across different travel groups:
- Car travellers: Rolled out on 19 March 2024
- Bus drivers: Joined in on 15 April 2024
- Motorcyclists and pillion riders: Got the green light on 15 August 2024
- Cargo vehicle drivers and assistants: Started using it on 30 August 2024
Bus passengers, including those with wheelchairs or travelling in small groups of up to four, are the latest to benefit from the streamlined clearance process.
Who still needs a passport?
If this is your first trip to Singapore or you are using a new passport, you must stick to the old-school method and present your passport for clearance. But once your details are in the system, you can switch to QR codes for future trips.
ICA also reminds travellers to still carry their passports, as you might need them for clearance at your destination country or any verification checks. As of 1 December 2024, nearly 28 million travellers had already embraced QR code immigration clearance.
