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For many Singapore residents who have renewed their identity cards (ICs) or passports, heading down to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) building at Lavender would be a familiar experience.
However, ICA announced today (Sep. 22) that Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents will be able to collect their Singapore passports and ICs at various post offices islandwide from Oct. 1, 2021, without paying an additional collection fee.
Collection of passports and ICs at the 27 designated post offices is currently available, with a S$6 to S$12 collection fee.
ICA said that it will bear the cost of the collection fee from Oct. 1, 2021, to provide added convenience to members of the public, and encourage more people to collect their documents at these decentralised locations.
Not everyone will be able to enjoy this convenience, however: ICA said that some will still need to head down to the ICA building, such as those who have had "prior unsuccessful biometric verification" in their transactions with ICA.
However, "most Singapore residents will be able to enjoy this convenience", and applicants will be informed of their collection options when their documents are ready, ICA said.
How to collect passport or IC from post office?
Eligible residents will need to make an online appointment (“eAppointment”) at https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/ibook to collect at their preferred post office.
SingPost staff will use biometrics to verify the identity of Singapore residents before issuing them the new documents.
Here are the designated post offices:
- Ang Mo Kio Central
- Bedok Central
- Bukit Batok Central
- Bukit Merah Central
- Bukit Panjang
- Bukit Timah
- Choa Chu Kang Central
- Clementi Central
- General Post Office
- Ghim Moh Estate
- Hougang Central
- Jurong East
- Jurong Point
- Jurong West
- Marine Parade
- Orchard
- Pasir Ris Central
- Sengkang Central
- Punggol
- Serangoon Central
- Suntec City
- Tampines Central
- Tanglin
- Tanjong Pagar
- Toa Payoh Central
- Woodlands Central
- Yishun Central
More information on collection of passports and ICs at post offices can be found on ICA's website here.
How much to renew passport?
The passport application fee stands at S$70.
Singapore Citizens aged 16 and above who submit a passport application from Oct. 1 will get new passports that are valid for 10 years, instead of five.
Top photo by Mokkie Mok on Google Maps
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