Travellers to enjoy passport-free clearance for bus halls at Tuas, Woodlands checkpoints & Marina Bay Cruise Centre

Starting from Dec. 16, 2024, travellers will no longer need to use their passports at the bus hall of Tuas checkpoint, as well as at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore (MBCCS).

According to a press release by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), passport-free clearance at the land checkpoints will take the form of QR code clearance, while clearance at MBCCS will be similar to that at Changi Airport — through the use of facial and iris biometrics.

All foreign travellers will also be able to enjoy the same convenience when they depart Singapore through MBCCS.

ICA added that travellers will still need to bring along their passports however, as they may require some travellers to produce them for verification.

Over 48,000 travellers by bus have participated in the trial of QR code clearance since Dec. 1

ICA added that on Nov, 21, 2024, it had announced that trials would be conducted at selected automated lanes and Special Assistance Lanes (SALs) at the arrival and departure bus halls of Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints.

As of Dec. 1, 2024, more than 48,000 travellers participated in the trials. Their feedback has enabled ICA to fine-tune and improve the QR code clearance experience for bus travellers.

Following these trials, ICA will roll out QR code clearance progressively at all automated lanes and SALs at the bus halls of both Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints, commencing with Tuas Checkpoint, from Dec. 16, 2024.

ICA said it is targeting to complete the implementation of the QR code clearance at both land checkpoints by mid-January 2025.

QR Code clearance

All bus passengers, including travellers using wheelchairs and family groups of up to four persons, will be able to enjoy QR code clearance at the bus halls of the land checkpoints.

ICA highlighted that family groups of up to four members using the SAL can expect to save up to 40 seconds, from about two minutes currently with passports to about 1 minute and 20 seconds.

They can simply present one group QR code for immigration clearance instead of scanning multiple passports.

As for first-time foreign visitors and those re-entering Singapore using a different passport from their previous trip, they will need to present their passport for immigration clearance.

They will then be able to clear immigration using the QR code on their subsequent trips.

With the full implementation of QR code clearance at the bus halls, ICA said it will have completed the rollout of the passport-free clearance initiative for all modes of transport at the land checkpoints.

Nearly 28 million served

QR code clearance was implemented for car travellers on Mar. 19, 2024, for bus drivers on Apr. 15, 2024, for motorcyclists and their pillion riders on Aug. 15, 2024, and for cargo vehicle drivers and their accompanying assistants on Aug. 30, 2024.

As of Dec. 1, 2024, close to 28 million travellers have used the QR code for immigration clearance at the land checkpoints.

Urging travellers at the land checkpoints to use the QR code for faster and more convenient immigration clearance, ICA said:

"Those using a group QR code should ensure that the passport details stored in the group QR code tally with those seeking immigration clearance.

Travellers are also encouraged to present the QR code using the MyICA mobile application instead of using printed or screenshot copies."

Top images via ICA/Facebook