Singapore allows more foreigners to enter through automated lanes 

They do not need to have prior enrolment to use the lanes.

Singapore has expanded the eligibility to clear immigration through automated lanes to the passport holders of 51 jurisdictions from only 16 when the Automated Clearance Initiative was launched in May 2022.

In a statement, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said Holders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card can use the automated lanes. This includes passport holders from Japan, Indonesia, India, and Australia amongst others.

“Prior to the ACI, most foreign visitors would have to queue at the manual counters upon arrival for immigration clearance. With the ACI, those eligible can now proceed directly to the automated lanes for immigration clearance, even if it is their first time visiting Singapore,” said Phua Chiew Hua, Deputy Director of Operations Division, Assistance Commissioner of ICA. 

“This will allow us to onboard more travellers for the use of our automated lanes as we move towards having automated clearance as the norm,” Phua added.

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Eligible arriving foreign visitors will be directed to the automated lanes for immigration clearance where their biometrics are automatically enrolled during the arrival process if it is not enrolled yet during a previous trip to the Lion City.

Their enrollment information is included in the electronic visit pass which is emailed to them after the immigration clearance. The ICA added that enrolled foreigners will then be able to use the automated lane during departure and on their next visits to Singapore.

The ICA has deployed 130 automated lanes at the Changi Airport and 40 at land checkpoints. 

Over four million foreign visitors have cleared immigration through the automated lanes. The ICA expects 95% of all arrivals at the Changi Airport will be cleared through the automated lanes by the first quarter of 2024.