Representatives of Changi International Airport (Singapore) said on September 20 that the airport will implement automatic immigration procedures, allowing passengers to enter and exit Singapore using only biometric data without a passport.
“Singapore will be one of the first few countries in the world to implement an automated immigration process without a passport,” Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo announced during a parliamentary session on September 17.
Previously, biometric technology and facial recognition software were used to a certain extent at some automated checkpoints at Changi Airport's immigration area.
A corner of Singapore's Changi International Airport
According to Ms Teo, the upcoming changes will reduce the need for passengers to constantly present their travel documents at checkpoints, allowing for greater convenience for passengers.
Biometrics will be used to generate a unique authentication code, which will be used at multiple automated checkpoints, from baggage drop-off to immigration and boarding.
Biometric codes also help reduce the need for physical travel documents such as airline tickets and passports. “However, other countries will still require passports,” Minister Josephine Teo stressed.
Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information hopes the biometric system will make it easier for passengers to travel, as tourist numbers increase after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our immigration system must be able to manage the growing number of visitors effectively, providing a positive clearance experience for passengers, while still ensuring security at Changi Airport,” added Ms Teo.
Regularly ranked among the world's best airports and one of the world's busiest, Changi International Airport serves more than 100 airlines, connecting to 400 cities and around 100 countries from around the world.
In addition, Changi International Airport is planning to expand to accommodate the growing number of visitors to Singapore.
In 2018, Dubai International Airport introduced a system of biometric smart gates, which use facial recognition devices to verify passenger information in just 5 seconds.
Passengers will also be allowed to use fingerprints or facial scans to authenticate their information instead of having to present their passports at Dubai International Airport.
Apart from Dubai and Singapore, some places like Hong Kong International Airport, Narita International Airport, Tokyo Haneda (Japan), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi), Heathrow (UK) have used facial recognition technology to some extent.
In the US, major airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines have tested biometric check-in, baggage check-in and boarding information services.
