Singapore, Sep 19 (EFE).- Singapore has announced that it will introduce passport-free immigration at Changi airport in 2024, with the use of digital biometrics for several passenger authentication processes.

The measure was a part of the Immigration (Amendment) Bill, presented before Parliament late Monday by Communications and Information Minister Josephine Teo, who underlined that Singapore will be “one of the first few countries in the world to introduce automated, passport-free immigration clearance.”

“Besides Dubai, which already offers passport-free clearance for certain enrolled travelers, we do not know exactly which other countries have similar plans,” said Teo.

Initially, biometric controls will be installed at several points in the airport’s departure area, so the number of beneficiaries would be limited.

Moreover, Teo stressed that “it is likely that physical passports will still be required for many countries outside of Singapore. .”

The move seeks to further streamline transit at Changi Airport, which is currently building its fifth terminal and secured the top ranking in the 2023 World Airport Awards, a title it has held 12 times.

Changi, which was named the best airport in the world for a record eight consecutive years from 2013 to 2020, before losing out to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in 2021 and Doha International Airport in 2022. EFE

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