More visitors to Singapore will be able to submit electronic arrival cards online or through a mobile app up to 14 days before their arrival, as part of an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) trial, according to The Straits Times.
The move is an extension of a trial ICA has been conducting on electronic arrival cards since last October, said the report.
ICA said in a statement that only foreign travellers with selected transport operators can submit electronic arrival cards in place of the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation cards that they are currently required to submit on arrival.
The transport operators included in the trial are AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Transtar Travel, BatamFast Ferries, Bintan Resort Ferries, Horizon Fast Ferry and Majestic Fast Ferry.
Under the new system, they will need to produce only their passports for immigration clearance upon arrival, as the ICA’s system would already have their electronic arrival cards which were submitted in advance, according to a statement by the ICA.
All other visitors are still required to complete the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation cards. This includes those arriving at sea checkpoints via cruise liners, land checkpoints via rail, cars, motorcycles and lorries, and those entering Singapore to assume work pass status, said the authority.
ICA said that it will study the results of this trial and progressively extend the SG Arrival Card e-service to all foreign visitors.
The electronic arrival card is expected to replace the paper-based cards by 2021, said the Straits Times report.
