Last October, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced that it was going to launch a 3-month trial for electronic arrival cards for visitors to Singapore.
The initiative was in hopes that these new e-arrival cards eventually replace the current paper disembarkation/embarkation cards that visitors need to submit upon arrival.
Visitors would be able to submit their personal information through the ICA website or via a mobile application before their arrival, and would only need to produce their passports for immigration clearance.
The 3-month trial is well over, and ICA is back with updates.
From today (14 Aug 2019), ICA will be extending the trial with the launch of the beta version of the “SG Arrival Card” e-Service on the ICA website and mobile application.
As with the initial announcement, foreign visitors travelling via selected transport operators can submit the electronic arrival card up to 14 days ahead of their arrival in Singapore, and only need to produce their passports for immigration clearance.
Visitors to Singapore will be able to access the “SG Arrival Card” at https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard.
It can also be downloaded as a free mobile application.
The mobile application will also save previously submitted information for use on subsequent trips to Singapore.
For this trial, only foreign visitors travelling via selected air, bus, and ferry transport operators can submit their e-arrival cards:
- Airlines – AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines
- Coach – Transtar Travel
- Ferries – BatamFast Ferries, Bintan Resort Ferries, Horizon Fast Ferry, and Majestic Fast Ferry
Other visitors will need to complete and submit their disembarkation/embarkation cards as per normal.
In the media release, ICA revealed that by 2021, the electronic arrival card will completely replace the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation card.
“ICA will study the results of this trial and progressively extend the “SG Arrival Card” facility to all foreign visitors. More details will be announced when ready.”
Featured Image Credit: Josh Mayeux on Flickr
