Starting in 2024, Singapore's Changi Airport will implement automated immigration procedures, where passengers will not need a passport, using only biometric data.
Communications Minister Josephine Teo recently announced in Parliament about the change to the country's immigration laws. Singapore will be one of the first few countries in the world to adopt automatic entry procedures, without the need for a passport.
All visitors entering Singapore will not need a passport by 2024.
Biometric technology, along with facial recognition software, has been piloted at Changi Airport in automated lanes at immigration checkpoints.
Biometrics will be used to generate a unique authentication token. The technology will be used in activities such as checking in luggage, going through immigration and boarding a plane.
The upcoming changes will reduce the need for passengers to present travel documents, saving time during the immigration process.
Often ranked as the world's best and busiest airport, Singapore's Changi serves more than 100 airlines flying to 400 cities in about 100 countries and territories worldwide.
The airport had 5.12 million passengers in June, surpassing the 5 million mark for the first time since January 2020.
Notably, with its unique architecture, Changi is also one of the tourist attractions. Currently, this airport has four terminals and is planning to expand to serve the increasing number of tourists.
Eye-catching architecture at Changi Airport.
Observers say biometric identification could soon be the future of travel. In 2018, Dubai International Airport introduced smart tunnels that use facial recognition to verify travelers’ identities in just five seconds. Passengers are also allowed to use fingerprints or facial scans for authentication instead of relying on passports.
In addition, facial recognition technology is gradually becoming popular at international airports such as Hong Kong International Airport, Narita International Airport, Tokyo Haneda (Japan), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi), Heathrow (UK).
(According to 24h, September 22, 2023)
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