Singapore refuses higher percentage of travelers since launching automated immigration lanes

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From VN Express / Straits Times

Singapore has reported a rise in the percentage of travelers refused entry into the city-state since the introduction of automated immigration lanes at Changi Airport in May.

Thanks to automated clearance, checks are carried out earlier and technology can be utilized more extensively, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sun Xueling, said at a parliamentary session on Monday, as cited by The Straits Times.

He did not provide specific figures on the increase.

Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam said in the parliament earlier on Monday about 2,500 visitors are refused entry at Singapore’s checkpoints for various reasons every month, according to The Straits Times.

Since May, all foreign travelers arriving in Singapore, regardless of nationality, have been able to use the automated lanes at Changi Airport for immigration clearance. The system allows visitors to use their iris and facial biometrics for clearance without the need to present their passports.

Singapore might be the first country in the world to allow all foreign travelers, including first-time visitors, to use automated lanes without prior registration, according to Channel News Asia.

Singaporean authorities plan to install approximately 800 such automated lanes across all of Singapore’s checkpoints by 2026.