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February 17, 2025 | 10:48 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Around 33,100 foreigners were denied entry into Singapore throughout 2024, up by 15 percent compared to the previous year.
According to a report by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) cited by local media, most of these individuals were turned away due to immigration or security risks. These risks include the possibility of overstaying, working illegally, or committing crimes.
Surge in Visitors
The high number of people denied entry into the city-state corresponds with the surge in the number of tourists passing through Singapore's checkpoints in 2024. Records show that the number exceeded 230 million, experiencing an almost 20 percent increase from the previous year.
Since May 2023, all foreign tourists arriving in Singapore, regardless of their nationality, can use the automated lanes at Changi Airport to obtain immigration clearance. This system uses iris and facial biometrics, eliminating the need to show a passport.
Visitor Screening
The ICA revealed that the New Clearance Concept (NCC) at Changi Airport helps filter out unwanted visitors. The system with automated lanes and passport-free clearance applies at the airport and gradually at all sea checkpoints.
Facial and iris biometric data collected through the NCC is analyzed by the new Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC) of the ICA. This unit uses data analysis to identify high-risk foreign individuals before they arrive. These individuals are flagged for a stricter examination when attempting to clear immigration.
The ICA states that the automated lanes have counter forgery detection capabilities supported by multimodal biometric screening systems.
"This enables ICA officers to detect travelers using fraudulent passports, as well as repeat travelers impersonating and/or using false identities (i.e. multiple identities), as we would have their biometrics in our database," as stated on the ICA website.
Those who have previously committed crimes in Singapore and attempt to re-enter the country under a different name will be identified.
According to Channel News Asia, Singapore may become the first country in the world to allow all foreign tourists, including new visitors, to use automated lanes without prior registration. By 2026, authorities plan to install approximately 800 such lanes at all checkpoints.
Known for its low crime rate and strict laws, Singapore ranked eighth among the 10 safest cities in the world for tourists in 2025, according to the North America-based travel insurance company, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.
VN EXPRESS | CHANNEL NEWS ASIA
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