Singaporeans should apply for passports now if they plan to travel year-end: ICA
SINGAPORE — The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Thursday (18 August) urged Singaporeans who plan to travel during the year-end to submit their passport application now if they are holding an expired passport or a passport with less than six months validity.
“This will avoid another surge for application of passports towards end of the year and provide sufficient time for ICA to meet the demand for year-end travels. Singaporeans who submit their applications late will risk not being able to collect their passport in time for their travel,” ICA said in a media release.
Passport applications can be submitted online via the ICA website or MyICA Mobile.
ICA also advises applicants to adhere to photo guidelines to avoid unnecessary delay, Singaporeans who plan to take a photo of themselves for passport applications should refer to the photo guidelines on ICA’s website. Applicants with photos that do not meet the passport guidelines have to resubmit new photos.
Applicants can check on their passport application status via the ICA website or MyICA Mobile. Those with enquiries on passport matters can refer to the FAQs on the ICA website or contact the passport helpline at 6812 5555 (operating hours: 8.30am to 11.59pm daily) or reach out via the Live Chat on ICA’s website (Live Chat hours: 8am to 5pm on Mon – Fri, 8am to 1pm on Sat).
The advisory comes two months after ICA issued a media release to say that it had been producing and issuing passports at “an unprecedented rate” due to the surge in such applications since March. ICA said it issued more than 5,000 passports per day – almost thrice the number pre-Covid in 2019.
Under a new rule that took effect on 13 June, ICA will only accept walk-ins for passport applicants who have been notified by ICA to either collect their passport and/or submit supporting documents, and/or re-submit photographs.
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