SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will from Monday (Jun 13) only accept walk-ins at the ICA Building from passport applicants who have been notified to collect their passports, submit supporting documents or resubmit photographs.
This follows the agency's review of its processes in response to a surge in passport applications since March.
More than 5,000 passports are currently issued per day, almost thrice the number pre-pandemic in 2019, said ICA in a news release on Saturday, adding that it has been producing and issuing passports at an "unprecedented rate".
"To meet the increased demand, more officers have been redeployed to process and produce passports, and they are doing so round the clock," said ICA.
From Jun 13, ICA will only accept walk-ins for applicants who have been notified to collect their passports, submit supporting documents or resubmit their photographs.
For applicants who need to travel urgently, they can only submit an appeal online to expedite the processing of their passport at https://go.gov.sg/passportrequest.
Previously, ICA said Singaporeans who need to travel urgently were required to produce supporting documents in-person at the ICA Building for assessment on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who want to check on their application status can do so by logging in to MyICA.
The agency noted that the number of people visiting the ICA Building for passport collections and other enquiries has increased. These include visits to check on the status of their applications, as well as requests to expedite passport applications or collections.
ICA said this has resulted in long queues, which required additional officers for crowd management and other services.
"ICA has thus reviewed our processes to facilitate passport issuance.
"The current resources committed to manage the long queues and on-site requests will be redeployed to expedite the processing and issuance of passports," it said.
To be allowed entry into the ICA Building, passport applicants must show one or more of the following supporting documents to be allowed entry into the building:
For passport collection"
For submission or resubmission of documents or photographs:
Applicants who need to collect their passports at the ICA Building are advised to do so alone, so as to reduce the crowd at the building. Children, the elderly and those who require special assistance may be accompanied by one other person.
To avoid the queues at the ICA Building, eligible applicants are also encouraged to collect their passports at one of the 27 post offices in Singapore, with no additional fee required.
"ICA officers are working hard to process the passport applications. We seek Singaporeans’ understanding on our revised process to only allow walk-in for specific passport matters during this period," said ICA.
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This follows the agency's review of its processes in response to a surge in passport applications since March.
More than 5,000 passports are currently issued per day, almost thrice the number pre-pandemic in 2019, said ICA in a news release on Saturday, adding that it has been producing and issuing passports at an "unprecedented rate".
"To meet the increased demand, more officers have been redeployed to process and produce passports, and they are doing so round the clock," said ICA.
From Jun 13, ICA will only accept walk-ins for applicants who have been notified to collect their passports, submit supporting documents or resubmit their photographs.
For applicants who need to travel urgently, they can only submit an appeal online to expedite the processing of their passport at https://go.gov.sg/passportrequest.
Previously, ICA said Singaporeans who need to travel urgently were required to produce supporting documents in-person at the ICA Building for assessment on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who want to check on their application status can do so by logging in to MyICA.
The agency noted that the number of people visiting the ICA Building for passport collections and other enquiries has increased. These include visits to check on the status of their applications, as well as requests to expedite passport applications or collections.
ICA said this has resulted in long queues, which required additional officers for crowd management and other services.
"ICA has thus reviewed our processes to facilitate passport issuance.
"The current resources committed to manage the long queues and on-site requests will be redeployed to expedite the processing and issuance of passports," it said.
Related:
APPLICANTS COLLECTING PASSPORTS ADVISED TO DO SO ALONE
To be allowed entry into the ICA Building, passport applicants must show one or more of the following supporting documents to be allowed entry into the building:
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR PASSPORT COLLECTION
For passport collection"
- E-appointment booking for passport collection at the ICA Building
- Manual collection slips for passport collection; or
- Online notification or pink notification card stating that passport is ready for collection
For submission or resubmission of documents or photographs:
- Email notification to submit supporting documents; or
- Online notification to re-submit photographs
Applicants who need to collect their passports at the ICA Building are advised to do so alone, so as to reduce the crowd at the building. Children, the elderly and those who require special assistance may be accompanied by one other person.
To avoid the queues at the ICA Building, eligible applicants are also encouraged to collect their passports at one of the 27 post offices in Singapore, with no additional fee required.
"ICA officers are working hard to process the passport applications. We seek Singaporeans’ understanding on our revised process to only allow walk-in for specific passport matters during this period," said ICA.
Continue reading...