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SINGAPORE – Face and iris scanners have replaced fingerprint scanners as the primary way to identify travelers at all immigration checkpoints, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on Wednesday (28 October).
Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass holders and other travelers who have registered their iris and face biometrics with the agency can use the new scanners at all land, sea and air checkpoints.
More than two million Singaporeans, or about 70 percent of all eligible Singaporeans, have registered their facial and iris biometrics with the agency, while 130,000 permanent residents have done so.
Those who have not done so, or who have not had success using iris and face scanners at checkpoints, will still be able to register by scanning their fingerprints, said ICA, which implemented the technology in conjunction with Home Team Science and Technology. Agency (HTX).
ICA said the technology, which was tested at Changi Airport and the Tuas checkpoint last year, will provide “even more reliable authentication of travelers’ identity” and is less prone to misuse, as requires specialized equipment.
HTX’s Wong Weiyang, who is the lead engineer for the agency’s Profiling and Biometrics Experience Center, said iris patterns were chosen as a biometric identifier because it is more diverse and unique than fingerprints.
It is also stable against aging and will be the same from birth to death, said Mr. Wong.
An iris scan provides almost 250 characteristic points for matching, compared to approximately 100 points for a fingerprint. The facial scans act as a “second check” of the person’s identity, ICA said.
Travelers who have trouble verifying their identities due to aging, scarred or dry fingers could easily use the automated clearance lanes with this technology, ICA said.
ICA’s Deputy Director of Operations Development, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Melvin Tiang, said the non-contact nature of these scans brings great benefits.
“With contactless technology, it allows us to capture biometric data without any physical contact with the machine, so (the process) is hygienic. This is especially important given the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said DSP Tiang.
It takes less than a second for the system to match a traveler’s biometric data to the ICA database.
Foreign visitors will need to register their biometrics with the agency when they first arrive in Singapore.
Afterwards, they can use the iris and facial scanners on their departure and when they return to Singapore, if they still use the same passport.
However, children under the age of six must still use the manual clearance lanes, as they are not eligible for facial and iris scans, ICA said, noting that their physical characteristics and related biometrics are still being developed.
The agency added that it eventually plans for all Singapore residents to pass immigration without presenting a passport starting in 2022.
Those who wish to record their facial and iris biometrics can approach ICA officers at checkpoints when traveling.
They can also do so when they visit the ICA building for immigration facilities.
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