ICA Responds to Feedback Following Exclusion
SINGAPORE: Starting from Sep 1, parents’ dialect groups will once again be included in digital birth certificates, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced on Friday (Aug 12). This decision follows public feedback regarding the omission of this information.
Previously excluded during the transition from physical to digital certificates, parents’ dialect groups, along with other fields such as parents’ countries of birth and the mother’s address, were removed to simplify the registration process. However, ICA noted that these details remain accessible through Singpass and acknowledged concerns expressed by citizens.
“We should have made clear the reasons for excluding this information from digital certificates and clarified that it was still available in Singpass,” ICA stated. Addressing these sentiments, the authority has decided to reinstate parents’ dialect information on digital birth certificates issued from Sep 1, 2022.
Accessibility of Updated Certificates
Digital birth certificates issued between May 29 and Aug 31 can be re-downloaded for free from Sep 1, reflecting parents’ dialect groups. For new certificates, the dialects of both the father and mother will be displayed.
The move to digital birth certificates, implemented on May 29, was part of the Government’s broader push to streamline and digitalise services. However, the exclusion of certain fields, including parents’ dialect groups, sparked queries and feedback from the public.
Registered Dialect Information
The ICA clarified that dialect information is assigned at birth based on the father’s dialect and recorded in the national registration database. This information can later be amended through a written declaration.
Singaporeans aged 15 and older can access their dialect details through Singpass under the “Personal” tab, while parents can view their child’s dialect information in their profiles under the “Family” tab.
Since the 1970s, individuals have been allowed to register a dialect of their choice, reflecting either their spoken language or lineage. The ICA explained this policy accommodates races in Singapore without traditional dialect groups.
This update underscores the ICA’s commitment to addressing citizen concerns while maintaining its goal of improving administrative efficiency through digitalisation.
