ICA addresses surge in demand as travel restrictions ease, with peak applications reaching 14,000 daily
SINGAPORE: Singaporeans applying for or renewing their passports will now face a processing time of at least six weeks, as the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) grapples with a significant surge in applications.
The ICA reported a “massive” spike in passport applications, with over 7,000 applications being received daily since the relaxation of travel restrictions. At the height of the demand, ICA processed as many as 14,000 applications in a single day—compared to the pre-COVID daily average of around 2,000.
The authority has attributed the delays to this overwhelming demand and acknowledged the eagerness of Singaporeans to travel again, especially with the upcoming June school holidays. ICA assured the public that they are doing everything possible to manage the situation, including increasing working hours and adding more passport counters to accommodate the high volume of applications.
Delays may extend further if additional surges in demand occur, or if there are issues with applications, such as photographs that do not meet the required standards.
To help alleviate the burden, ICA has set up additional queue areas and implemented a triaging system to direct applicants to the appropriate locations. The authority has encouraged applicants to follow posted signage and instructions from officers when visiting ICA.
For those with urgent travel needs, ICA advised submitting supporting documents in person at the ICA building for individual assessment.
In a bid to reduce congestion at the ICA building, applicants collecting their passports are encouraged to make an appointment at any SingPost outlet. ICA pointed out that there are plenty of available appointment slots at these locations, with some even offering extended operating hours, including weekends. Importantly, there is no additional fee for passport collection at SingPost outlets.
The surge in applications follows a pent-up demand, with over 1 million passports having expired or approaching expiration during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated travel restrictions. ICA also warned the public to remain vigilant against scammers taking advantage of the high demand, urging them not to fall for fraudulent calls related to passport issues.
With Singapore having relaxed travel restrictions from April 26, fully vaccinated travellers are now able to enter Singapore without the need for a pre-departure test, further driving the rise in passport applications.
