Immigration and Checkpoints Authority

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (Abbreviation: ICA) is the border control agency of Singapore under the department of the Ministry of Home Affairs.[1]

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Penguasa Imigresen & Pusat Pemeriksaan
移民与关卡局
Agency overview
Formed1 April 2003 (2003-04-01)
Preceding agencies
  • Singapore Immigration and Registration
  • Customs and Excise Department
Jurisdictional structure
Governing bodyGovernment of Singapore
Constituting instruments
  • Immigration Act
  • Passports Act
  • National Registration Act
Operational structure
Headquarters10 Kallang Road, Singapore 208718
Elected officers responsible
  • K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs & Minister for Law
  • Josephine Teo, 2nd Minister for Home Affairs
Agency executive
  • Marvin Sim, Commissioner, ICA
Parent agencyMinistry of Home Affairs
Website
www.ica.gov.sg

The ICA is responsible for border control (i.e. protection and surveillance), immigration enforcement, and border customs services in Singapore.[2][3] ICA is accountable to Parliament through the Minister for Home Affairs.

Organization
The ICA Building at Kallang Road. ICA counter services is only for services that cannot be done or completed online.

Overview

ICA oversees all immigration and registration matters in Singapore with the exception of work passes which is under the purview of the Ministry of Manpower. At its Kallang Road headquarters, services are provided from "cradle to grave", starting from birth registration to the issuance of identity cards and finally to the registering of deaths. At the various checkpoints of Singapore, ICA carries out its border control duties on both goods and people.

Organisation Identity
Mission We secure our borders and uphold our laws on immigration and national registration
Vision Secure Borders, Safe Singapore
Values Integrity, Commitment and Accountability

ICA officers primarily enforce the Immigration Act (Cap 133) and the Passports Act (Cap 220). Immigration officers are authorised to act on behalf of the Controller of Immigration (who is de facto the Commissioner of ICA). Officers may also be empowered as registration officers under the National Registration Act (Cap 201).

Immigration officers can prohibit entry to any person or class of persons for any reason related to the conditions of Singapore.[4] Since 2018, immigration officers have limited policing powers within the checkpoints and in their immediate vicinity.[5] Under the Integrated Checkpoints Command (ICC) concept, ICA is ultimately responsible for border security at Singapore's checkpoints.

To facilitate entry for aliens arriving in Singapore, ICA issues a variety of passes. The most common is the social visit pass, which allows aliens to remain in country for a specified number of days. Other types of passes include student passes, dependent's passes, landing passes and special passes.[6]

Contraband smuggling

ICA officers deployed as cargo and baggage examination officers are empowered under the Customs Act (Cap 70) to search people and conveyances at all ports of entry in Singapore.. They can then seize any controlled items or contraband found before referring them to the appropriate Controlling Agency such as Singapore Customs or the Central Narcotics Bureau.[7] The most common contraband are duty-unpaid cigarettes and tobacco products due to the high duties imposed on them.[8][9] Other examples include narcotics, replica firearms, wild animals and unlicensed medicine.[10][11][12]

Immigration offences

Immigration offenders are referred to ICA's Enforcement Division (ED) which oversees investigation, prosecution and repatriation matters. Prosecution officers work together with public prosecutors at the Attorney-General's Chambers to ensure that offenders are lawfully detained and given trial. Examples of common offences include the harbouring of immigration offenders, employing immigrants illegally or entering marriages of convenience.[13] Home owners who have been found guilty of renting their houses to immigration offenders and not carrying out one or more of the mandatory checks may be sentenced to a jail term, fine or both.

Counter-terrorism

ICA is Singapore's first line of defence against potential terrorist threats by restricting the movement of security sensitive persons across international borders. After the escape of Mas Selamat in 2008, all checkpoints immediately stepped up security checks. During the lead-up to the 2018 Trump-Kim Summit, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam revealed that four people had been turned away at the checkpoints for terrorism related reasons.[14]

ICA is part of the Inter-Agency Coordination Group within the Republic of Singapore Navy's Maritime Security Task Force. ICA participated in the 2011 Exercise Northstar, in which immigration officers boarded ships to check for immigration offenders, firearms and explosives.[15] ICA also participated in the 2013 Exercise Highcrest which simulated terrorist attacks on one of Singapore's checkpoints.[16]

Services Centres

ICA has three services centres which caters to the different demographics in Singapore.

The Citizen Services Centre issues the pink National Registration Identity Card (NRIC), the certificate of citizenship and the Singapore passport. The Registry of Births and Deaths is also under the Citizen Services Centre.

The Permanent Resident Centre issues the blue NRIC for permanent residents as well as entry and re-entry permits.

The Visitor Services Centre issues visit pass extensions, visas and long term visit passes.

Structure

ICA is divided into staff and line units. Staff units are involved in manpower, training and corporate services. Line units deal with the front-line operations of ICA. The senior executive management is called the Leadership Group (LG).[17][18]

ICA organization chart. Orange = line units. Green = staff units
Leadership Group [17]
Appointment Rank Name Notes
Commissioner (ICA) Commissioner Marvin Sim Formerly from CNB
Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Deputy Commissioner Hsu Sin Yun Formerly from SPF
Deputy Commissioner (Policy & Transformation) Deputy Commissioner Cora Chen
Deputy Commissioner (Corporate Development & Administration) Deputy Commissioner Ong Choon Beng
Director Manpower - Pravina Jit
Director Operations Senior Assistant Commissioner Nam Liang Chia
Director Intelligence Assistant Commissioner Wong Hong Meng
Senior Deputy Director Intelligence - Mohd Farhad Bin Mohd Shariff
Domain Commander Sea Assistant Commissioner Chua Sze How
Domain Commander Land Senior Assistant Commissioner Chua Tuan Meng
Domain Commander Air Senior Assistant Commissioner Sng Gek Lian Julia
Director Enforcement Assistant Commissioner Theodore Tan
Director Policy, International Relations & Legislation Assistant Commissioner Chuan Tian Lye, Dominic
Director Planning & Review Assistant Commissioner Lim Pheck Khoon, Kelly
Commander Airport Senior Assistant Commissioner Sng Gek Lian Julia
Commander Woodlands Assistant Commissioner Tan Ngak Leng Colin
Commander Tuas Assistant Commissioner Jackson Tan
Commander Coastal Assistant Commissioner Chia Hoi Mun
Commander Ports Assistant Commissioner Ng Chin Kok Danny
Commander Air Cargo Assistant Commissioner Koo Weng Yew Alan
Commander Training Assistant Commissioner Soo Sun Hon, Ernest
Director Citizen Services Assistant Commissioner Chui Wai Cheng
Director Visitor Services Senior Assistant Commissioner Chew Sui Lin
Director Permanent Resident Services Senior Assistant Commissioner Angie Wong
Director Corporate Communications Assistant Commissioner Chia Hui Keng
Director Information Management and Chief Data Officer Assistant Commissioner Chua Yeng Eng
Director IC Programme Management Centre & Forward Deployed\ - Tan Sor Hoon
Director Corporate Services Assistant Commissioner Yong Koi Hin

History

Colonial Era (1915 - 1964)

Immigration Department and Registration Department

When the Straits Settlement was first established, immigration control was minimal to facilitate free trade. Entry control began when the colonial government enacted the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance in 1915.[19] In 1933, the Immigration Department was established to administer the Aliens Ordinance which placed quotas on newcomers entering Singapore. This effectively ended the freedom of travel in Singapore.[19][20]

Ordinance No. 5 of 1952 (The Immigration Ordinance) came into force on 1 August 1953, setting the foundation of immigration law in Singapore. The Immigration Ordinance was amended in 1959 after Singapore was granted sovereignty. The amendment gave Singaporeans the right of entry into the Colony.[20] A new Immigration Depot was built at Telok Ayer Basin (East Wharf) while the head office was moved to Empress Place Building. Round-the-clock immigration clearance for vessels was started 1 June 1961.

Birth registration started in 1872 which was then used for health and statistical purposes. However, by 1938 registration of births became compulsory by law. At the start of the second World War, the British introduced paper identity cards for the first time. This was suspended after the British surrender in 1945. The colonial government began issuing identity cards again in 1948 to counter the communist insurgency.[21] The desire to limit the entry of those who might have communist sympathies extended to the creation of a new Immigration Bill in 1950. When Singapore merged with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak to form the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, immigration came under the jurisdiction of the federal government and the Immigration Department became a federal agency in Kuala Lumpur.

Customs and Excise

Customs control was started when the Monopolies Department was founded in 1910 to collect excise duties on goods such as hard liquors and opium. In 1916, the colonial government began taxing tobacco products on import to raise funds for the war effort.[22] In 1932, the Customs headquarters was shifted to the Customs House from Cecil Street. The Excise Department replaced the Monopolies Department in 1936 and in 1938, the Excise Department was renamed the Department of Customs & Excise.[22]

Post-independence (1965 - 2002)

Stricter immigration control

After Singapore separated from Malaysia on 9 August 1965, freedom of movement continued to exist between the two countries for a short period of time. Two border checkpoints were gazetted for travel between the two countries. They were the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the Woodlands Checkpoint. Malaysians had to produce identity cards to be able to enter Singapore, until passports were required on both sides in July 1967. To travel to Peninsular Malaysia, the Singapore restricted passport and the Singapore Certificate of Identity was required. The Restricted Passport Centre was at South Quay and was moved to Outram Road in 1976, but closed on 31 December 1994.

In the 1970s, illegal immigration and over-stayers became a serious problem in Singapore. A task force was set up in 1974 to deal with the immigration problem. Laws were introduced that allowed immigration officers to seize and detain vessels and vehicles used to convey illegal immigrants. Those who harboured or employed illegal immigrants could also be punished. Data on foreigners' movements within Singapore were processed by the new Immigration Data Processing Centre.

The Last Port Clearance was introduced in 1980 to attract more passenger liners to Singapore.

A passport office was opened at Joo Chiat Complex in 1984. This office issued both international and restricted passports and was closed in 1999. The Immigration Department moved its head office to the Pidemco Centre in June 1986. Immigration officers were also deployed to places such as India and Hong Kong to open consulates and high commissions. All passports issued by Singapore immigration after 1990 were computerised and machine-readable. The Entry and Exit Control Integrated System implemented in the early 1990s was a computerized immigration system that was used at checkpoints to speed up the processing of travellers. A hotline for information was set up in 1992, with restricted access to countries lifted.

National Registration Office

The independence of Singapore in 1965 brought with it the National Registration Act in 1966. The distinctive pink identity cards were issued for the first time. The National Registration Office (NRO) replaced the former Registry of Persons.

At the time, the NRO and the Registry of Births and Deaths (RBD) came under the former Ministry of Labour. The Registry of Societies (ROS), Martial Arts Control Unit (MACU) came under the Ministry of Home Affairs. On 16 October 1981, the NRO, RBD, ROC, MACU and ROS merged to form the National Registration Department (NRD). The NRD consisted of four registries: the Registry of Births and Deaths, the Registry of Citizens, the Registry of Societies and the National Registration Office. The NRD was located at the Empress Place Building until 1986 when the building was transformed into the now defunct Empress Place Museum.

Customs and Excise Department

Tobacco, liquor, motor vehicles and petroleum became restricted goods after Singapore was granted independence as a sovereign nation. The Customs and Excise Department (CED) cooperated closely with other government agencies such as the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority and the Central Narcotics Bureau. When the GST was introduced in 1994, the work scope of the CED was expanded. The red and green channel customs system was implemented in 1991 at Singapore Changi Airport and at sea checkpoints.

The CED was located first at Cecil Street from 1910 till 1932 and later the White House at Maxwell Road from 1932 until 1989 when it moved to World Trade Centre (now HarbourFront Centre).

Singapore Immigration and Registration

In 1995, the Immigration Department was renamed Singapore Immigration. An immigration checkpoint was established at the Changi Ferry Terminal in May that year. There was a change in the passport application and collection in the 1990s, reducing the need for applicants to report to the building. To further reduce that need, applications by mail and internet were introduced and rebates were given for such applications.

A new logo was launched by then-Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng at the foundation stone ceremony for the SI Building in 1995. The West Coast Barter Trade Centre closed in June 1995. Singaporeans were sent renewal forms for passports nine months before their passports expired.

SI became an autonomous agency in 1996 as well as launching its first website. All immigration offices moved from the Pidemco Centre to the new building at Kallang Road in 1997. The Singapore Immigration and the National Registration Department merged to form Singapore Immigration & Registration in 1998. A new land checkpoint at Tuas was opened on 2 January.

21st century: Merger and integration (2003 - Present)

On 1 April 2003, SIR and the border control functions of CED were merged to form ICA in response to the 9/11 attacks and the Jemaah Islamiyah plots. The remaining functions of the CED was reorganised and renamed into Singapore Customs. ICA was to be part of the Home Team and a new, blue uniform was introduced to reflect that change. The first Commissioner of ICA was Lock Wai Han, who was in the Singapore Police Force before he oversaw the merger of the two agencies.

ICA's first major challenge came with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, testing the agency's ability to control Singapore's borders and screen passengers for contagious diseases.

In 2005, the then-Director CNB Eric Tan became the Commissioner of ICA.

Clarence Yeo (right), then-Commissioner of ICA

In 2010, Deputy Commissioner Clarence Yeo became the Commissioner of ICA.

On 1 July 2011, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) and the Malaysian CIQ agencies were relocated to the Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP). From then on, all arriving and departing trains terminated and started at WTCP.

Integrated Checkpoints Command

On 2 January 2015, the Integrated Checkpoints Command concept was introduced. Under the Integrated Checkpoints Command, ICA checkpoints are split into three domains: Land, Sea and Air. Each domain is headed by a Domain Commander who reports directly to the Commissioner.[23] All Home Team agencies deployed at the checkpoints must report to the Domain Commander.[24]

In 2017, the amended National Registration Act empowered ICA officers to investigate and enforce offences under said Act.[25]

On 30 March 2017, it was announced that Woodlands Town Centre would be absorbed by the new Woodlands Checkpoint extension.[26]

On 1 April 2018 the amended Immigration Act was introduced. ICA officers would now perform roles as first responders. The amendment gave immigration officers the legal powers of police officers in relation to offences committed in the vicinity of checkpoints.[5]

On 3 September 2018, Marvin Sim became the Commissioner of ICA. He was previously senior director of Joint Operations Group at MHA and deputy director at CNB.[27]

On 10 May 2019 during its Work Plan Seminar, ICA announced its new crest, mission and vision. The organisation's values remain unchanged.

On 25 November 2019, ICA took over the investigation of offences under the National Registration Act and National Registration Regulations. These offences were previously investigated by the SPF.

2020 COVID-19 Pandemic

In January 2020, ICA became the first line of defence against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Singapore government immediately started border health control procedures, announcing travel bans on foreign visitors arriving from affected areas and temperature screening at checkpoints. Incoming travellers were issued health advisories. Stay-Home Notices (SHN) and other enhanced measures were later added to contain the outbreak.

Counter services in the ICA Building is strictly for selected services (that cannot be done or completed online) or by e-appointment only until 2023. All applications are to be done online. Members of the public should use the e-Services at the ICA Building. If you have made the application earlier and the process requires you to proceed to the building itself for physical collection (e.g. NRIC and passports), you will have to book the appointment via the e-Appointment service.[28] The ICA Services Centre that operates 24 hours will be opened in 2023; passports and NRICs will be delivered to through person will be opened. The ICA Services Centre is located at the place where the old ICA carpark is located.

Stay-Home Notices were issued by ICA to travellers who were deemed to be "at-risk", such as those returning from affected areas. Such travellers were not allowed to leave their house for a 14-day period, starting from the day of arrival. A man who had been issued a SHN posted on social media a photo of him eating Bak Kut Teh, a popular meat soup dish in Singapore.[29] ICA subsequently said that the man would be referred to the Attorney-General Chambers for further action.[30]

Starting from 23 March 2020, no foreign visitors were allowed transit or entry into Singapore.[31]

From 27 March 2020, Stay-Home Notices were issued by email.[32]

On 28 March 2020, entry requirements were extended to all Long Term Pass holders. They would have to obtain an Approval Letter of Entry before travelling to Singapore.[33]

On 10 April 2020, it was announced that a cluster of COVID-19 cases at the ICA building at Kallang Road, where 3 officers had tested positive for the coronavirus. The building was shut on 11 April for disinfection purposes.[34][35]

Checkpoints

Below is a list of Singapore's ports of entries for persons, conveyances and goods. All of them fall under the purview of the ICA. Only two, Tuas and Woodlands Checkpoints are fully owned by ICA.

Land Domain

Woodlands Command is the world's busiest land checkpoint, clearing more than 100 million travellers every year.[36] It consists of Woodlands Checkpoint, WTCP, Old Woodlands Checkpoint and Woodlands Mini-checkpoint.

The Woodlands Mini-checkpoint consists of ten immigration counters used to clear motorcycles during the morning peak period.

The Old Woodlands Checkpoint is open to cars, motorcycles and lorries carrying cargo depending on the traffic situation. It was first re-gazetted as an immigration depot in 2008 to clear departing lorries. in 2009, it was expanded to be able to clear motorcycles and arriving lorries. In 2013, the installation of car booths enabled OWC to clear all forms of arriving traffic.

Air Domain

Sea Domain

ICA's Coastal Command is the largest command in ICA in terms of the number of checkpoints, stretching from the East to the West of the country.

Personnel

Officers

Immigration officers in ICA are considered public servants by law and are part of the Singapore Civil Service.

Immigration officers in ICA are divided generally into Junior Officers and Senior Officers. Under the current Home Affairs Services (HAS) (ICA) Unified scheme, new junior officers and senior officers join as Direct-Entry Sergeants and Direct-Entry Inspectors respectively. Direct-Entry Sergeants range from ITE graduates to polytechnic diploma holders. Direct-Entry Inspectors must be graduates from a university accredited by its home country. New Sergeants will become Primary Screening Officers, while Inspectors will become Team Leaders in their foundation posting. Regardless, all new officers will be posted to Tuas, Woodlands or Coastal Command.[37]

There is also a separate scheme for Management Executives who are deployed to the Services Centres. These officers are not considered immigration officers and do not don the blue uniform.

Training

All ICA direct-entry Sergeants and Inspectors must attend and pass the ICA Basic Course which is held regularly at the Home Team Academy. The Basic Course includes lessons on document examination, basic unarmed combat and basic firearms training. The Basic Course lasts twenty weeks for Direct-Entry Inspectors [37] and sixteen weeks for Direct-Entry Sergeants.[37] Both courses are non-residential, are fully paid-for the duration of the courses and trainees will receive their substantive rank pay as well. In return, officers have to serve bonds of one to two years after graduation. Direct-Entry Sergeants also receive sign-on bonuses and retention pay-outs. To remain in service, officers will have to pass law examinations and a firearms shooting test.

Advanced courses are also conducted by ICA's Training Command. Direct Entry Sergeants are typically trained into specialists in different fields such as profiling, cargo examination and firearms shooting. Senior officers will first be exposed to ICA's ground operations before being sent to enforcement, service or staff units. Overseas postings at Singapore's consulates are also available. Furthermore, suitable officers at any level below that of Inspector may also secure scholarships and promotion into the rank of senior officers as part of the new unified scheme.

Specialised courses are conducted by different units in ICA, such as the Court Etiquette, Protocol and Procedures course conducted by ICA's Enforcement Division.

Ranks

Before the merger, both SIR and CED had their own distinct rank progression. However, they were similar in that there was a separate scheme for Senior and Junior officers. This continued to be the case post-merger until 2017.

Since 2017, ICA officer ranks have fallen under the HAS (ICA) Unified scheme.[38] All Immigration Officers are placed under this scheme regardless of education level.

As part of the unified scheme, the ranks of Corporal and Staff Sergeant were collapsed into a single Sergeant rank with numerical increments. The ranks of Senior Checkpoint Inspector were removed and suitable Checkpoint Inspectors would be promoted to Inspectors instead. A new rank, Deputy Assistant Commissioner was added to provide more opportunities for officers at the middle management level.

At present, ranks in the ICA are modelled after those in the Singapore Police Force with some changes in insignia and naming (see table below).[39] The words "ICA Singapore" can be seen below the rank insignia.

RankAbbreviation Badge of rank
Corporal (obsolete; replaced by SGT1) CPL Two chevrons
Sergeant1 SGT(1) Three chevrons
Sergeant2 SGT(2) Ditto
Sergeant3 SGT(3) Ditto
Staff Sergeant (obsolete; replaced by SGT3) SSGT Three chevrons, inverted below adapted coat of arms (A silver lion rampant guardant on the left and a tiger rampant guardant on the right, each standing on a palm frond joined at the base, supporting between them a shield bearing 5 stars on a crescent moon and worn on shoulder straps)[40]
Checkpoint Inspector (1) CI (1) Coat of arms with wreath below inverted chevron
Checkpoint Inspector (2) CI (2) Coat of arms with wreath below two inverted chevrons
Senior Checkpoint Inspector (1) (obsolete) SCI (1) Coat of arms with wreath below three inverted chevrons
Senior Checkpoint Inspector (2) (obsolete) SCI (2) Coat of arms with wreath below four inverted chevrons
InspectorINSP Two military stars, centre of which is a circle on which emblazoned 5 stars on a crescent moon, locally known as "pips".
Assistant SuperintendentASP Coat of arms of Singapore
Deputy SuperintendentDSP Coat of arms above one pip
SuperintendentSUPT Coat of arms above two pips
Deputy Assistant Commissioner DAC ICA logo (wreathed portcullis below state crest)
Assistant CommissionerAC ICA logo below one pip
Senior Assistant CommissionerSAC ICA logo below two pips
Deputy Commissioner of ICA- ICA logo below coat of arms
Commissioner of ICA- ICA logo above coat of arms and pip

Awards and decorations

The Long Service medals were introduced in 2013 to recognise the dedication and performance of senior ICA officers.

Medals
  • Pingat Kepujian (Commendation Medal) - The medal may be awarded to any of the following persons who has distinguished himself through commendable performance and conduct, or significant efficiency, competence and devotion to duty.[41][42]
  • Pingat Berkebolehan (Efficiency Medal) - The medal may be awarded to any of the following persons for exceptional efficiency or exceptional devotion to duty or for work of special significance.[43]
  • Pingat Bakti Setia (Long Service Award) - The medal may be awarded to any person who has completed 25 years continuous service in the service of the government or associated agencies.[44][45]
  • Good Service Medal[46]
  • Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (10 Years)
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (10 Years) with 2 clasps
A Clasp may be awarded to a recipient of the 10 Years Medal on his completion of at least 15 years of continuous and unbroken qualifying service and a second Clasp on his completion of at least 20 years of continuous and unbroken qualifying service.[47]
  • Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (30 Years)[47]
  • Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (35 Years)[47]
    • A Clasp may be awarded to a recipient of the 35 Years Medal on his completion of at least 40 years of continuous and unbroken qualifying service.[47] The ICA also gives a Special Appreciation Award (SAA) for retired officers who are re-employed to service for every five years.[48]

Controversy

In 2020, a disgruntled Immigration Officer was charged for falsely reporting to the police that his supervisor might have taken photos in a public toilet.[49][50] ICA stated that its officers are expected to maintain a high standard of integrity.

Equipment

Firearms

Under Section 38A of the Immigration Act, all immigration officers shall be issued arms and ammunition as necessary. In practice, only qualified officers serving in protective security related roles are issued firearms.

The service firearm is the 5-shot Taurus Model 85 revolver. Other equipment include handcuffs, flexicuffs and expandable batons.

Uniform

In the early 1970s, Singapore Immigration had a brown and cream uniform. The colour of the uniforms did not vary for more than 20 years, with only modifications in style.[51] In 1997, uniforms in green and white were introduced.

In 1996, the Customs uniforms and accessories were changed to a shade of blue reminiscent of the current design.

In 2003, the uniform was updated to its current design. The uniform became Navy Blue, which was chosen to establish ICA as a member of the Home Team.

The uniform comes in different designs to suit the varied operating environments of ICA. The basic field uniform consists of a short-sleeved dress shirt and pants with a dress or duty belt as appropriate. This uniform can be most often seen in the Land and Sea checkpoints. Senior officers typically wear a bush jacket (for men) or a tunic (for women). A dress skirt is also available for female staff officer. Air Domain officers working at Changi Airport wear two-piece suits with ties to conform with airport guidelines, while sea-going clearance team officers wear long-sleeve coastal uniforms that resemble the SAF's Number 4 uniform. Cargo examination officers are issued polo shirts due to their warm operational environment.

In 2016, a distinctive ICC domain insignia was designed for each domain to serve as a symbol of common identity for all HT officers operating in the domain. The domain insignia also encourages a greater sense of belonging and closer collaboration among Home Team officers.[48]

Technology

ICA integrates information technology to streamline the entry and exit procedure at checkpoints. Singapore citizens, permanent residents and other registered travelers can use automated lanes called enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS). The Biometric Identification of Motorbikers (BIKES) System at ICA's land checkpoints can be used by residents and work pass holders entering and leaving Singapore by motorcycles.

In 2007, the Central Identification and Registration Information System (CIRIS) was introduced. CIRIS was a digital database which replaced the National Identification Databank/Passport and Employment (NID/PEM) System that was in use.

In 2018, the ICA released the MyICA app which allowed citizens to process multiple transactions in a single payment.[52]

At ICA's 2019 Workplan Seminar, the New Clearance Concept was introduced. Foreign visitors would fill in an electronic disembarkation card or e-DE card. They would be then allowed to use ICA's automated immigration gates upon arrival. Singaporeans will no longer have to present their passports or their thumbprints for immigration clearance at the automated gates. Instead, facial recognition technology will be utilised.[53]

In 2020, ICA announced the cessation of physical embarkation cards. Arriving travellers would be directed to use the SG Arrival Card, an electronic embarkation card with apps in Google Play and Apple's App Store. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, all travellers entering Singapore from 27 March 2020 were to fill in electronic health declaration cards integrated into the SG Arrival Card website.[54]

Biometric verification

ICA has progressively implemented the use of biometric verification to improve security at its checkpoints. ICA employs the use of biometry to find persons of interests and has deployed a suitcase sized facial recognition system to different checkpoints [55]

In 1997, ICA implemented the Checkpoint Access Cards. which used fingerprint data to facilitate entry. The system was called Immigration Automated Clearance System or IACS. Later in 2006, the system was upgraded to the Enhanced Automated Immigration Clearance System (EIACS).

In 2005, the Biometric Database for Immigration Clearance (BDIC) was introduced. This was a biometric database that contained all the biometric records of immigration offenders and police criminal records. This was used to supplement text-based blacklist screening and prevented undesirable travellers from entering Singapore with a fraudulent passport.

In October 2006, ICA began issuing biometric passports to Singapore citizens.

In October 2017, ICA started issuance of new biometric passports that comes with additional security features.[56] This marked the second series of biometrics passports issued by Singapore. Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents have their iris bio-data registered as well.[57]

In 2016, ICA began the biometric registering and verification of travelers using the Bioscreen system.[58] In 2019, ICA announced the launch of iris scanning and facial recognition trials. This would allow passport-less travel for its citizens and permanent residents.[59]

At Changi Airport's Terminal 4, there are Automated Immigration Gates (AIGs) which allow foreigners one-time use of automated immigration clearance.[60]

Trivia

ICA was featured in the MediaCorp Channel 5 action drama series Point of Entry.

In 2017, the Singapore passport was reported to be the most powerful passport in the world.[61]

gollark: It will, actually.
gollark: Thus, download perl from internet.
gollark: The docker container will not have perl.
gollark: https://discord.com/channels/346530916832903169/726738757092376627/800375262901436487
gollark: No, palaiologos said they did.

References
  1. "How MHA Works - Ministry of Home Affairs". www.mha.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  3. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  4. "Singapore explains why many Vietnamese women have been denied entry". Thanh Nien Daily. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  5. hermesauto (8 January 2018). "Parliament: ICA officers get enhanced powers to conduct searches, arrest people at checkpoints". The Straits Times. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  6. "Immigration Regulations - Singapore Statutes Online". sso.agc.gov.sg. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  7. hermesauto (5 June 2017). "9,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes, declared as 'assorted bread', found in Malaysian truck". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  8. "More than 7,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes seized at Tuas Checkpoint". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  9. "ICA seizes 6,000 cartons of cigarettes hidden among printer parts". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  10. "Man caught smuggling live bird in potato chips tube". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  11. hermes (4 April 2018). "Drugs worth $74,000 seized at Tuas Checkpoint; 2 nabbed". The Straits Times. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  13. "Till prison do us part: ICA officers crack one of the largest sham marriage cases". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  14. "Shanmugam confident security in place for Trump-Kim summit". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  15. "New maritime security system debuts at Exercise Northstar". www.mindef.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  16. MHA Singapore (10 June 2014), Exercise Highcrest 2013, retrieved 5 July 2018
  17. "ICA Annual 2019" (PDF).
  18. "ICA Annual 2004" (PDF).
  19. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  20. Asad Latif (2017). Policing. Singapore: Straits Times Press. pp. 80–86. ISBN 978-981-47-4720-2.
  21. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  22. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  23. "ICA Annual 2015" (PDF). ICA website.
  24. migration (2 January 2015). "ICA launches Integrated Checkpoints Command to strengthen coordination among agencies". The Straits Times. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
  25. "ICA Annual 2016" (PDF).
  26. hermesauto (30 March 2017). "Woodlands Checkpoint to be extended to Old Woodlands Town Centre; two land plots to be acquired". The Straits Times. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  27. "Leadership changes at ICA and Home Team Academy". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  28. ICA e-Appointment Service
  29. "S'porean man who breached Stay-Home Notice for bak kut teh receives warning from ICA". Mothership.sg. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  30. "ICA | Follow-up Response To Media Queries On Man Breaching SHN Requirements To Eat Bak Kut Teh". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  31. "Coronavirus: All short-term visitors barred from entering or transiting in Singapore from Monday, 11.59pm". The Straits Times. 22 March 2020.
  32. "ICA to serve stay-home notices to inbound travellers by e-mail from Friday, March 27". The Straits Times. 26 March 2020.
  33. "ICA | Updates on Border Control Measures in Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  34. "Singapore reports 198 new COVID-19 cases; second death from Lee Ah Mooi Old Age Home cluster". CNA. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  35. "ICA Building closes for disinfection after COVID-19 cluster reported there". CNA. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  36. "ICA annual 2011" (PDF).
  37. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  38. https://www.ica.gov.sg/docs/default-source/ica/ica-annuals/ica_annual_2017.pdf
  39. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  40. "Police Regulations - Singapore Statutes Online". sso.agc.gov.sg. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  41. "The Commendation Medal (Pingat Kepujian)". Prime Minister's Office. Singapore Government. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  42. "National Day Awards 2018". Straits Times. Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  43. "The Efficiency Medal (Pingat Berkebolehan)". Prime Minister's Office. Singapore Government. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  44. "The Long Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Setia)". Prime Minister's Office. Singapore Government. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  45. "Singapore badges of honour". Straits Times. Straits Times. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  46. "No. S203 – Immigration & Checkpoints Authority Good Service Medal Rules 2013". Singapore Statutes Online. Government of Singapore. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  47. "No. S202 – Immigration & Checkpoints Authority Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Rules 2013". Singapore Statutes Online. Government of Singapore. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  48. "Immigration and Checkpoints Authority Annual Report" (PDF). Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. Singapore. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2018.
  49. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/disgruntled-ica-officer-false-allegations-former-supervisor-12543176
  50. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/ica-man-sent-e-mail-to-seniors-falsely-stating-that-ex-supervisor-could-have
  51. "ICA - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  52. "ICA launches web portal for passport, entry visa applications". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  53. ICAOutreach (9 May 2019), New Clearance Concept, retrieved 27 May 2019
  54. "ICA | All Travellers Arriving In Singapore From 27 March 2020, 0900 Hours, Must Submit Health Declaration Via The SG Arrival Card E-Service". www.ica.gov.sg. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  55. "[Featured News] Identifying a Face amongst Thousands at Our Borders". HTX. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  56. hermesauto (26 October 2017). "New design for Singapore passport with additional security features: ICA". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  57. "Authorities to collect iris scans from Singaporeans, PRs starting Jan 1". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  58. "Why are we introducing fingerprint checks at our land checkpoints?". Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  59. "Iris, facial scanning trial for immigration clearance under way at Tuas Checkpoint". CNA. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  60. "Changi Airport - AIGs Immigration (T4)". www.changiairport.com. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  61. "Singapore now has the 'most powerful' passport in the world | Coconuts Singapore". Coconuts. 25 October 2017. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.