As Singaporeans resume overseas travel with a vengeance, many of us would have recently experienced every traveller’s nightmare: long immigration queues.
Thanks to technology, however, the hassle of airport immigration clearance might soon become a thing of the past.
For example, Seoul’s Incheon Airport has already introduced a passport-free facial recognition system for departing passengers.
Source: Newsis via 정희망 on Facebook
Travellers will have to pre-register their facial information either at check-in or via an app.
The airport launched the new system, ‘SmartPass’, on Friday (28 July), reported The Korea Herald.
It enables passengers leaving the South Korean capital to get through departure and boarding gates without having to constantly present their passports and boarding passes to security.
It’s currently available at six departure gates and 16 boarding gates at Incheon Airport.
The airport will likely implement the system fully from April 2025.
In case you’re wondering, Singaporeans will be able to use the SmartPass facial recognition service too.
It’s reportedly open to both South Korean and foreign nationals, and instructions will be available in English, Chinese, Japanese, as well as Korean.
Source: Newsis via 정희망 on Facebook
The only catch is that one has to be flying with six airlines: Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, T-way Air and Delta Air Lines.
Passengers of other airlines will have to wait till after the system’s full implementation in 2025.
Travellers using the SmartPass system will have to register their facial information when checking in for their flight at self-check-in machines at the airport.
Source: Newsis via 정희망 on Facebook
Alternatively, they may download the SmartPass app and use it to upload their biometric information into the system.
They must do this at least 30 minutes before using SmartPass at e-gates.
The Korea Herald quoted an airport official as saying that SmartPass is expected to boost security “significantly”.
That’s because “human biometric information is difficult to falsify and duplicate”, he added.
However, that doesn’t mean one can safely stash their passport away for the whole trip — travellers should carry the document as well as their boarding pass at all times, he noted.
They would still need these for submission during the immigration inspection process.
Incheon Airport’s new system comes just a day after Taiwan started allowing Singaporeans to use e-gates at their airports.
According to an update on Friday (28 July) on Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) website, Singapore was added to the list of countries that can use e-gates at immigration.
The other five countries are the United States (US), South Korea, Australia, Italy and Germany.
Source: National Immigration Agency
Citizens of these countries must hold chip passports issued by their country.
Just like in Seoul, travellers will have to pre-register to use the e-gates at Taiwan’s airports.
The process, which they can complete upon arrival, is quick and painless, though.
According to the NIA, all that Singaporeans need to do is head to the e-gate enrollment counter at the arrival hall.
Source: Chi Fan Wang on YouTube
There, they’ll record your photo and fingerprints, and get you to sign an electronic application form.
Travellers can then use the e-gates immediately after registration.
Note that applicants must be aged 12 and above, at least 140cm tall and not have an “adverse record” in Taiwan.
Now that we can skip the long queues, perhaps it’s all the more reason to visit South Korea or Taiwan for your next vacation.
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Featured image adapted from Newsis via 정희망 on Facebook and Incheon Airport on Facebook.
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