The Straits Times

22 December 2014

 

Passport validity and air tickets : ICA replies

   

MR ADRIAN Koh Soo Jin requested that the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) send a clear directive to all ticketing agents on the purchase of air tickets ("Passport expiry: Be flexible on plane ticket sales"; Dec 11).

 

Generally, the international norm is that a passport must have at least six months' validity. It is the prerogative of a destination country to decide if entry will be granted to a traveller if the passport validity falls short of this requirement.

 

The purchase of an air ticket is a commercial transaction between the airline and the traveller. Thus, when approached, the ICA will advise travellers that it is the right of the airlines to set guidelines on the sale and issuance of air tickets to their passengers whose passport validity does not meet the international norm.

 

Singaporeans are reminded to apply for their passports early and ensure that their passports have at least six months' validity so as to avoid any inconvenience when travelling.

 

Chia Hui Keng (Ms)

Deputy Director

Corporate Communications Division

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

 

 

<Original Letter>

 

The Straits Times

11 December 2014

 

Passport expiry: Be flexible on plane ticket sales

 

MY FAMILY'S Myanmar helper has decided to return home after two years.

 

Her passport expires on Jan 15 next year, and we reckoned that it did not make sense to renew it since she was on a one-way trip home.

 

We checked with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Myanmar Embassy, and got verbal confirmation that a minimum six-month validity period for her passport was not necessary.

 

However, we were unable to make an Internet purchase of her plane ticket from online agent Zuji and Tigerair because her passport was valid for less than six months.

 

We called the airline, which insisted that we get an official letter from the ICA.

 

My mother had to take my helper to the ICA to get this letter, missing an entire day's work in the process.

 

I urge the ICA to send a clear directive to all ticketing agents on this matter. Some common sense and appropriate communication could have saved much time and inconvenience.

 

Koh Soo Jin Adrian