The Straits Times

15 August 2014

 

What IC fee covers

 

THE National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) is made of a highly durable polycarbonate material that has been subjected to stringent tests to ensure its durability, and is not easily damaged during normal handling ("Costly to replace damaged IC" by Mr Ivan Goh; Aug 5).

 

A fee of $60 is charged for replacing an NRIC to recover the production cost, which includes manpower, material and other costs incurred in producing a new card.

 

The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority will consider waiving the replacement fee for cases that warrant special consideration. This may include situations where the card was damaged due to circumstances beyond the cardholder's control, such as accidents or fire.

 

Vincent Ng

Head, Public & Internal Communications

Corporate Communications Division

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

 

The Straits Times

5 August 2014

 

Costly to replace damaged IC

 

I CHECKED with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority on the cost of replacing an identity card, since I have not replaced mine for more than 20 years.

 

To my surprise, it charges $60, regardless of how old the IC is.

 

I can understand the $100 fee for replacing a lost IC, since it serves as a reminder of the importance of taking care of one's IC.

 

But why is the cost of replacing a damaged IC so high, especially for ICs that have undergone wear and tear over the years? Will this cause Singaporeans to delay replacing damaged ICs?

 

In Malaysia, it costs only RM10 (S$4) to replace a damaged IC, and RM110 to replace a lost one.

 

So what is the actual cost of producing an IC?

 

Ivan Goh