From January 2009, Singaporean students who are turning age 15 in the year can register for their National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) at their own schools instead of journeying to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) Building.  Under this joint initiative by ICA and MOE to streamline the process for NRIC registration, ICA will dispatch mobile registration teams to MOE-registered secondary schools that had made prior bookings to conduct NRIC registration for Singaporean students who are eligible to register for their identity cards.

 2         Currently, it is mandatory for Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents to register for their NRIC once they reach 15 years of age.  These applicants, who are mostly studying in secondary schools, are required to turn up personally at the ICA Building with the necessary documents to register for their NRIC.  

3          The new streamlined process for NRIC registration at schools will benefit our students significantly in terms of convenience and time saved from travelling and waiting at ICA.  With the registration exercise conducted in schools, the time needed for NRIC registration for each student is reduced markedly - less than five minutes in fact. Moreover, as opposed to registering at ICA Building, fewer documents are required and students need only to bring along their School Smart Cards as a form of authentication. More than 48,000 students from 167 schools will benefit from this joint initiative.

NRIC Registration Process at Schools

4          Schools can now make an NRIC registration appointment with ICA for the cohort of students who are turning 15 years in the calendar year using the e-Appointment system (www.eAppointment.ica.gov.sg). Based on the pre-booked date, ICA will liaise and dispatch mobile teams to schools to conduct the NRIC registration for the eligible students.

5          Parents who have a child or children due for NRIC registration will receive notification letters (which comprise of a printed form) from ICA two weeks before the date of registration at the school.  The date, time and venue for the NRIC registration as well as the forms and documents required will be indicated clearly on the notification letters.

6          Students will need to bring along their School Smart Cards as a form of identification together with the pre-printed registration forms duly completed and signed by the students. Parents can choose to make payment for the registration fee ($10 for Singapore citizens and $50 for permanent residents) through their credit cards. Alternatively, the students can also use their School Smart Cards/EZlink Cards to make payment at the time of NRIC registration.

7          Upon completion of the registration process at the schools, ICA will produce the NRICs and dispatch them to the respective schools. The students can therefore enjoy having their NRICs without having to step beyond their school premises.

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Jointly issued by:

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

Ministry of Education

5 JANUARY 2009