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Planning for Your Year-End Getaway?
As the November/December school holidays draw near, many Singaporeans are making plans to travel overseas.
2. Most countries require the traveller's passport to be valid for at least six months from the date of expiry, before allowing the person to enter. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) would like to urge Singapore Citizens to apply for their passports early, well in advance of the November/December holidays, if their passports are coming to within six months of expiry.
Why do it early?
3. More than 120,000 Singaporeans are expected to apply for passport facilities from October to December. This is about 20 to 30 per cent more than the average crowd we experience. During the super-peak periods, the waiting time is expected to be longer than usual.
How to do it
4. In the spirit of the coming holiday season, ICA would like to offer some time and money-saving tips for passport applicants.
The recommended way to do it
5. The Application for Passport Online Electronic System (also known as APPLES) is an e-service that gives citizens added flexibility and choice when applying for their passports. APPLES enables citizens to apply and pay for their passports online anytime and at the convenience and comfort of their homes. APPLES can be accessed through ICA’s website at www.ica.gov.sg as well as the eCitizen portal at www.ecitizen.gov.sg.
Other recommended ways to do it
6. Besides APPLES, citizens can also apply for their passport by post or through the deposit boxes placed inside and outside ICA Building.
Why do it our way?
7. Citizens who apply for their passports through APPLES or by post need only make one trip to the ICA Building. In addition to the convenience, citizens who choose to submit their passport applications via APPLES, by post or through the deposit boxes get to enjoy a $10/- rebate. Instead of $80/- for counter applications, these applicants pay only $70/- for their passports.
When not to collect your passports
8. The Passports Unit is generally at its busiest on Saturdays, when the waiting time to collect passports is often longer. There is also a larger crowd on Mondays, Fridays, during school holidays, and on the days before and after public holidays. The peak hours are from 11.30am to 3pm. While every effort will be made to attend to each application/collection as quickly as possible, waiting times may be longer during these periods.
Extension of Passports – where else to do it?
9. As there may be a crowd at the Passports Section of ICA Building from September to the end of the year, ICA would like to advise NSmen holding passports with restricted validity to avoid coming to ICA Building for passport extensions. NSmen from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force can extend their passports at the Central Manpower Base at Depot Road, Police Cantonment Complex and SCDF HQ Complex respectively.
2. Most countries require the traveller's passport to be valid for at least six months from the date of expiry, before allowing the person to enter. The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) would like to urge Singapore Citizens to apply for their passports early, well in advance of the November/December holidays, if their passports are coming to within six months of expiry.
Why do it early?
3. More than 120,000 Singaporeans are expected to apply for passport facilities from October to December. This is about 20 to 30 per cent more than the average crowd we experience. During the super-peak periods, the waiting time is expected to be longer than usual.
How to do it
4. In the spirit of the coming holiday season, ICA would like to offer some time and money-saving tips for passport applicants.
The recommended way to do it
5. The Application for Passport Online Electronic System (also known as APPLES) is an e-service that gives citizens added flexibility and choice when applying for their passports. APPLES enables citizens to apply and pay for their passports online anytime and at the convenience and comfort of their homes. APPLES can be accessed through ICA’s website at www.ica.gov.sg as well as the eCitizen portal at www.ecitizen.gov.sg.
Other recommended ways to do it
6. Besides APPLES, citizens can also apply for their passport by post or through the deposit boxes placed inside and outside ICA Building.
Why do it our way?
7. Citizens who apply for their passports through APPLES or by post need only make one trip to the ICA Building. In addition to the convenience, citizens who choose to submit their passport applications via APPLES, by post or through the deposit boxes get to enjoy a $10/- rebate. Instead of $80/- for counter applications, these applicants pay only $70/- for their passports.
When not to collect your passports
8. The Passports Unit is generally at its busiest on Saturdays, when the waiting time to collect passports is often longer. There is also a larger crowd on Mondays, Fridays, during school holidays, and on the days before and after public holidays. The peak hours are from 11.30am to 3pm. While every effort will be made to attend to each application/collection as quickly as possible, waiting times may be longer during these periods.
Extension of Passports – where else to do it?
9. As there may be a crowd at the Passports Section of ICA Building from September to the end of the year, ICA would like to advise NSmen holding passports with restricted validity to avoid coming to ICA Building for passport extensions. NSmen from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force can extend their passports at the Central Manpower Base at Depot Road, Police Cantonment Complex and SCDF HQ Complex respectively.