The Straits Times
13 May 2025

Digital records of past passport numbers can be retrieved on MyICA portal

We refer to Mr Victor Lim’s letter “Include all previous passport numbers in new passports” (May 6).

In 2006, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) introduced the biometric passport with enhanced security features to comply with the standards and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

This ensures that the Singapore passport remains a highly secured travel document which gives Singaporeans access to many countries without the need for a visa.

In line with the ICAO’s recommendation, every passport should carry a passport number that is unique and unrepeated.

This is important for agencies to share information on lost and stolen Singaporean passports as part of the global effort to curb passport abuse.

For Singaporeans who want their previous passport number to be indicated in their new passport, ICA can include the number in the current passport. Such requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Alternatively, Singaporeans who need their previous passport numbers for verification purposes overseas can access digital records of their previous passport numbers via the MyICA portal on the ICA website, under the “MyTransaction” tab.

The list can be downloaded and printed for reference.

Mr Lim also encountered difficulties overseas while using his Apec Business Travel Card (ABTC), which still bears his old passport number.

As each ABTC is tagged to a unique passport number, card holders must renew their ABTC if they have been issued a new passport. This can be done via the MyICA portal under the category “replacement due to change of particulars”.

Patrick Ong
Senior Assistant Director
Strategic Communications and Media Relations
Corporate Communications and Service Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority

The Straits Times
6 May 2025

Include all previous passport numbers in new passport

I wish to highlight an issue that many Singaporeans, especially frequent travellers and business people, face when travelling to Asean countries after renewing our passports.

A new passport number is assigned each time a passport is changed or renewed.

In many parts of South-east Asia, older passport numbers are still referenced, especially in dealings with banks, government offices and legal entities – for example, in bank accounts, vehicle registrations, company resolutions and legal contracts.

This has caused considerable inconvenience when the new passport number does not match the number in the old government and legal documents.

Recently, when I flew into Penang and produced my Apec Business Travel Card with an old passport number, the immigration officer told me that the card could not be used as the passport number on the card did not match my new passport number.

Fortunately, my last previous passport number was included in my new passport, which helped me resolve the issue at the checkpoint. However, I’ve been told by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) that it can include only the last previous passport number and not more.

I once encountered a delay in selling my Malaysian vehicle because the ownership records referenced a much older passport number. I had to search through years of old passports just to prove my identity.

To avoid such disruptions, I hope ICA can consider either including all previously issued passport numbers in the new passport, or issuing an official certification or document listing our full passport history.

This would greatly help those of us conducting business overseas, especially in jurisdictions where identity card numbers are not accepted, and passport numbers are the primary form of identification.

Many fellow businessmen share this concern, as we often have to update company resolutions or amend legal agreements because our identification number – the passport number – keeps changing.

 Victor Lim