The Straits Times
20 May 2022

Digital versions of birth and death certs can be easily authenticated

We refer to Mr Paul Chan Poh Hoi's letter, "Go digital, but offer hard copy for birth and death certificates too" (May 14).

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will be issuing digital birth and death certificates in place of physical certificates from May 29, to serve Singaporeans better.

We assure the public that these digital certificates are official and legal documents. We have informed other government agencies, relevant private entities as well as the foreign authorities of this change.

Parents and the deceased's next-of-kin may conveniently download and save the digital certificate as a PDF file, a widely used format that can be read on most electronic devices. There should therefore not be any technical issue when submitting the document to other organisations.

Once downloaded, the digital certificate will be stored on the user's personal device and is easily retrievable. This reduces the hassle of having to bring physical documents around.

The digital certificate comes with a secure and easy means of authentication. Third parties can verify the authenticity of the certificate by scanning its QR code. The QR code links the third parties to ICA's database, allowing them to verify the details on the digital certificate in real time.

Members of the public who would like to have a physical certificate can print a copy of the digital certificate.

Those with no online access and no one to help them may approach hospital staff, medical practitioners or staff at ICA Building or the ServiceSG Centres for assistance to access the digital certificate or to print a copy of the digital certificate.

Members of the public with inquiries can call our 24-hour hotline on 6589-8707 or visit the ICA website.

Patrick Ong
Head, Public Communications and Protocol
Corporate Communications and Service Division
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority

<Original Letter>

The Straits Times
14 May 2022

Go digital, but offer hard copy for birth and death certificates too

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) made a sensible move adopting digital birth and death certificates, but the corresponding elimination of physical documents is unwise (Only digital birth, death certs to be issued from May 29, May 9).

Despite the convenience and flexibility that digital certificates offer, physical documents remain a highly practical means of authenticating one's identity.

For example, a physical copy of a birth certificate is far more likely to be accepted by another country when a person takes up temporary residence there.

In addition, digital certificates are not necessarily more durable or easier to keep safely than physical certificates.

Technological service providers have also at times struggled to preserve backwards compatibility as old file formats become deprecated, resulting in the loss of digital information.

Conversely, it has been fairly straightforward for me to keep a physical copy of my birth certificate, issued in the mid-1930s.

It would be good if ICA could continue issuing a printed version of the original electronic document to those who want it, while absorbing the cost within the $18 application fee, so that citizens could enjoy the best of both worlds.

Paul Chan Poh Hoi