The streamlining of safe management meaures (SMMs) were previously postponed, but will now be implemented from Tuesday (15 March) onwards; the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) announced during their press conference earlier today.

The streamlined SMMS will be based around 5 key aspects, namely the group sizes, wearing of masks, social distancing, workplace requirements and the limits of capacities.

As reported by The Straits Times, a maximum of 5 persons will be allowed for social gatherings, per group; with the max number of visitors permissible for each household to be changed to five at any one time, instead of five per day.

The wearing of masks will still be required for everyone; however, in settings where masks are put on, no social distancing is required; and for setting with masks are not put on, safe distancing will be required.

On the updates to workplace requirements, up to 50% of employees who are able to work from home, will be allowed to go back to their office; the measures for social gatherings as mentioned above will also apply to workplace settings.

As for capacity limits, events with specific limits on sizes such as funerals, wedding receptions and etc, will see the limits being lifted, along with the zoning requirements.

However, for large events with more than 1,000 attendees, there will be a 50% capacity limit.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in a media release earlier today that from 11 March onwards, all foreigners who are entering Singapore on a short term visit pass will be issued e-Passes instead of the endorsement stamps (colloquially referred to as “chop passport”).

Here is ICA’s statement

ICA Ceased Ink Endorsements on Passports, Roll Out Of E-Pass to All Checkpoints

As part of ICA’s efforts to provide a more secure, safer and more seamless immigration clearance as Singapore gradually reopens its borders, all foreign visitors on short-term visit passes will be issued with electronic visit passes (e-Pass) in lieu of inked endorsements in their passports. Issuance of the e-Pass which was first implemented at Changi Airport in October 2021, has been extended progressively to all checkpoints from 11 March 2022.

2. To support this initiative, ICA has also launched an e-Pass Enquiry Portal for foreign visitors to check the records of their short-term visit passes online. This Enquiry Portal is accessible via the SG Arrival Card e-Service.

Background and Benefits

3. The e-Pass initiative was first implemented at Changi Airport on 10 October 2021 and has now been extended to other checkpoints. Inked short-term visit pass endorsements on passports will cease gradually following this implementation. Instead, an e-Pass will be issued to foreign visitors to the email address declared in the SG Arrival Card after they have cleared immigration. It contains details of the visit pass granted, including the maximum number of day(s) of stay and the last day of stay allowed in Singapore.
4. With the full implementation of the e-Pass, all foreign visitors on short-term visit pass will no longer have to worry about the lack of pages in their passports to accommodate immigration stamps. They will also have the convenience of retrieving their e-Pass information via ICA’s e-Pass Enquiry Portal on the SG Arrival Card e-Service platform at any time. Foreign visitors simply need to input the Disembarkation/Embarkation (DE) number issued to them after they have submitted their SG Arrival Card application, to access their e-Pass information through the Enquiry Portal.
5. The SG Arrival Card e-Service at https://eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard/ provides a convenient one-stop platform for foreign visitors in their travel journey, for the submission of SG Arrival Card and electronic health declaration before arrival, as well as retrieval of e-Pass records through the Enquiry Portal.

Advisory to Foreign Visitors

6. Foreign visitors to Singapore are reminded to obtain a valid Singapore visa (if applicable) and the relevant entry approvals in accordance with prevailing border control and health protocols, before seeking entry into Singapore. They should also submit their SG Arrival Card[1] within three days prior to the date of arrival in Singapore. As the e-Pass will be sent to the email address indicated in the SG Arrival Card, foreign visitors are reminded to provide an accurate and valid email address in their SG Arrival Card submission. Foreign visitors may also provide a proxy email address on behalf of their family members who do not possess email accounts.

Transforming Immigration Clearance – Convenient and Secure

7. The e-Pass is one of the building blocks for ICA’s New Clearance Concept (NCC). The NCC, which would be operationalised at our checkpoints from 2023, will automate immigration clearance for all travellers. The e-Pass supports our NCC plans by removing the need for travellers to obtain inked endorsements, thus providing more secure, safer and more seamless immigration clearance for travellers. The e-Pass Enquiry Portal complements this initiative by providing the convenience of immediate retrieval of visit pass record at any time while in Singapore.

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
11 MARCH 2022