Singapore's e-passport gates now opens to Australians

[JessicaTam]

I went landside in SIN this evening and when I came back through I was sent to the egate as I had scanned my fingerprint on the way out. So even without official smart gate access, it is available half of the time.

 

[auriga]

I look forward to being able to enter singapore using the auto lanes. I wonder if that is going to happen...

 

[Austman]

I went landside in SIN this evening and when I came back through I was sent to the egate as I had scanned my fingerprint on the way out. So even without official smart gate access, it is available half of the time.

Unfortunately it only works if they scan your fingerprints on arrival.

And, as was explained to me 3 days ago, they only scan fingerprints on arrival at quiet times. Otherwise it takes too long.

There were almost no pax going through when I was there (at around 10pm) but it was designated a busy time - or expected to be soon busy. So no dice for me this time.

 

[JessicaTam]

Unfortunately it only works if they scan your fingerprints on arrival.

And, as was explained to me 3 days ago, they only scan fingerprints on arrival at quiet times. Otherwise it takes too long.

There were almost no pax going through when I was there (at around 10pm) but it was designated a busy time - or expected to be soon busy. So no dice for me this time.

Ah got it. Thanks for the extra info.

I have now got three arrival stamps so will apply for smartgate access when I am next there in August.

 

[scwappy]

Ah got it. Thanks for the extra info.

I have now got three arrival stamps so will apply for smartgate access when I am next there in August.

My partner left Singapore using the gates, but had not been scanned on the way in. I traveled out on a NZ PassPort and they took me aside and did some extra things like my finger prints and copies of passport etc. I had no idea what was going on but think they may have been registering me

 

[Austman]

And another experience for me.

I left Johor Bahru CIQ on the 17:15 Transtar 1 bus to Changi. A bargain at MYR 10.00. (about AUD 3.00)

I was at Changi before 18:15 - so a fast trip!

At SIN Woodlands they took my thumbprints. Then at Changi, less than an hour later, I could use the automatic gates.

And it was confirmed by another 2 x persons in SIN passport control that you need prints on the way in to be able to use prints on the way out.

So with 3 x international border crossings in less than 60 minutes, my passport was only stamped twice!

 

[OZDUCK]

Just sitting at Changi now and we were directed to use the E-gates. We had been thumprinted on the way in this time. However, we weren't asked about this. Just told - Australians, please use the E-gate. My wife's thumb is obviously not up to the standard of mine as she had trouble with the reader.

 

[Austman]

Yes - that was my first experience too.

I don't know how they can match your thumbprint if they hadn't previously scanned it.

I guess the initial passport scan would reject you ...

 

[dairyfloss]

Does this suggest passports will no longer need to be specially registered for Australians?? No minimum visits required, etc?

Edit: perhaps just being used on the way out?...

 

[Austman]

I tried mine on the way in a few days ago - it was rejected.

 

[jakob]

Registered for this recently.

If you go regularly then definitely worth the 20mins and photo you need to bring. Singapore is highly variable (IMO) for immigration queues. I think the 3 visits in the last year requirement is actually probably a good guide as to whether its going to be useful.

Jakob

 

[ermen]

If anything, it saves a bunch of stamps, especially if you go in/out of Singapore frequently too

 

[UniFlyer]

Passed through Singapore immigration over 12 times last year. I may have had to wait for nearly 20 minutes just once. All other times, it was super quick. I have had quite a few times when the counters had absolutely no queues at all. Immigration at T3 is fantastic. T1 may have a bit more waiting times.

 

[dairyfloss]

If anything, it saves a bunch of stamps, especially if you go in/out of Singapore frequently too

This was my primary reason for doing this. My passport was filling up with Singapore stamps from the many layovers I do, there. There also also sometimes lengthy delays leaving Singapore from Terminal 2 (largely for Asia, India, ME) in the afternoon & early evening. I'm an APEC cardholder, which gave priority coming in, but there is nothing for when you leave. e-gates have been brilliant!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Just told - Australians, please use the E-gate. My wife's thumb is obviously not up to the standard of mine as she had trouble with the reader.

Does this suggest passports will no longer need to be specially registered for Australians?? No minimum visits required, etc?

Edit: perhaps just being used on the way out?...

I recently used smartgates on the way out only minutes after manual processing on the way in. All foreign passports were directed to use them and one thumbprint is scanned (vs two on the way in). There was some sort of brief manual check after passing through but they didn't take my filled out departure card.

Seems likely that it will be deployed broadly, at least for exiting (if not entering as well). Can't see that registration will be needed in future.

So with 3 x international border crossings in less than 60 minutes, my passport was only stamped twice!

If anything, it saves a bunch of stamps, especially if you go in/out of Singapore frequently too

I deliberately did it for the stamps so was disappointed. Next time I'll ask - but doubt they'll oblige!

 

[RoMambai]

I am heading to SIN for a short break later this week and want to go to JB for an afternoon of shopping while there. If I register for this will it mean I can avoid the horrible queue that awaits non-Singaporeans when returning to the city state and use the Smart gates?

When I did this in mid December I languished in that line for 4 hours and was on the verge of going postal. Keen to avoid that if possible.

 

[ajd]

I am heading SIN later for a short break later this week and want to go to JB for an afternoon of shopping while there. If I register for this will it mean I can avoid the horrible queue that awaits non-Singaporeans when returning to the city state and use the Smart gates?

When I did this in mid December I languished in that line for 4 hours and was on the verge of going postal. Keen to avoid that if possible.

Yep.

Though 4 hours seems a bit nuts - which checkpoint and what time?

The only particularly slow experience I've had with Singapore immigration was going through HarbourFront on return from Batam - that took quite a while...

 

[RoMambai]

Thanks. That will be a relief.
It happened Monday 18 December which unbeknownst to me was the first day of Singaporean school holidays and people were flowing across the Woodlands border in numbers. Only 3 counters were open which is unforgivable.

Yep.

Though 4 hours seems a bit nuts - which checkpoint and what time?

The only particularly slow experience I've had with Singapore immigration was going through HarbourFront on return from Batam - that took quite a while...

 

[straitman]

Last time I entered Singapore I had a bandaid on one thumb. The guy just smiled tapped the keys for a second and said to just use my good thumb. I thought it might have been more of an issue than that.

 

[RoMambai]

I finally got the coveted 5-year ink stamp on Friday. It took 10-minutes and the chap doing it was very affable. We filled out the form together which was straight forward, except for the question on race. I said I'd like it to say "Australian" but he was having none of that. He prompted me for where my parents were born. When I told him, he casually mumbled to himself before unilaterally assigning me a race. Who said chivalry was dead?

Upon leaving he said it would take 24 hours to process but I could try my luck on my way out. I should have known better. I tried. It failed and before long I was being frog marched to a back office. And of course I got there immediately after a PIA flight, chock full of the usual suspects. By the time they had processed them, it was an hour later - next time I'll know when to cash in my chips....

After that, things got better. Woodlands was a breeze but oddly I then got hassled about the SG visa on the Malaysian side??!! The officer was convinced it meant I was working in Singapore and demanded to see my SG work permit. Of course I tried to argue but before I knew it, I was remonstrating my case in a back office. After several minutes, sanity prevailed and I was let through. So much for saving time!

The trip back into Singapore was a doddle. The smart gates worked a treat, as it did at Changi. So, in the end it was worth it notwithstanding a few growing pains. Emptor caveat.