Singapore's e-passport gates now opens to Australians

[Fiches Mouser]

Singapore's Changi Airport opens e-passport gates to Australians - Australian Business Traveller

 

[yohy?!]

good news but a shame it requires registration rather than just accepting biometric passports as the inbound ones in Oz do.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh!

Well... it was exciting until I read the details.

Eligibility along the lines of Hong Kong (3 prior visits), except you have to bring your own photo AND wait 20 minutes to complete the process (hong kong requires no photo and registration takes less than 5 minutes). And with Hong Kong it's valid the life of your passport!

I had to wait at Singapore last year for 30+ minutes to get through immigration - but that was a once off. Normally it's pretty quick. Hong Kong on the other hand regularly has queues of that length.

I guess if you regularly travel to Singapore it might be worthwhile. Hong Kong on the other hand is a definite 'must have'.

 

[defurax]

I've been to Singapore 3 times last year and never had to wait more than 5 minutes. Might be useful for people travelling to Singapore every week/month though.

 

[dajop]

Might be useful for people travelling to Singapore every week/month though.

Before I moved here, I was here at least once a month (from an immigration perspective, usually at least twice a month as I usually went somewhere else and came back), so would have been handy then. Not to mention saving of space in passport from less entry and exit stamps....

Don't forget as well, unlike AU, you can use these outbound as well as inbound, so that doubles any time saving. But double of nothing is still nothing!

 

[Isochronous]

Probably not much point in this if one has an APEC Card.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Probably not much point in this if one has an APEC Card.

APEC line is no longer dedicated in SIN so it's often faster if you could use the egates! Just like in HK it's faster to use the frequent traveller sticker rather than apec lane.

 

[RooFlyer]

Is QFF one of the airline programs mentioned re HKG scheme mentioned:

Frequent Flyer Programme membership card issued by airlines which have joined this scheme (please enquire with your airline).

Source: Immigration | Hong Kong Tourism Board

 

[defurax]

Is QFF one of the airline programs mentioned re HKG scheme mentioned:



Source: Immigration | Hong Kong Tourism Board

Yes QFF status is recognised for the HK scheme.
http://www.ausbt.com.au/how-frequen...t-hong-kong-airport-frequent-visitor-echannel

That's how I got enrolled. Only problem is the opening hours of the registration kiosk.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. South Hall looks OK for my 7:15pm arrival.
[TABLE="class: tableStyle03"]
[TR]
[TD]Location of Enrolment Offices
[/TD]
[TD="width: 277"]Opening Hours of Enrolment Offices
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 278"]Arrival North Hall
(after arrival counters)
[/TD]
[TD="width: 277"]10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 278"]Arrival South Hall
(after arrival counters)
[/TD]
[TD="width: 277"]7:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

(Apologies to the OP for wandering OT.)

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Thanks. South Hall looks OK for my 7:15pm arrival.
[TABLE="class: tableStyle03"]
[TR]
[TD]Location of Enrolment Offices[/TD]
[TD]Opening Hours of Enrolment Offices[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Arrival North Hall
(after arrival counters)[/TD]
[TD="width: 277"]10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 278"]Arrival South Hall
(after arrival counters)[/TD]
[TD="width: 277"]7:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

(Apologies to the OP for wandering OT.)

Actually, both countries are pretty relevant considering how much frequent business traffic goes through each.

I'm trying to squeeze in a visit to the enrolment office in SIN next week, but apparently not open on weekends! That makes it somewhat difficult as I could have done it during a layover on my way to HKG.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Does anyone know what the prior visits requirement is in HKG? Might try for that instead next week.

 

[defurax]

Does anyone know what the prior visits requirement is in HKG? Might try for that instead next week.

If you are QFF Gold and higher( list of airlines and status in the AusBT article I quoted above), no previous visit is required.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

If you are QFF Gold and higher( list of airlines and status in the AusBT article I quoted above), no previous visit is required.

Eligibility along the lines of Hong Kong (3 prior visits) ... Hong Kong on the other hand is a definite 'must have'.

Just re-read MEL_Traveller's comment – what was your experience with the multiple visits?

 

[defurax]

Just re-read MEL_Traveller's comment – what was your experience with the multiple visits?

The 3 visits requirement is only if you can't provide a document from item 3: http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/echannel_visitors.html

 

[Fiches Mouser]

The 3 visits requirement is only if you can't provide a document from item 3: e-Channel Services for Visitors | Immigration Department

I see. Thanks defurax!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just re-read MEL_Traveller's comment – what was your experience with the multiple visits?

The 3 visits requirement is only if you can't provide a document from item 3: e-Channel Services for Visitors | Immigration Department

Indeed. I should have been clearer.

However if you need to qualify for Hong Kong via the 'visit' method (rather than status), it appears by some accounts that you can only apply for the e-channel on your fourth visit (ie, you have to enter three times in 12 months, then can apply the next time you arrive).

If you had e-channel on a previous passport, they seem to just give you a new one anyway.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Indeed. I should have been clearer.

However if you need to qualify for Hong Kong via the 'visit' method (rather than status), it appears by some accounts that you can only apply for the e-channel on your fourth visit (ie, you have to enter three times in 12 months, then can apply the next time you arrive).

If you had e-channel on a previous passport, they seem to just give you a new one anyway.

I don't have any QF status, but considering they don't require any high-level status with most FF programs, surely the 'visits' method is redundant?

Looking at the AusBT list, I could just use my entry-level ANA card for example. Seems too easy!

 

[ajd]

I had to wait at Singapore last year for 30+ minutes to get through immigration - but that was a once off.

Go through immigration at HarbourFront or at either of the Malaysian border crossings, on the other hand...

 

[JessicaTam]

Good news. I go to SIN often enough that I would be happy to spend thirty minutes once for the benefit.