Expect heavy traffic at checkpoints during holiday season: ICA
SINGAPORE — The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has advised the public to expect heavy traffic at the Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays.
In a media statement on Thursday (19 December), ICA said that travellers using the land checkpoints between Friday and 1 January 2020 are advised to adjust their travel plans where necessary.
With security checks coupled with large numbers of travellers using the checkpoints at the same time, traffic build-up is inevitable and delays can be expected. Travellers should factor the additional time needed for immigration clearance into their plans.
ICA has advised travelling motorists not to cut queues at both land checkpoints during the peak periods, as it can cause severe congestion and compromise safety.
They should check the traffic situation at the checkpoints before embarking on their journeys, via the One Motoring website or the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System installed along the Bukit Timah and Ayer Rajah Expressways. They can also check ICA’s Facebook page for updates on the traffic situation at both land checkpoints.
Ensure passports are valid
Travellers are also reminded to ensure that they bring their rightful passports with a remaining validity of six months or more. Those who turn up at checkpoints either with a wrong passport or without a passport will cause unnecessary delays, adding to traffic build-up and inconvenience to other travellers.
Passports which have been reported lost will be cancelled, and can no longer be used for travelling, even if they are found subsequently. Any attempt to use them is an offence under the Passports Act and may be punished by a jail term of up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Passports that have been recovered must be surrendered to ICA within 14 days. Failure to do so is an offence under the Passports Regulations and may be punishable by a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine of up to $3,000.
Foreign visitors encouraged to use e-service
Travellers are also reminded not to bring in prohibited items such as firecrackers, “Pop-Pop” or chewing gum. If they bring in dutiable or controlled items such as eggs, meat products and potted plants, they should proactively make declarations to our officers prior to checks.
Foreign visitors are encouraged to submit their arrival cards online via the SG Arrival Card e-Service on the ICA website or mobile app for greater convenience.
They can submit the electronic arrival cards up to 14 days ahead of their arrival in Singapore. This means that they do not need to fill up the paper-based disembarkation/embarkation card and will only need to produce their passports for immigration clearance upon arrival.
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