ICA warns of heavy traffic at Singapore checkpoints during upcoming festive season

SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has warned of anticipated very heavy traffic congestion at both the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints from 28 March to 14 April.

This forecast comes as the nation prepares to observe Good Friday, Qing Ming Festival, and Hari Raya Puasa within this timeframe, as announced by the ICA on 25 March.

Good Friday is slated for 29 March, followed by Qing Ming on 4 April, and Hari Raya Puasa on 10 April in Singapore.

Travellers are strongly advised by the ICA to account for additional waiting time, adhere strictly to traffic regulations, maintain lane discipline, and extend full cooperation to officers stationed at the checkpoints.

Additionally, travellers are urged to ensure that their passports possess a validity of at least six months.

ICA also remind to not bring prohibited or controlled items into Singapore.

Highlighting the significant surge in traveller volume since the reopening of borders post the Covid-19 pandemic, the ICA stated that the current numbers have “far surpassed pre-Covid levels.”

During the school holidays spanning from 8 to 18 March, over 5.1 million travellers crossed both land checkpoints.

Notably, the highest recorded figure of nearly half a million individuals passed through the land checkpoints on 15 March alone.

During peak periods, travellers departing by car faced waiting times of up to three hours before completing immigration procedures, due to traffic tailback from Malaysia, the ICA disclosed.

In a bid to expedite the immigration process for travellers in cars, the ICA has introduced a new QR code system at both the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints.

Launched on 19 March, this initiative enables travellers to clear immigration without physically presenting their passports.

The QR codes, obtainable through the MyICA mobile application, can facilitate the clearance of either individual travellers or groups of up to 10 people in the same vehicle, streamlining the immigration process.

Currently, QR codes are only used for immigration clearance at Singapore’s checkpoints. Travellers are still required to show their physical passports at Malaysia’s checkpoints.

The MyICA mobile app can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).