BERNAMA
28/10/2020
SINGAPORE, Oct 28 -- Iris patterns and facial features will replace fingerprints as the primary biometric identifiers for immigration clearance in Singapore.
The fingerprints will then be used as a secondary biometric identifier for travellers who are unsuccessful in their iris and facial scans.
These are according to a joint statement issued by the republic’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Home Team Science & Technology Agency here today.
“The use of iris and facial scans is part of our plan to transform Singapore’s checkpoints, to provide travellers with more secure and efficient immigration clearance.
“We aim to realise our New Clearance Concept (NCC) at our checkpoints by 2022,” said the statement.
Beyond multi-modal biometric clearance, the statement said, the concept will eventually enable Singapore residents to clear immigration at the checkpoints without the need to present a passport.
Since July 2020, all automated and manual immigration lanes and counters at the passenger halls of Singapore’s land, sea and air checkpoints have been equipped with iris and facial scanners.
For the iris images alone, ICA started enrolling for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents from Jan 1, 2017.
By using iris patterns in lieu of fingerprints for identification, issues with fingerprint verification, such as deterioration of fingerprints due to ageing, scarring or dryness, are avoided.
An iris scan also provides almost 250 feature points for matching, as compared to about 100 feature points for a fingerprint, said the statement.
-- BERNAMA
