In forceAmended2020 Revised Edition

Contents

Immigration Act 1959 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · Entry Into and Departure from Singapore

5A. Person entering or leaving Singapore to produce passport, etc.

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2023.

(1)

Subject to subsections (1A) and (2), every person, whether a citizen of Singapore or a non‑citizen, who is arriving in Singapore (by air, sea or land) from a place outside Singapore, or is leaving Singapore (by air, sea or land) to a place outside Singapore, must present to an immigration officer or an automated clearance system (if available) at the authorised airport, authorised landing place, authorised train checkpoint, authorised point of entry, authorised departing place or authorised point of departure, as the case may be —

(a)

if the person is a citizen of Singapore (whether or not the person is also the national of a foreign country) — the person’s Singapore passport that is valid, and any other prescribed evidence of the person’s identity and Singapore citizenship; or

(b)

if the person is a non-citizen —

(i)

the person’s foreign passport or other foreign travel document that is valid, and such other evidence of the person’s identity as the immigration officer or the automated clearance system (as the case may be) may require; and

(ii)

where a Singapore visa is required by section 9B, evidence of a Singapore visa that is in effect and is held by the person.

(1A)

Despite an automated clearance system being made available to a person mentioned in subsection (1), the person may be required by an immigration officer or the automated clearance system to appear before an immigration officer for immigration clearance.

(1B)

To avoid doubt, a person may be required under subsection (1A) to appear before an immigration officer for immigration clearance even after the person has used an automated clearance system for immigration clearance.

(1C)

If a person mentioned in subsection (1) is required under subsection (1A) to appear before an immigration officer for immigration clearance, the person must present to the immigration officer —

(a)

in the case of a citizen of Singapore (whether or not the person is also the national of a foreign country) — the person’s Singapore passport that is valid, and any prescribed evidence of the person’s identity and Singapore citizenship; or

(b)

in the case of a non‑citizen —

(i)

the person’s foreign passport or other foreign travel document that is valid, and such other evidence of the person’s identity as the immigration officer may require; and

(ii)

where a Singapore visa is required by section 9B, evidence of a Singapore visa that is in effect and is held by the person.

(2)

The immigration officer may waive —

(a)

the requirements of a passport or travel document if the person is a citizen of Singapore and in prescribed circumstances; or

(b)

the requirements of a passport, travel document or Singapore visa in the case of any person entering Singapore from a place outside Singapore and holding a valid entry permit, re-entry permit or certificate of status issued in accordance with this Act.

(3)

Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (1C) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(4)

Subsections (1) and (1A) do not apply to such categories of persons as the Minister may prescribe.

(5)

In this section —

“automated clearance system” means an automated identification processing system for the immigration clearance of persons registered in the system;

“immigration clearance” has the meaning given by section 5(8).

Terms defined in s 2

authorised airport
Defined · s 2
“authorised airport”, “authorised landing place”, “authorised train checkpoint”, “authorised point of entry”, “authorised departing place” and “authorised point of departure” mean, respectively, an airport, a landing place, a train checkpoint, a point of entry, a departing place or a point of departure declared as such under section 5;
Open s 2
authorised departing place
Defined · s 2
“authorised airport”, “authorised landing place”, “authorised train checkpoint”, “authorised point of entry”, “authorised departing place” and “authorised point of departure” mean, respectively, an airport, a landing place, a train checkpoint, a point of entry, a departing place or a point of departure declared as such under section 5;
Open s 2
authorised landing place
Defined · s 2
“authorised airport”, “authorised landing place”, “authorised train checkpoint”, “authorised point of entry”, “authorised departing place” and “authorised point of departure” mean, respectively, an airport, a landing place, a train checkpoint, a point of entry, a departing place or a point of departure declared as such under section 5;
Open s 2
authorised point of departure
Defined · s 2
“authorised airport”, “authorised landing place”, “authorised train checkpoint”, “authorised point of entry”, “authorised departing place” and “authorised point of departure” mean, respectively, an airport, a landing place, a train checkpoint, a point of entry, a departing place or a point of departure declared as such under section 5;
Open s 2
authorised point of entry
Defined · s 2
“authorised airport”, “authorised landing place”, “authorised train checkpoint”, “authorised point of entry”, “authorised departing place” and “authorised point of departure” mean, respectively, an airport, a landing place, a train checkpoint, a point of entry, a departing place or a point of departure declared as such under section 5;
Open s 2
authorised train checkpoint
Defined · s 2
“authorised airport”, “authorised landing place”, “authorised train checkpoint”, “authorised point of entry”, “authorised departing place” and “authorised point of departure” mean, respectively, an airport, a landing place, a train checkpoint, a point of entry, a departing place or a point of departure declared as such under section 5;
Open s 2
certificate
Defined · s 2
“certificate” means a certificate of status issued under the provisions of any regulations made under section 55;
Open s 2
document
Defined · s 2
“document” includes —(a)any endorsement;(b)any paper or other material where there is writing;(c)any paper or other material on which there are marks, figures, symbols or perforations that are —(i)capable of being given a meaning by persons qualified to interpret them; or(ii)capable of being responded to by a computer, a machine or an electronic device;(d)any article or material from which information is capable of being reproduced with or without the aid of any other article or device; or(e)any electronic record;
Open s 2
entry permit
Defined · s 2
“entry permit” means a permit to enter or remain in Singapore issued under section 10;
Open s 2
immigration officer
Defined · s 2
“immigration officer” means any person appointed under section 3;
Open s 2
non-citizen
Defined · s 2
“non-citizen” means any person who is not a citizen of Singapore;
Open s 2
re-entry permit
Defined · s 2
“re-entry permit” means a permit to re-enter Singapore issued under section 11;
Open s 2
Singapore visa
Defined · s 2
“Singapore visa” means a Singapore visa granted under Part 2A;
Open s 2