1. The Immigration (Amendment) Act 2023 (“the Act”) was passed by Parliament on 18 September 2023. The Act introduced amendments to the Immigration Act 1959 to better enable the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to strengthen border controls as well as digitalise and automate immigration processes.
2. The amendments in the Act are being operationalised in phases. Two sets of amendments were operationalised on 31 December 2024 and 30 May 2025 respectively. More information on the Act and the amendments that have been operationalised can be found in the Annex.
Strengthening Border Controls
3. The third set of amendments, which will take effect from 31 July 2025, relate to ICA’s collection of advance passenger and crew information from transport operators. This information enables ICA to conduct more timely risk assessments and flag out undesirable travellers, such as those who pose a public health or security threat, before they arrive in Singapore.
4. Currently, an operator of a vessel, aircraft or train that arrives, leaves or is due to arrive or leave Singapore, must furnish a list of passengers and crew, and their particulars, to ICA. The amendments to the Act will impose stricter requirements on transport operators, to ensure that the information submitted is accurate, complete, and timely. Non-compliance with these requirements is a strict liability offence.
5. In addition, the amendments will enable ICA to collect (a) advance passenger and crew information from private bus operators; and (b) advance information of persons travelling through the land checkpoints via any other mode of land transport or on foot. When the Immigration (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament in October 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs had explained that this amendment was part of the effort to future-proof our systems and processes against new and evolving public health and security challenges. While ICA has no immediate plans to impose these requirements, the operationalisation of this third set of amendments from 31 July 2025 would allow ICA to do so should the need arise.
Conclusion
6. These amendments will enable ICA to continue to keep our borders safe and secure.
7. The remaining amendments to the Immigration Act 1959 will come into force at a later date. For more information on the Act, please refer to the Annex.
Annex – Information on the Immigration (Amendment) Act 2023
