New long-term passes for 200,000 foreigners
FOREIGNERS studying, working or visiting here on a long-term basis will be issued new identity-card-like passes in the coming months in a government move to enhance national security.
It will not affect low- or mid-level skilled foreigners on work permits or S-passes. These workers are already issued cards with security features.
The new long-term pass will replace the stamp endorsement on the travel documents of long-term visitors and the paper-laminated cards issued to foreigners working and living here.
More than 200,000 foreigners will be affected by the change, which was announced yesterday in a joint statement by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Earlier, in April, the two agencies had told The Straits Times that they were looking into giving these foreigners new identification cards as a safe and secure means to identify individuals and ease travel.
The new card will have better security features than the existing paper-laminated cards.
It will have biometric features similar to those found in the Singapore identity card, including a photograph and fingerprint of card holders aged 15 and older.
The paper-laminated card has neither. It essentially contains such personal particulars as the name, date of birth and foreign identification number of the pass holder.
With the new card, officials from the ICA and MOM can verify the card holder’s identity through face and fingerprint matching.
It will also deter forgery and fraudulent use of the card, said the two agencies.
Foreigners who have to apply for the new card include those on long-term visit passes and students, as well as professionals on employment passes and their families.
It will be introduced in phases. The first to get them will be new long-term visit pass and student pass holders. They will be issued the cards in the coming months.
Those holding the paper-laminated passes will switch to the new card in phases or when they renew their passes.
Professionals on employment passes and their family members living here will get the cards from next April.
Entrepreneurs starting a business here, university students on vacation work and trainees on attachment will also get them from next April.
More details on the card, such as its design and security features, will be given later, said the statement.
Source : Straits Times - 03 July 2008
Singapore Property - Buy, Sell, Rent, Invest
Mindy Yong
(+65)91002985
mindy@mindyyong.com
CCT inks top-rate leases at two Singapore prime office buildings »« Singapore COEs, ERP and the questions in between
