SINGAPORE: Singapore has rolled out a brand new pre-boarding safety step that shifts checks earlier, earlier than travellers even get on a aircraft.
From Jan 30, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) started issuing “No-Boarding Directives” to airways working at Changi and Seletar airports for flights certain for Singapore, based on an ICA media launch.
The directive requires airways to disclaim boarding to travellers who’re barred from entry, deemed undesirable, or who don’t meet Singapore’s entry necessities. These embrace travellers with out legitimate visas and people whose journey paperwork are lower than 6 months outdated.
As a substitute of turning such travellers away on arrival, ICA is shifting checks upstream to the purpose of departure. ICA stated the transfer strengthens border safety by stopping potential threats from reaching Singapore.
Below the system, airways submit advance traveller data earlier than departure. ICA screens the info and points a no-boarding directive the place crucial. Airways that obtain such directions should refuse boarding.
Travellers who’re denied boarding however nonetheless want to enter Singapore should submit a written attraction by means of ICA’s suggestions channel. They could solely rebook after receiving approval.
Airways that fail to conform could also be discovered to be in breach of the Immigration Act. Upon conviction, they are often fined as much as S$10,000. Pilots or airline employees who knowingly, or by means of negligence, permit a barred traveller to board might face fines of as much as S$10,000, jail phrases of as much as six months, or each.
The change issues, as passenger volumes stay excessive and border controls more and more depend on superior information checks. It additionally locations better duty on airways to make sure that passengers meet entry necessities earlier than journey.
For travellers, the message is that entry screening now begins earlier than boarding, not at immigration counters.
