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Passengers departing from Changi Airport, which is one of the world's busiest airports, will not need to show their passports from 2024. The aim is making a "seamless" travel journey for travellers.
Another system will be introduced in its place. An automated immigration clearance system that uses biometric data (for example, fingerprints scans and facial recognition technology) will replace the need of a physical passport. Biometric data is already used in Singapore's airport alongside passports, but from early next year, it'll be used exclusively. Biometric data can be used more freely in Singapore now compared to earlier in the year, because of recent changes to its immigration laws.
It's causing some controversy over potential cybersecurity risks, but Singaporean ministers said the new system will protect Singapore against future pandemics and will spearhead a new border control process.
Many airports such as London Heathrow and Paris Charles-de-Gaulle also already use biometric gates... will these be the next airports to remove the need to show passports when leaving the country?