“ICA: 1 to 2 Weeks Wait Time Expected for Passport Renewals “

Singaporeans applying for a passport can now expect a waiting period of between one to two weeks, according to a spokesperson from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). However, those planning year-end travel should apply as soon as possible if their passport has less than six months’ validity, the spokesperson advised in response to a query from Mothership.

Peak Period for Applications
ICA noted that passport applications typically peak between October and December, based on pre-pandemic trends, and processing times depend heavily on the volume of applications. The spokesperson urged applicants to consider the additional waiting time required to book an appointment for passport collection.

Managing the Surge
To manage the increased demand, ICA has recruited additional officers and redeployed resources. The agency is also working closely with SingPost to boost its capacity for issuing passports.

Improvement Since May
In May of this year, the estimated processing time for passports was around six weeks. This followed an unprecedented surge in applications, with approximately one million passports having expired or nearing expiration. At that time, ICA was receiving around 6,000 passport renewals daily, three times the pre-pandemic average.

Current Advisory from ICA
In a statement, ICA continued to encourage Singaporeans with travel plans to apply for passport renewals early to avoid last-minute delays. Those submitting late applications risk not receiving their passport in time for travel.

Applicants can check the status of their application through ICA’s website or MyICA Mobile. Once the passport is ready, they will receive an email or notification card. Passports can be collected at ICA Building or any of the 29 designated post offices, with no additional fee for post office collections. ICA strongly encourages Singaporeans to make an appointment for timely collection of their new passports.