Republic of Singapore issues Singapore passport for the citizens of Singapore. Singapore is one of the nations with the most powerful passports in the world along with Japan, South Korea, Germany, UK and USA. This passport allows Singaporeans to travel freely to other countries with visa requirements. The Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) of Singapore prepares and monitors all Singapore passports exclusively for the Singaporean citizens. Which clears out the point that only citizens of Singapore can apply for this passport. The validity of the passport is 5 years.

Since it is one of the most powerful passports in the world, it is also visa -free for over 189 countries. That includes Japan. Singapore passport has a favor point due to its counterfeits relatively liberal visa requirements for Singaporean travelers and tendency for immigration to clear Singaporean passport holders. In the airport counter if a person has a Singaporean passport, then it is easy for them to get through the counter because of the value of Singaporean passport. The passport includes features of digital photos and special ink from October 1999 and converting biometric passport from August 2006.

HISTORY OF SINGAPOREAN PASSPORT:

The first specification of Singaporean passport was made at 20th June 1966. Singaporean Provisional Passport which was issued in 17th August 1965 replaced the previous version. Between the years 1963 and 1965, residents of Singapore had the access to the Malaysian passport instead of their own passport. This was during the Strait Settlement where Singapore was the capital from 1832 till 1946. The national passport got priority during World War II.

Between the years 1967 and 1999, Singapore issued Restricted Passport where the passport cover was blue in cover, and the passport was given mainly to travel to the West Malaysia. The restricted passport was issued for individuals with the fact that many Singaporeans would regularly travel to West Malaysia for business and leisure purposes. This restricted passport saw its dormancy during 1999 because of the lack of demand. The nation introduced the red Singapore Passport for Singaporeans who tends to travel overseas. It was open for the Singaporean citizens from January 2000.

PASSPORT APPEARANCE

• The front cover of the passport is bright red in color where the words given are REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE on the front top of the cover along with the coat of arms of Singapore. The motto of Singapore is Majulah Singapura which is specified on the scroll of the coat of arms. The word PASSPORT is then printed in a biometric passport symbol.
• The passport contains the note of the country’s president addressing the authorities to all territories
• Photo of the person’s passport on the left
• Type (PA – biometric passport)
• Code of issuing state (SGP)
• Passport number
• Name
• Gender
• Singapore nationality
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Date of issue
• Date of expiry
• Modifications
• Authority
• National ID number

Along with these, E-Passport included facial recognition technologies later on to improve the identity verification and reduce identity related fraud.

ISSUES OF NATIONAL SERVICES

• All male citizens of Singapore are to be conscripted for two years as National services
• Before the country had a policy of limiting the validity of passport for boys aged 11 and above
• Before applying the needed a 9-month extension of their passports
• These extensions are added with the rubber stamp
• The Singapore government has stated the objective of such exit control measures which is the deter NS-evasion and measures which serve psychological reminder of the citizens of NS obligation
• Now as per the Ministry of Defence there are limited validity passports
• Exit permits are still required for overseas trips which last for more than 3 months.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP IN SINGAPORE

• Singapore strictly prohibits dual citizenship
• But it is relaxed in some exceptions. For instance, if someone received the citizenship by birth in a foreign country, registration or descent from a foreign parent.
• Singapore citizens who voluntarily apply for international citizenship.
• Foreigners who are as Singapore citizens are required to renounce foreign citizenship
• When a child has one Singapore citizen parent then the child can apply for Singapore citizenship and within a year, they can receive the citizenship
• But before 22 years they need to choose one citizenship and not dual citizenship
• At 18 years a person can apply for the citizenship themselves.