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Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Straits Times
Forum: Digital records of past passport numbers can be retrieved on MyICA portal
Forum: Digital records of past passport numbers can be retrieved on MyICA portal We refer to Mr Victor Lim's letter 'Include all previous passport numbers in new passports' (May 6). In 2006, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) introduced the biometric passport with enhanced security features to comply with the standards and recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This ensures that the Singapore passport remains a highly secured travel document which gives Singaporeans access to many countries without the need for a visa. In line with the ICAO's recommendation, every passport should carry a passport number that is unique and unrepeated. This is important for agencies to share information on lost and stolen Singaporean passports as part of the global effort to curb passport abuse. For Singaporeans who want their previous passport number to be indicated in their new passport, ICA can include the number in the current passport. Such requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, Singaporeans who need their previous passport numbers for verification purposes overseas can access digital records of their previous passport numbers via the MyICA portal on the ICA website, under the 'MyTransaction' tab. The list can be downloaded and printed for reference. Mr Lim also encountered difficulties overseas while using his Apec Business Travel Card (ABTC), which still bears his old passport number. As each ABTC is tagged to a unique passport number, card holders must renew their ABTC if they have been issued a new passport. This can be done via the MyICA portal under the category 'replacement due to change of particulars'. Patrick Ong Senior Assistant Director, Strategic Communications and Media Relations Corporate Communications and Service Division Immigration and Checkpoints Authority More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysian travellers can enter China visa-free for up to 90 days under new agreement
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian citizens will soon be able to enjoy visa-free entry to China for a cumulative stay of up to 90 days, once both countries complete the necessary domestic procedures under the Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement. The Embassy of China in Malaysia in a statement Tuesday said the agreement will be in force for five years and will be automatically extended for another five years. The embassy said the agreement stipulates that the maximum cumulative visa-free stay for nationals of one contracting party in the territory of the other for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period. "For foreign nationals entering China under the visa-free policy, this means that, the total number of days a foreign national stays in China must not exceed 90 within 180 days prior to any date," it said. The embassy said the 90-day period does not include the days spent in China under visa, residence permit, and other visa documents or Apec Business Travel Card. The visa-free entry will not be granted to any foreigner who already stayed 90 days within a 180-day period and if the person has not yet reached the 90-day limit but has fewer than 30 days remaining, their visa-free stay for the next entry will be limited to the remaining days. "Chinese citizens going to Malaysia would follow the same practice. "We are confident that this agreement will further promote people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and deepen multi-sector cooperation between both countries and people upon taking effect," it added. The agreement to extend visa exemption between China and Malaysia was exchanged during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit here last month. The extension builds on the current reciprocal agreement, which allows nationals of China and Malaysia to make visa-free visits to each other for stay up to 30 days.
The Star
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
'Golden' era ahead with Malaysia-China Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement, says embassy
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia-China Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement inked last month to enable hassle-free travel of citizens from both nations will usher ties of both countries into another 'Golden 50 Years', says the Embassy of the People's Republic of China here on Tuesday (May 6). The embassy said that it was confident that the agreement would further promote people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and deepen multi-sector cooperation between both countries and its citizens on coming into force. "It will mark a new step forward in advancing the high-level strategic effort of the China-Malaysia Community with a Shared Future. The embassy in Malaysia will continue to dedicate its support to promote friendly exchanges between the people of both countries," it said. The embassy said the agreement would be in force for five years, after which it would automatically be extended for another five years. Under the agreement, citizens of both countries may stay visa-free up to 30 days consecutively for each visit to either country. The agreement also allows both nationals stay up to 90 days cumulatively in either country over a period of ix months. The embassy said the 90-day period does not include the days spent in China under a visa, residence permit and other visa documents or Apec Business Travel Card. "Visa-free entry will not be granted to any foreigner whose cumulative duration of visa-free stay has exceeded 90 days within a 180-day period. In the case where the cumulative duration of stay of either national has not reached 90 days while the remaining period is less than 30 days, the visa-free stay period for the foreigner concerned for this entry shall not exceed the remaining visa-free stay period. Chinese citizens going to Malaysia would follow the same practice," the embassy said. It said the agreement will take effect soon after domestic procedures are completed by both countries.
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Forum: Include all previous passport numbers in new passports
I wish to highlight an issue that many Singaporeans, especially frequent travellers and business people, face when travelling to Asean countries after renewing our passports. A new passport number is assigned each time a passport is changed or renewed. In many parts of South-east Asia, older passport numbers are still referenced, especially in dealings with banks, government offices and legal entities – for example, in bank accounts, vehicle registrations, company resolutions and legal contracts. This has caused considerable inconvenience when the new passport number does not match the number in the old government and legal documents. Recently, when I flew into Penang and produced my Apec Business Travel Card with an old passport number, the immigration officer told me that the card could not be used as the passport number on the card did not match my new passport number. Fortunately, my last previous passport number was included in my new passport, which helped me resolve the issue at the checkpoint. However, I've been told by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) that it can include only the last previous passport number and not more. I once encountered a delay in selling my Malaysian vehicle because the ownership records referenced a much older passport number. I had to search through years of old passports just to prove my identity. To avoid such disruptions, I hope ICA can consider either including all previously issued passport numbers in the new passport, or issuing an official certification or document listing our full passport history. This would greatly help those of us conducting business overseas, especially in jurisdictions where identity card numbers are not accepted, and passport numbers are the primary form of identification. Many fellow businessmen share this concern, as we often have to update company resolutions or amend legal agreements because our identification number – the passport number – keeps changing. Victor Lim More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
