By Mavis Toh
The robotic arm of the iCollect retrieving a passport from its capsule. These iCollect kiosks will operate even after office hours. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN
WAITING in line at counters to collect passports may soon become a thing of the past.
Singaporeans and foreigners alike can look forward to collecting their biometric passports, identity cards and long term passes from self-service kiosk across the island.
These iCollect kiosks work by dispensing relevant documents after one's identity have been verified via biometrics.
The new device was revealed at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) annual workplan seminar on Tuesday.
The kiosks, which when rolled out will operate even after office hours, are expected to shave waiting times at ICA counters.
Last month, the ICA had to suspend over-the-counter passport applications after it issued more than 3,600 queue tickets for passport services at its Kallang Road Building. At one point, the waiting area in the passport collection office was filled with more than 1,000 people.
