SINGAPORE: Singapore passports issued from 1st April will have
their validity period reduced from the current ten to five
years.
The passport fee will also be cut from $70 to $60.
Those who submit their applications online, post or through the
deposit boxes, will enjoy a further $10 rebate and need only pay
$50.
ICA said the validity period of new passports is being reduced so
that new technologies can be incorporated more rapidly.
One such new technology is the biometric passport.
But the ICA reminds Singaporeans that there is no need for a mass
conversion of non-biometric passports to biometric passports when
it begins in October.
This is especially so for Singaporeans who do not intend to travel
to the US. - CNA