Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) would begin collecting iris images as another identifier, in addition to photographs and fingerprints, the ministry said, adding that this also would be carried out for re-registration of identity cards as well as passport application and renewals.

To further facilitate the collection of iris images, selected SingPost employees would be appointed as registration officers, enabling them to enrol these scans at selected SingPost outlets.

In a November 10 parliamentary speech, senior minister of state for home affairs Desmond Lee said the NRA amendments would allow ICA to deliver more convenient registration services for the public as well as improve security in Singapore.

Lee said technological advancements had pave the way for other personal identifiers, apart from photographs and fingerprints, to be collected. Noting that iris scan was a proven technology, he said nations such as German and the Netherlands had been using the technology since the early 2000s. Countries such as the United Arab Emirates also had made the collection of iris images from their citizens mandatory to facilitate immigration clearance.