Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
Logo of ICA
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 2003 |
| Preceding agencies |
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| Jurisdiction | Government of Singapore |
| Headquarters | 10 Kallang Road, Singapore 208718 |
| Agency executive |
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| Parent agency | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Website | www |
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (Abbreviation: ICA) is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Singapore Government.
The organisation is in charge of immigration, Singapore passports, identity cards, Citizen Registration (Birth and Death), permanent residents services, customs, issuing permits to foreigners such as visit pass, visas work and student passes.
The ICA is also in charge of safeguarding Singapore's borders. It ensures that the movement of people, goods and conveyances through the checkpoints is legitimate and lawful. It is in charge of birth and death registrations. The organisation was formed on 1 April 2003 with the merger of Singapore Immigration and Registration and the border control functions of Customs and Excise Department.
Before SIR, there were two departments, namely the Singapore Immigration and the National Registration Department. Both organisations merged on 1 April 1998, to form Singapore Immigration and Registration. The National Registration Office existed during colonial times, with birth registration starting in 1872 which was used for health and statistical purposes. However, in 1938, registration of births became compulsory by law. After the Second World War, the British colonial government issued paper identity cards in 1948. The purpose of those cards was to identify those born in the colony. The independence of Singapore in 1965 brought with it the National Registration Act. The NRO and the Registry of Births and Deaths came under the former Ministry of Labour. The Registry of Societies, Martial Arts Control Unit came under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
On 16 October 1981, the NRO, RBD, ROC, MACU and ROS merged to form the National Registration Department. The Martial Arts Control Unit was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department in April 1992. The National Registration Department was located at the Empress Place Building until 1986 when the building was transformed into the now defunct Empress Place Museum.
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Wikipedia