5 Singpass Features You Probably Didn’t Know About

The Government’s Technology Agency (GovTech) recently announced the rebranding of the Singpass app with a new logo.

Singpass, Singapore’s national digital identity, is one of the Smart Nation projects with a vision to improve the lives of citizens, create opportunities for businesses and transform the capacities of government agencies.

First launched in October 2018, the Singpass app now has more than four million users.

In the past three years, it has added more than 10 features. It is clearly evolving and now powers more than 1,400 digital services powered by more than 340 government agencies and private organizations.

In 2020, Singpass is one of the most downloaded apps in Singapore and its user base tripled last year. It currently has four million users, and over 90% of them use the app at least once a month.

As of today, over 170 million transactions are made using Singpass every year, but what exactly can you do with the mobile app?

1. Easy access to daily services in all areas

Singapore residents can use Singpass to access more services across industries ranging from banking and insurance to healthcare and charities.

Users can check their CPF balance, request HDB apartments, do internet banking, or easily manage their insurance policies.

Users can also easily retrieve their personal information, digitally sign documents, and remotely authorize transactions on their Singpass app without using passwords.

Digitization of day-to-day transactions saves residents and businesses time as users no longer have to submit paper documents and streamlined processes result in faster request approvals.

2. Identity verification

Beyond digital transactions, the Digital IC has also been launched in the Singpass app since September of last year to provide users with an alternative method of identity verification.

For example, users can simply scan their Digital IC barcode at kiosks located in libraries and polyclinics to register.

In other words, Singpass users can share their information from government sources with organizations without the need for physical documents.

3. Sign digitally, remotely and securely

Transactions on Singpass are made more secure through the use of cryptographic technology, which offers greater assurance of authenticity and integrity, and facilitates non-repudiability in digital transactions.

Singpass users receive identity certificates from the national certification authority, in order to authenticate a person’s identity for better identity assurance.

For example, when digitally signing a document using the Singpass app, the signature is cryptographically linked to the user and validated at the time of signing, which minimizes the risk of fraud.

4. Prefill digital forms

Myinfo allows users to pre-fill digital forms with their personal data from government sources for online transactions, while giving them control over how their information is shared.

To date, nearly 600 digital services offered by government agencies and businesses have been integrated into Myinfo. Since then, using Myinfo has resulted in an average 80% decrease in user application time.

With Myinfo, you can basically view your latest personal information from different public agencies in one place, as well as save time and avoid form filling errors by providing your details with just one click.

5. Receive timely notifications

Notify sends users relevant and timely notifications from government agencies directly to their Singpass app inbox.

Through the notification, users can view government notices or seamlessly connect to the agency’s digital service to complete their transactions.

For example, users can receive NRIC re-registration and passport renewal notifications, as well as SingaporeRediscovers coupon deduction notifications.

Transactional notifications such as Medisave deduction and payment reminders will be ready in 2021.

Singpass is easy to use for everyone

To ensure that Singpass services are easily accessible, the main transactional pages of the Singpass website and app will be available in Singapore’s four official languages ​​by the end of this year.

Other authentication methods have also been introduced to make digital transactions hassle-free for everyone.

Smartphone-less users can easily authenticate by receiving one-time passwords via SMS or quickly scanning their face using the latest face verification feature on web browsers or kiosks.

These features allow users without a mobile device to continue to access services with ease.

“From Myinfo to the Singpass app, facial verification, digital signature and more, we are encouraged by the strong adoption from Singapore residents and businesses in recent years, and we will continue to roll out new products and features on the national digital identity platform. Said Kwok Quek Sin, senior director of national digital identity at GovTech.

“With this brand refresh, we want to ensure that Singpass continues to drive value, while developing the digital capabilities needed to grow a trusted digital ecosystem.”

Featured Image Credit: Singpass