Waiver of Replacement Fee for Damaged Identity Cards

Mr Darryl David asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the replacement fee for Identity Cards (ICs) can be waived for those citizens whose ICs have been damaged through fair wear and tear over time; and (b) whether such waivers can be based on a specified period such as one fee-waiver for every 10-year period.

Mr K Shanmugam: The Identity Card (IC) is made of a highly durable polycarbonate material that has been subjected to stringent tests to ensure its durability. It is not easily damaged with normal handling. Nonetheless, there are a small number of cards that may be damaged due to excessive wear and tear over time.

The $60 fee for replacing a damaged IC is to cover the production cost, which includes manpower, material as well as other costs incurred in producing a new card. This fee has remained at the same level for many years.

ICA will consider a waiver of the fee for cases which warrant special consideration. This includes situations where the card was damaged due to circumstances beyond the cardholder's control, such as accidents or fire.