The annoying yellow and white immigration and customs forms which were previously handed out in planes to travellers when they entered Suriname were officially abolished last Wednesday. Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Collaboration (Bibis) Minister Albert Ramdin officially launched the digital Immigration and Customs Form (ICF) at the Johan Adolf Pengel (JAP) International Airport. Vijay Chotkan, director of Airport Management, told Times of Suriname that the paper forms are officially a thing of the past. Travellers can fill out the form online within 72 hours of their departure. After the travellers have filled out the form via a special website, they receive a QR code via email. They must show this code at the airport. If travellers have not filled out the ICF online, they will get another opportunity to do so at the airport with the assistance of immigration workers. Another change is that travellers must not only fill out the form upon arrival but also when they get ready for departure. Chotkan made it clear that this rule does not only apply to foreigners but also to Surinamese citizens who go abroad. According to Chotkan, the digital form provides multiple opportunities for safety and security checks and data collection. “This system makes it possible to keep out unwanted guests and at the same time it collects valuable data about travel patterns.” The data that is collected contributes to the strengthening of the national security and it also goes to the data banks of the General Statistics Bureau (ABS),  the tourism sector and the business community. This is extremely important especially given the fact that 120 countries have free access to Suriname which makes it essential to keep track of everybody who enters or who wants to enter the country. Roy Samuels, commander at the Military Police Force, confirmed that the old immigration and customs forms have been scrapped at all of the border posts in Suriname. “Travellers who want to enter Suriname via the border check points at Albina, Nickerie or via the airstrip at Zorg and Hoop must fill out the ICF online before their arrival,” said Samuels. Minister Ramdin pointed out that the introduction of the digital ICF has brought Suriname one step closer to the modernization of the border procedures. The digital ICF is available in 7 languages. During the second phase travellers will only be required to share their information once which will make make future trips easier.