What is a recurring visitor pass? It is a visitor registration that repeats on a schedule, for example every Tuesday and Thursday from 3pm to 6pm. The resident sets it up once in the condo app, the visitor receives a QR code or mobile pass, and the gate lets them in only during the agreed times. For the many part-time helpers, tutors, physiotherapists and caregivers who visit Singapore condos every week, it replaces daily phone calls to the unit and handwritten logbook entries.
This article explains who benefits from recurring passes, how to design sensible rules, and what MCSTs and managing agents should check before turning them on.
Who are your regular visitors?
In a typical estate, a large share of daily walk-in traffic is the same people coming back on a routine. Treating them as new visitors every time wastes guard time and annoys residents.
Common recurring visitors in Singapore condos
| Visitor type |
Typical pattern |
Suggested pass |
| Part-time cleaner |
1 to 3 fixed days a week, half day |
Weekly schedule, 4 to 5 hour window |
| Private tutor |
Weekday evenings or weekends, 1 to 2 hours |
Weekly schedule, short window |
| Home nurse or caregiver |
Daily or several times a week |
Daily schedule, possibly longer window |
| Physiotherapist or therapist |
Weekly sessions for a fixed period |
Weekly schedule with end date |
| Family member helping with childcare |
School days, pick-up and drop-off |
Weekday schedule |
| Pet sitter or dog walker |
While owners travel or work |
Date range with daily window |
Live-in foreign domestic workers are usually registered as occupants of the unit rather than visitors, and receive resident-style access. Recurring passes are for people who come and go.
Why paper and phone calls do not work for regular visitors
- Guard time. A guard who calls the unit for the same tutor every week spends minutes that add up across hundreds of units.
- Resident frustration. Residents at work miss the guard’s call, and the caregiver waits outside.
- Poor records. Handwritten names are misspelt, and nobody can tell which visits were expected.
- Old access lingers. When a cleaner stops working for a family, nobody tells the guardhouse, and the cleaner may still be waved through because guards recognise them.
How recurring passes work
- Resident creates the pass in the myCondo app: visitor name, mobile number, visit type, days of the week, time window and end date.
- Visitor receives the pass by SMS or messaging app as a QR code or link. No app download needed for the visitor.
- At the gate, the visitor scans the QR code at a terminal such as the Akuvox X915S, which reads QR, card, PIN, Bluetooth and face credentials. The gate opens only within the allowed window.
- The visit is logged against the host unit with entry and exit times. The resident can receive an arrival notification.
- The pass expires on the end date, or the resident cancels it instantly when the arrangement ends.
Outside the window, the pass simply does not work. The visitor is treated as a walk-in and the guard follows the normal approval process.
Rules MCSTs should set
Recurring passes are convenient, so they need sensible limits. Councils commonly agree the following before go-live.
Suggested policy settings for recurring passes
| Setting |
Why it matters |
Common choice |
| Maximum pass duration |
Forces periodic review |
3 to 6 months, renewable |
| Time window per visit |
Limits access to expected hours |
Set by resident, with an estate maximum |
| Areas allowed |
Keeps visitors out of facilities |
Gate and host block lift lobby only |
| Number of passes per unit |
Prevents misuse for rental or business |
A sensible cap, with exceptions approved by management |
| Vehicle access |
Visitor parking is limited |
Separate approval; plate added to the pass |
| Tenant passes |
Tenancies end |
Expire no later than tenancy end date |
PDPA: collect less, delete on time
Recurring passes collect personal data about people who visit often, so the estate should be careful.
- Collect the minimum. Name, mobile number, host unit and schedule are normally enough. Do not collect full NRIC numbers. The PDPC’s advisory guidelines, in effect since 1 September 2019, say organisations should not collect full NRIC numbers unless required by law or necessary to verify identity to a high degree of fidelity.
- Restrict access. Guards see what they need at the gate. Full history is available only to authorised management staff.
- Delete when done. When a pass expires, keep the visit log only as long as the estate’s retention policy says, then delete it.
- Be clear about face recognition. If the estate offers face access for regular visitors, make it optional, explain how face data is stored and deleted, and keep QR as an alternative.
Special cases
Elderly residents and caregivers
Caregivers for elderly residents may need longer windows and occasional night visits. The resident’s family can manage the pass from their own phone if they are registered as authorised contacts for the unit. Guards should know which units have vulnerable residents so they can respond quickly to emergencies, with the family’s consent.
Residents who are not comfortable with apps
Management can create recurring passes on a resident’s behalf through the web console after a signed request. This keeps the process inclusive.
Agency cleaners who change staff
When a cleaning agency sends different workers, the pass should name the agency and the resident updates the worker details. Avoid one generic pass shared by many people.
Benefits for each group
- Residents: no more missed calls from the guardhouse, arrival alerts, and full control over who comes and when.
- Visitors: quick entry with a code on their phone.
- Guards: fewer calls, shorter queues, and a clear screen showing who is expected.
- Managing agents: accurate records, fewer complaints, and passes that expire automatically.
How myCondo helps
myCondo’s visitor management system supports one-time, multi-day and recurring passes from the same resident app, with a web console for management. We install and integrate gate terminals from Akuvox, car park LPR from Dahua Technology and Hikvision, and video management from Milestone, and our Singapore team provides after-sales support and guard training.
Frequently asked questions
Does the visitor need to download an app?
No. The visitor receives a QR code or link by message. Only the resident uses the myCondo app.
What if the tutor comes outside the scheduled time?
The pass will not open the gate. The guard treats the tutor as a walk-in visitor and requests approval from the resident through the app.
Can a recurring pass include car park access?
Yes, if the estate allows it. The visitor’s plate is added to the pass and the LPR camera recognises it during the allowed window.
How do I stop a pass when a helper leaves?
Cancel it in the app. It stops working immediately at every gate.
Should we collect NRIC numbers for regular visitors?
Generally no. Name and mobile number tied to a resident’s registration are usually enough. Check the PDPC’s NRIC guidelines and take advice for any special case.
Related reading
Talk to myCondo
Ready to cut guardhouse calls for regular visitors? We can show your council how recurring passes work at your estate.
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Email: [email protected]
Visit: 8 Ubi Road 2, #07-13 Zervex, Singapore 408538
