SmartGate

SmartGate
SmartGate for arrivals at Sydney Airport, Australia (as of Dec 2016)
Type of project Electronic border control system
Country Australia
Launched 2007 (2007) [1]
Brisbane Airport[2]
Status Active

SmartGate is an automated self-service border control system operated by the Australian Border Force and located at immigration checkpoints in arrival halls in eight Australian international airports. SmartGates allow Australian ePassport holders and ePassport holders of a number of other countries to clear immigration controls more rapidly, and to enhance travel security by performing passport control checks electronically.[3] SmartGate uses facial recognition technology to verify the traveller's identity against the data stored in the chip in their biometric passport, as well as checking against immigration databases.

Travellers require a biometric passport to use SmartGate as it uses information from the passport (such as photograph, name and date of birth) and in the respective countries' databases (i.e. banned travellers database) to decide whether to grant entry or departure from the country or to generate a referral to a customs agent.[4] These checks would otherwise require manual processing by a human which is time-consuming, costly and potentially error-prone.[5]

History

The first trials of SmartGate began in 2002 with Qantas aircrews.[6] The trials were expanded in 2004 to include over 1,000 Qantas platinum frequent flyers, and in 2007 it was launched to the public at Brisbane Airport.[3]

Since October 2005, Australia has issued only biometric passports, called ePassports. As the validity of Australian passports do not exceed 10 years, all previous Australian passports have now expired and all valid passports are now biometric.

In May 2015, the Australian Government announced that SmartGate will be launched at air and sea ports, using solely biometrics to identify and process arriving passengers, with a goal of processing 90% of air travellers automatically by 2020. The introduction of biometric arrivals, under the Seamless Traveller initiative, is expected to cost approximately AU$93.7m over 5 years and be completed by March 2019.

Eligibility

Travellers are required to hold an ePassport, a valid Australian visa (except for Australian citizens) and complete an arrival card. The system requires travellers to look as much like their passport photo as possible, which may require removing glasses or hats when using SmartGate.

Requirements

Departing travellers, regardless of age and nationality, can use SmartGate if they have a machine-readable passport and can independently use the machine.

Smartgate Eligibility Screen at Sydney Airport

Arriving travellers using SmartGate must:[7]

  • hold a valid and current biometric passport
  • are over the age of 16 (over the age of 10, if an Australian passport holder and accompanied by at least two adults)
  • hold an ePassport issued by one of the following jurisdictions:

Exceptions

There are a number of notable exceptions when entering and departing Australia and using SmartGate.[7]

  • If airline crew meet the above requirements they are also eligible to use SmartGate or they may continue to use the "crew lane".[7]
  • Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling on military orders may not use SmartGate upon arrival.[7]
  • Australian children aged 10 to 15 years (inclusive) can use SmartGate upon arrival if they are accompanied by at least two adults.[7]

Locations

In Australia, SmartGate is available at eight international airports:

Privacy issues

The SmartGate system collects personal information includes the information on the biometric page of the passport, such as name, gender, date of birth, passport number, passport photograph, nationality, and the country of origin of the passport.[7]

Other information may also be collected, such as travel details, and the facial biometric template.[7]

Travellers passports are no longer stamped if they are processed by SmartGate.

See also

  • ePassport gates - a similar system operated in the United Kingdom
  • Parafe - a similar system operated in France

References

  1. ↑ "PM - Biometric 'Smartgate' system to be introduced to Australian airports". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  2. ↑ "Australian SmartGate trial extended to Singaporean e-passport holders". Future Travel Experience. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  3. 1 2 "New SmartGate aims to decrease airport queues". Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  4. ↑ "New Zealand Customs Service : How does SmartGate work?". www.customs.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  5. ↑ "Part 5: Processing passengers faster at airports — Office of the Auditor-General New Zealand". www.oag.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  6. ↑ "Roger Clarke's 'SmartGate'". www.rogerclarke.com. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Arrivals SmartGate". www.border.gov.au. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
  8. ↑ "UAE nationals can use SmartGate at Australian airports". arabianbusiness.com. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
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