SmartGate is an electronic border control system introduced in 2007 developed by the Australian Border Force. The service was introduced to facilitate faster and more secure travel between countries by performing passport control checks electronically.
Travellers require a biometric passport to use the service 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 / departure from the country or to generate a referral to a customs agent. These checks would otherwise require manual processing by a human which is time-consuming, costly and potentially error-prone.
Video SmartGate
History
Originally launched at Brisbane Airport, SmartGate is now available for use at most international airports across Australia.
2002
First trial of SmartGate begins with Qantas aircrew.
2004
Trials expanded from use with Qantas aircrew to include over 1,000 Qantas platinum frequent flyers.
2007
Introduced to the public at Brisbane Airport.
2015 - future
The Australian Government announced in May 2015 that they intend to launch a world-first in border control at air and sea ports, using solely biometrics to identify and process arriving passengers alongside 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.
Maps SmartGate
Eligibility
Travellers are still required to make arrangements for a valid visa and to complete an arrival card in order to comply with travel requirements. In order for the system to be process travellers, they are advised to look as much like their passport photo as possible. This means removing any glasses or hats when using SmartGate.
Requirements
Departing travellers, regardless of age and nationality, can use SmartGate so long as they have a machine-readable passport and can independently use the machine.
Arriving travellers using SmartGate must:
- hold a valid and current biometric passport and;
- be over the age of 16 (*over the age of 10, if an Australian Passport holder & accompanied by at least two adults) and;
- hold a passport from one of the following issuing countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- China
- France
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Japan
- Korea
- Macau
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
Exceptions
There are a number of notable exceptions when entering and departing Australia and using SmartGate.
- If airline crew meet the above requirements they are also eligible to use SmartGate or they may continue to use the "crew lane".
- Australian and New Zealand citizens travelling on military orders may not use SmartGate upon arrival.
- Australian children aged 10 to 15 years (inclusive) can use SmartGate upon arrival if they are accompanied by at least two adults.
Locations
In Australia SmartGate is available at all major international airports, including:
- Adelaide
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Darwin
- Gold Coast
- Melbourne
- Perth
- Sydney
Privacy
The personal information collected by SmartGate includes the information on the biometric page of the passport, such as:
- name
- gender
- date of birth
- passport number
- passport photograph
- nationality
- the country of origin of the passport
Other information may also be collected and collated, such as:
- travel details
- the facial biometric template
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
External links
- Australian Border Force: SmartGate
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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