Fact Sheet 71 - SmartGate Automated Border Processing

In August 2007, the Australian Customs Service (Customs) introduced automated border processing, known as SmartGate, at Brisbane International Airport.  After successful implementation at Brisbane, SmartGate was rolled out to Cairns in January 2008.  SmartGate will be progressively rolled out to remaining international airports with Melbourne and Sydney scheduled next.  

It is currently available for use by Australian and New Zealand citizens, aged 18 or over, holding an ePassport.

SmartGate is part of a broader Government strategy to utilise biometric technology at Australia’s borders. The strategy was announced on 10 May 2005 in a joint media release issued by the then Ministers responsible for foreign affairs, immigration and customs.
The use of biometric technology at our borders is aimed at improving the security and efficiency of passenger processing and will enable Australia to process increasing passenger volumes. The initiative will also contribute to addressing identity fraud.

Legislation

To enable the expansion of SmartGate to certain non-citizens, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship amended the Migration Act 1958 to provide a flexible legislative framework for the use of automated identification processing systems in immigration clearance. The Migration Legislation (Border Integrity) Amendment Act 2007 was passed on 29 April 2007.

The amendments did not introduce any new processing requirements, but simply enabled travellers who hold the eligible ePassports to choose an automated process if they wish, rather than seeing a Customs officer for manual processing.

Broadly, the new provisions enable persons arriving and departing Australia, including Australian citizens and selected non-citizens, to have their identity, and in the case of non-citizens, their visa, verified by an automated system without the need for a Customs officer to be present during the process. The initial SmartGate roll-out will only be available for arriving travellers.  The new provisions allow SmartGate to collect information electronically in relation to health and character as required.

The new provisions also enable New Zealand citizens to be immigration cleared via SmartGate and granted a Special Category Visa (SCV).

Automated processing

SmartGate is a simple, two-step process involving a kiosk and a gate.  Step 1, the kiosk, checks if a traveller is eligible to self-process.  The traveller places their ePassport into the reader and answers standard declarations on the touch screen.  If the traveller is eligible to self-process, the kiosk will issue a ticket which is needed for step 2.  If not eligible, the traveller is directed to a Customs officer for manual processing.

Step 2, the gate, performs the identity check and clearance.  The traveller inserts their ticket and a photo of the traveller’s face is taken which is compared to the image in their ePassport. Final clearance checks are also undertaken. If the images match and clearance is verified, the ticket is re-issued and the traveller can pass through the gate.  If the images don't match and/or clearance is not verified, the ticket is retained and the traveller is directed to a Customs officer for manual processing.

More detailed information on SmartGate can be obtained by logging on to the Customs website and following the links.
See: www.customs.gov.au

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 71. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 8 May 2008.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2008.