SmartGate System in Australia Airport

Due to curiosity i have when i go to Australia last few month hence i wrote this post. When i was first time at their airport i was amazed and in awe on how strict is their security there. It was exactly like what i saw on the TV on the CI channel on Astro. Everything must be declared first if u enter their country and the officer will check your bags before they allow you to continue your travel. There is this one case when i was at the airport at the declaration counter the other traveler brought meat products where in their forms has mentioned strictly that meat and dairy products are forbidden into their country. It was a heat argument between the visitor and the officer and it ends with the visitor had to paid fine for taking those products into their country. It was quite a terrifying but still exciting moments to watch how their officers handle that kind of things.

So the Australian borders was strict and there is also one time when i was at the immigration counter going back to Malaysia there is a woman with 3 children failed to fill in the forms for the Australian immigration and the officer just ask her to step aside and ignore her when she ask on how to fill up the forms. But still if you don't make anything wrong why we should be afraid of them and they are still quite friendly if we ask for a directions or any inquiries. Its just the rules we need to follow when we enter their country the same as our country. So that was my experience at their airport and when i was line up for an immigration check there are people who doesn't line up and go straight to this counter named the SmartGate. Most of them were the Australian's. SmartGate is an automated border processing system being introduced by the Australian Border Force and New Zealand Customs Service. It is a secure and simple system that performs the customs and immigration checks normally made by a Customs Officer when a traveler arrives in either Australia or New Zealand.

This is how the SmartGate looks like:-

The SmartGate uses electronic information in ePassports and face recognition technology to perform the customs and immigration checks usually performed by the Border Force officer.You are eligible to use the SmartGate if you:-

• hold an ePassport
• are aged 16 years or older
• from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.

The crew member who meet these requirements can choose whether to use the SmartGate or being manually processed through the crew lane. The ePassports are as follows and only those with this passports can used the SmartGate.

The ePassport contains a chip at the front of the passport that includes all the details and information about the passport owners. Next we go on how to used the SmartGate, there are two simple steps that those who wants to used it need to follows.

Step 1 - At the kiosk:

• Look for the SmartGate kiosks located: at passport control, or near the duty-free shopping store (if you are in Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne).
• Insert your ePassport into the kiosk, acknowledge the Privacy Statement and use the touch screen to answer the declarations.
• If you are eligible to use arrivals SmartGate, the kiosk will issue you a ticket, which you will need for step two.
• If you are not eligible to use SmartGate, you will be directed to the SmartGate assistance desk for manual processing.

Step 2 - At the gate:

• Insert your ticket, issued from the SmartGate kiosk in Step 1, into the gate.
• Look straight ahead while your image is captured and compared to your ePassport photograph.You must try to resemble your passport photograph as much as possible. For example if you are not wearing glasses in your passport photograph, remove your glasses, and if you are not smiling in your passport photograph, do not smile.
• If you are successfully processed, take your ticket when the gates open, then proceed through the gates to the baggage hall.
• If the SmartGate is unable to successfully process you on this occasion, you will be directed to the SmartGate assistance desk for manual processing.

The face recognition technology works by mapping the underlying bone structure of the face such as the distances between your eyes, nose, mouth and ears. The SmartGate uses a mathematical formula to compare your image with your ePassport photo.There are slightly difference on the Arrival and Departure SmartGate. If you are in the Arrival you need to follow this 2 steps but if you are in the Departure Smartgate you would only need to do the two steps at the kiosk.The SmartGates at departures use the latest technology in facial recognition and matching technology and one simple step solution. The departure SmartGate will perform the role of both the kiosk and the gate.

By having this technology at the airports it have made it more easier and convenient for the travelers as they don't have to waits for manual immigration anymore and it certainly reduced the manual queue at the immigration counters for other travelers who are not eligible to used the SmartGate like me.

Reference from: https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Goin/Arrival/Smartgateor-ePassport