Benefits

The introduction of SmartGate will bring many benefits.

Option for travellers to self-process

SmartGate offers eligible travellers an option to self-process. It provides a secure, efficient way to clear through passport control.

Ability to process increasing numbers of passengers

There has been a marked increase in the number of arrivals and departures at Australian international airports and further growth is expected into the future. Current forecasts by Tourism Research Australia show the number of arrivals is expected to increase at an average annual rate of nearly 5% between 2006 and 2016. SmartGate will enable Customs and Border Protection to securely and simply process more travellers while maintaining the existing standards of border security.

Enhanced border security

SmartGate will enable Customs and Border Protection to focus on more high-risk travellers and enhance the security of our border.

Deter the use of forged or stolen passports

The introduction of SmartGate and ePassports gives the Australian Government the opportunity to improve identity verification at the Australian border. This is a major deterrent to the use of forged or stolen passports and helps to combat identity fraud, which is rapidly increasing around the world.