SmartGate...a faster way to clear Customs (on trial)

[Mal]

Also keep in mind the U.S rules on types of passports - digital photographs and electronic readable strip down the bottom of the front page come to mind as required now.

Biometrics is still quite a few years away from being required as long as your passport wasn't issued recently.

 

[serfty]

I have been able to use my Smart Gate trial PP in MEL several times this year (as recently as 11th March) and on Monday in SYD. It's got a few virgin pages and ~18 months validity so I'll hold on to it for a while longer before getting a new ePassport.

On another note (as posted elsewhere) Mrs serfty used her ePassport on Monday to avoid the queues in SYD.

We arrived into SYD from HKG. There were several hundred incoming PAX queued in the immigration arrivals hall; including the Duty Free Express lane.

Myself and Mrs serfty, her armed with her 6 month old ePassport simply walked down to the indicated lanes on the left; had our mugs scanned and walked though. This took about 30 seconds and probably saved us at least 10 minutes in getting to the baggage hall.

 

[serfty]

There's been a few comments relevant to Smartgate on the APEC one. I thought iI'd cc a few over here.

... I'll be applying for an APEC card as soon as I get a new PP. My current one expires Sept 2008 so it will be by March next year (unless the Smartgate Trial Cameras are shut down, then probably earlier).

I haven't found the smartgates (SYD) to be so effective with my new passport. Even the immi guys who come to help when I throw a tantrum think it's going to fail, then about half the time it will give the green light. My feeling is the digital images and reality are not so close. ...

Note this is the smartgate trial, I do not yet have an ePassport.

Perhaps my mug does not change that much. I have had one failure in over 20 uses since I enrolled early 2005.

I found the "original" trial to be more "accommodating" and reliable - maybe because the face scan was real time, than the new system - where it's based on the digital photo sent in for the passport. I now know why we are not allowed to smile - there is nothing to smile about on re-entry!

 

[Mal]

I've used the new 'Smartgate' in Brisbane a couple of times now with my new E-Passport, and it works ok. People with the new passports don't realise you can use it, so I've been the only person using it, unless travelling with a friend (and avoiding the queues, when they exist!).

It does seem to take a while to do the facial recognition though, and it really doesn't indicate where I should be looking - but think the more times I use it, the quicker it will work (my belief is that they store different photos of you to improve the detection each time you use it). There are a couple of small issues with it because the "mag stripe cards" they print for you don't always read correctly in the second gate reader, and the system isn't as simple as the original Smartgate trial.

 

[kpc]

I've used the new 'Smartgate' in Brisbane a couple of times now with my new E-Passport, and it works ok. People with the new passports don't realise you can use it, so I've been the only person using it, unless travelling with a friend (and avoiding the queues, when they exist!).

I have a new E passport with microchip. How can I sign up for smartgate (for Syd)?

 

[Mal]

I have a new E passport with microchip. How can I sign up for smartgate (for Syd)?

I believe it's automatic with the new passports.

Serfty's posts above implies that it works automatically in the extreme left lane of Customs in SYD: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ster-way-clear-customs-5171-3.html#post121187 and here: http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...ster-way-clear-customs-5171-2.html#post104472

There are three different types of SmartGate machines that I am aware of...
Original Pilot, Reads normal passports and only works for those on the original trial in SYD/MEL.
E-Passport Pilot, Similar to the first, but needs E-Passports. Seems to now be open to all E-Passports (SYD/MEL, marked with the E-Passport symbol)
Series 1, the "production" system, currently in BNE/CNS. Quite different - includes answering questions at a kiosk.

I havn't tried these e-passport pilot machines though with my new passport - just the "Series 1" machines in Brisbane (and previously the original trial with my previous passport in SYD/MEL).

Bit more info @ Customs: SmartGate

 

[kpc]

I believe it's automatic with the new passports.

Thanks Mal. I will try it next month when I return from Sin. I hope the SmartGate kiosks are also available in Arrival Piers C, D as well as I will be arriving there on Sq.

 

[simongr]

So for clarity for an Oz citizen returning to Oz with a Biometric new passport they should be able to use the smart gate without registering when flying into SYD?

 

[serfty]

Absolutely ...

SmartGate is currently available to Australian and New Zealand ePassport holders.

i.e. If you have a current Oz/NZ ePassport, then you can employ the Kiosks. (All Oz passports issued after 24 October 2005 are ePassports.)

(It will be gradually opened to other nationalities that have International Civil Aviation Organisation compliant ePassports.)

I recently had to give up my Smartgate Trial registered passport as it was due to expire in September. :-|

In BNE and CNS the "Series 1" kiosks are available and in MEL and SYD the "Interim Solution" ones are to be used.

More here: SmartGate - Current use

 

[serfty]

For at least the last three weeks all MEL Smart gates have been inoperative; the area on the left where these were is hidden by whitewashed temporary walls; presumably while the new ones are being installed.

 

[Mal]

For at least the last three weeks all MEL Smart gates have been inoperative; the area on the left where these were is hidden by whitewashed temporary walls; presumably while the new ones are being installed.

Indeed. Customs site currently says:

The interim solution at Melbourne International Airport is no longer available. A new version of SmartGate is being installed and while this is taking place, there will be no facility for self-processing at this airport. The new version of SmartGate will be open for use in September 2008.

At Sydney International Airport, there are two 'interim' SmartGate kiosks. One is for use by enrolled participants of the original SmartGate trial. The other is for use by Australian ePassport holders, aged 18 or over, and no enrolment is necessary. The interim solution will continue to operate until the new version of SmartGate is implemented.

The new system works well (and recognises people who havn't used Smartgate before with their new e-Passports) , but isn't as simple as the old system. I prefer the older system, but realise why they had to change it.

 

[kpc]

Thanks Mal. I will try it next month when I return from Sin. I hope the SmartGate kiosks are also available in Arrival Piers C, D as well as I will be arriving there on Sq.

Smartgate is not available in Arrival Piers C, D as of mid July

 

[Mal]

Smartgate is not available in Arrival Piers C, D as of mid July

IIRC, Smartgate has only ever been in Pier A/B (ie Qantas/OneWorld mainly type terminal). C/D didn't have one for the couple of times I went through there over the last few years.

This is mainly because Qantas assisted Customs with the initial trial, thus the infrastructure was installed in the Qantas Arrivals Customs area.

When they roll SmartGate (Series 1 I think the production system is called), then C/D should also get it.

 

[serfty]

... A new version of SmartGate is being installed and while this is taking place, there will be no facility for self-processing at this airport. The new version of SmartGate will be open for use in September 2008. ...

It is installed in MEL and up and running. They have located terminals at various places along the arrivals concourse - including near the toilets so one can process themselves while their travelling companion is otherwise occupied.

So far I have had two goes at using it.

The first time it asked me an agricultural question to which I replied to the negative. it printed a slip which I then was able to employ at the immigration gate with no queuing. There was no need to use the express pass I had; I was out the doors in 2 minutes.

The second time I tried I was presented with a message similar to "Today you will need to speak with an immigration officer". So I employed my express pass and was quickly out at the doors - again in about 2 minutes

 

[poppet]

We used this system at Sydney airport this morning and I must admit I am a fan. The lines for the normal customs gates were approx 15-20 people each, and there was no line at the smartgate so we walked straight up and through.

 

[Mal]

We used this system at Sydney airport this morning and I must admit I am a fan.

Any automated barrier system that doesn't cost me money (or require a DNA sample) is great in my books. Perhaps I'm anti-authority, but I always hate chatting to an immigration officer when I arrive in a country, or waiting in extensive queues.

Australia has my face on record, Hong Kong has my finger prints (and photo) on record, UK has my iris scan on record. But in each case, I can normally skip the queues and head out of the airport pretty quickly. It is especially handy at Heathrow, as I avoid questions about my visa status - I'm legitimately there, but as I'm unemployed (but on a work visa and am looking for employment) the questions can get interesting.