Modern technology to get Australian travellers through Customs easier

5 May 2012

More Australians coming home from overseas will be able to clear Customs by using their e-passports instead of waiting in a queue to have it stamped by a Customs officer.

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today announced $7.9 million to expand the SmartGate system at Australian international airports over the next two financial years.

Smartgate is a self service system that allows Australian and New Zealand e-passport holders aged 16 years and over to use their passport to clear Customs.

“An additional 20 Smartgate terminals will be installed at Australian international airports over the next two financial years,” Mr Clare said.

“About 50 per cent of eligible Australians and New Zealanders arriving from overseas currently use Smartgate.

“These extra Smartgates will enable us to increase that to up to 80 per cent of eligible users by the end of 2015.”

Mr Clare said that currently 78 per cent of Australians have e-passports.

“By the end of 2015 all Australians will have a chip in their passport which is required to use Smartgate,” Mr Clare said.

“The expansion of this technology means that more and more Australians will be able to get through Customs by using their e-passport instead of waiting in a queue to have it stamped by a Customs officer.”

Additional terminals will be installed first in Australia’s busiest international airports – Sydney and Melbourne – with other airports to follow including Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Media contact: Korena Flanagan