Filipino Travelers Are Now Eligible to Use SmartGates Kiosk When Entering Australia

Image: Australian Border Security

When I arrived from my short trip from New Zealand, it was a truly welcoming experience when I could finally use the SmartGates kiosk. This means that travelers will have a smoother and seamless travel experience of arrival and departure to/from Australia.

Arrivals SmartGates require a passenger to present their passport to a kiosk first. Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney airports have self-service kiosks in the arrivals concourse.

Self-service Kiosk Arrival SmartGates at Melbourne Airport

I’ve been traveling many times in and outside Australia, and although I’ve been using the self-service SmartGates during departure, I never tried using it on my arrivals coz my Philippine passport is not yet eligible.

However, it seems like the 2024 travel experience will be a lot more fun and exciting because for the first time, and finally, my Philippine passport is now eligible for SmartGates Arrival.

Yes, all Filipino passport holders can now use the self-service kiosks during their arrival in Australia.

This means that you don’t have to queue in line to meet the Border Security Officer and experience the hassle (and anxiety) of entering Australia.

Self-service Kiosk Arrival SmartGates at Melbourne Airport

How to use SmartGates

Arrival SmartGate is a two-step process, consisting of a kiosk and a gate.

SmartGates ticket

Step 1. Presenting at the Kiosk

You must first go to the kiosk and insert your passport.

Answer the questions using the touchscreen.

If eligible, you will be given a ticket. You then take the ticket and passport and proceed to the gate (step 2).

If ineligible, you will be referred to the SmartGate assistance desk queue to be manually processed by an ABF officer

Step 2. Present at the Gate

Walk to an available gate.

Insert the ticket into the gate and face towards the camera.

The gate then completes a biometric match against the information contained in your ePassport chip and you in front of the camera. Remove glasses, headphones, and other bulky items around the neck to improve gate processing.

If you are matched successfully, the visual display will prompt you to take your ticket. After you take your ticket, the gate will open and allow you to pass through.

If you are not matched successfully, the visual display will prompt you to attend the assistance desk. The ticket is retained, and the gate will remain closed. You should follow the signposts to join the assistance desk queue where an ABF officer will manually process you.

After the SmartGate

Proceed to the baggage claim area and pick up your luggage. Give your Incoming Passenger Card and SmartGate ticket to the Australian Border Force officer.

Eligible passengers

You can use SmartGates if you have an eligible ePassport and be either a:

citizen or non-citizen aged 16 years or older, or

an Australian citizen aged 10 to 15 years old and traveling with at least two adults

Eligible airline crew may choose to use SmartGates instead of the crew lane.

Dual citizens should use the same passport used for check-in for their flight to Australia. All Australian citizens should use their Australian ePassport.

If traveling on military orders you are ineligible and must use manual processing.

If traveling on a domestic leg of an international flight and your ticket has an orange ‘D’ sticker you will need to use manual processing.

The Philippine passport is now eligible to use the self-service kiosk SmartGate Arrival.

Eligible passports

All Australian passports are ePassports.

Your passport is an ePassport if it has a small camera symbol at the bottom of the front cover.

Other eligible passports include:

Argentina, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Nations, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Information on the SmartGate screens is also available in the following 22 other languages.

Save this post and subscribe for more travel news around Australia.