Smartgate

[Ryan N]

Has anyone tried this when they arrive in Australia instead of being processed manually?

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5552

[Radi K]

yeah quick and easy

[Ellis Taylor]

I used this last week while coming back into PER and I must say it's absolutely fantastic. You simply insert your passport into the first machine, use the touchscreen to make some of your declarations and are issued with a ticket. You then take that ticket and your passport to the gate part where you are photographed and given another ticket before the gate lets you through into the Customs area. You then give that and your declaration card to a Customs officer before clearing through AQIS. Honestly, it must have taken about 3 minutes in total to use SmartGate, and it made coming home that little bit nicer.

[Alan Dent]

Pasports issued after 25 October can only be used at these Smartgates.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/passports/

[Greg McDonald]

It doesn't always work though. My passport was issued in April this year and it didn't work in the system at Auckland which is apparently the same as Sydney.

[Robert S]

Originally Posted by Alan Dent

Pasports issued after 25 October can only be used at these Smartgates.

http://www.dfat.gov.au/dept/passports/

I think you meant "Only passports issued on or after 25 October 2005 can by used at these Smartgates". Essentially it means you have to have an ePassport with the embedded chip and associated symbol on the cover to be able to choose to use SmartGate, but you certainly don't have to.

If your passport was issued before 25 October 2005, then you don't have the choice and have to use the manual method.

Personally, I still like having my passport stamped (which they happily do if requested) but perhaps I'll just have to get over this.