A SELF-SERVICE customs processing programme that will facilitate speedier entry into Australia has been extended to Singaporean travellers with immediate effect.
Australia’s minister for trade and investment, Andrew Robb, and assistant minister for immigration and border protection, Michaelia Cash, made the announcement in Singapore yesterday.
“(Australian) customs and border protection is launching a trial to allow Singaporean e-passport holders aged 16 years and over to use SmartGate self-processing facilities in Australia’s eight major airports,” said Robb.
“The extension to Singaporean travellers will make them the first Asian nation to use this state-of-the-art technology.”
According to local daily The Straits Times, the trial has been rolled out in airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin and should cut waiting times by 15 to 20 minutes.
SmartGate identifies and processes facial features for customs clearance, said the same report.
Commented Cash: “As more travellers use SmartGate, customs and broder protection officers can focus their attention on people who pose a risk to the border, while legitimate, law-abiding travellers can pass through with ease.”
The self-service facility is currently available to Australian, New Zealand and UK nationals permanently, while US and Swiss citizens have also been allowed to use SmartGate on similar trial arrangements.
