Australia's SmartGate service now permanently available to Singaporeans
Australia's Trade Minister, Andrew Robb, with Singaporeans
Monday 21 July 2014
Media release from the Australian High Commission, Singapore:
Singaporeans can now permanently benefit from SmartGate self-processing facilities at Australia's eight major airports.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, today announced the permanent expansion of SmartGate to Singaporeans following a successful trial, which commenced in February.
The trial by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) made Singaporean e-passport holders the first Asian nation to use the state-of-the-art SmartGate technology.
In 2013, there were 385,300 visitors to Australia from Singapore, an increase of 12.1 per cent on the previous year. Last year more people visited Australia from Singapore than any other country in Southeast Asia.
SmartGate is a self-service processing option for eligible travellers entering Australia. The key benefit is its speed. Rather than having to queue to see an ACBPS officer, SmartGate travellers can self-process through passport control.
SmartGate is available for arriving travellers in Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast international airports.
The expansion of the SmartGate service highlights the strong partnership between Australia and Singapore and the benefits of close collaboration.
SmartGate is available to Australian, Singaporean, New Zealand, US and UK citizens on a permanent basis and to Swiss electronic passport holders under trial arrangements.
CLICK HERE for the link on Ms Cash’s website, including quotes.