Australia opens its automated border processing system to U.S. Trusted Travelers

Been thinking about traveling to Australia? Visiting the land down under is now even easier for U.S. Trusted Travelers. In late 2012, Australian Customs and Border Protection opened up its automated border processing system, SmartGate, to U.S. Trusted Travelers.

What does that mean exactly for a U.S. Trusted Traveler? Well, it means that now when you arrive in Australia, you can bypass the passport processing lines and self process using an ePassport. SmartGate uses facial recognition technology and biometric data to perform the customs and immigration check usually conducted by an Australian Customs and Border Protection officer.

To use SmartGate, there is no additional enrollment required. You simply need to be traveling on a valid U.S. ePassport and be over 16 years old. SmartGate is open to all U.S. Trusted Traveler members enrolled in Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI.

For more information on SmartGate and booking your travel to Australia, contact the POTHOS travel team at: travel@pothos.us.