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Data tables

Automated border control gates (eGates) by country

Automated border control gates, or eGates, read a passport chip and compare the face on it with a live photo. Rules on who may use them differ a lot. Some countries open them only to citizens. Others list foreign nationalities, ask visitors to enrol first, or open them to all travellers. Singapore says all foreign visitors arriving at its passenger halls can use its automated lanes 15. The UK lists 12 nationalities and the EU 1. This table covers 29 countries.

Last checked: 32 sources

How eGates work

A traveller places the passport on a reader. The gate reads the chip, takes a photo and compares the two faces. Some gates take fingerprints as well. In Romania the gates connect to the Border Police information system and query its databases 9. If a check fails, an officer takes over 6. The Netherlands describes gates that scan the passport and check the face in a few seconds, with a Marechaussee officer stepping in when the automated check fails 6.

Some systems are not true gates. Canada uses kiosks and eGates where travellers make their customs and immigration declaration 30. Japan uses facial recognition gates for foreign visitors on departure only 23.

Four kinds of access

Citizens only. Several systems start with a country's own passport holders. Serbia opened its new gates to adult Serbian citizens in December 2024 12. Brazil's gates at Galeao were for Brazilian citizens at launch in 2016 32.

Listed nationalities. Most European systems serve EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and add a list of other countries. The UK, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand each publish such a list 1,36,14.

Registered travellers. Some gates need prior enrolment. India's FTI-TTP is open to Indian nationals and OCI cardholders who register online, free of charge 21,22. Germany offers EasyPASS-RTP for registered non-EU travellers 4. Taiwan asks partner-country passport holders to enrol manually 24.

All travellers. Singapore lets all foreign visitors use automated lanes on arrival without enrolment 15. Australia says anyone on a valid passport can try its arrival SmartGates 13. Thailand opened departure gates to foreign e-passport holders from 15 December 2023 19.

Country table

Eligibility changes often. Each row gives the date of the source. Check the official page before you travel. Age limits are shown where the source states them.

CountryProgrammeWho can use the gatesAirports or locationsSource date
United KingdomeGatesListed nationalities and registered travellers. British and Irish citizens, plus nationals of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the USA with valid immigration status, and Registered Traveller members. Age 8 and over 1Over 290 eGates at 15 air and rail ports 1Updated 6 October 2026 1
IrelandeGatesEU, EEA and Swiss passport holders aged 18 and over. US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese citizens in the transfer area only, if not going to the UK 2Dublin Airport, Terminals 1 and 2 and the transfers facility 2Updated 25 January 2023 2
FrancePARAFEListed nationalities. On entry and exit: EU and Schengen states plus Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Peru, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, the USA and others on the official list. A longer list may use PARAFE on exit only 3Paris CDG, Orly, Basel-Mulhouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, plus Eurostar and Eurotunnel terminals 3Checked 7 April 2025 3
GermanyEasyPASSEU, EEA and Swiss e-passport holders aged 12 and over, German ID card holders, holders of German residence titles, and registered travellers under EasyPASS-RTP 4Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne/Bonn, Dusseldorf, Berlin Brandenburg, Stuttgart, Hannover, Hamburg. 255 lanes in total 5Checked 19 October 2026 4,5
NetherlandseGatesChip passport holders aged 14 and over from EU and Schengen states plus Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, the UK and the USA 6Amsterdam Schiphol: arrivals, departures and transfer 6Checked 19 October 2026 6
Belgiume-gatesEU chip passport holders and Belgian eID card holders, minimum age 12 7Brussels Airport 7Checked 19 October 2026 7
LuxembourgABC gatesEU, EEA and Swiss biometric passport holders aged 18 and over 8Luxembourg Airport, arrivals and departures 826 July 2018 8
RomaniaABC gatesNot stated on the project page 9Bucharest Henri Coanda Airport. Six gates, inaugurated 4 March 2021 9Checked 19 October 2026 9
SwitzerlandAutomated passport controlSwiss, EU and EEA biometric passport holders over 18 10Zurich Airport 109 April 2018 10
NorwayEasyPassAt launch, Norwegian biometric passport holders arriving from outside Schengen 11Oslo Airport 11January 2013 11. Current eligibility not confirmed
SerbiaE-gateAt launch, adult Serbian citizens with a passport. Foreign passports may follow 12Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport 1220 December 2024 12
AustraliaSmartGateAnyone on a valid passport may try arrival SmartGates. Children 7 and over with a parent or guardian. Minimum height 1.1 m 13International airports. The page does not list them 13Checked 19 October 2026 13
New ZealandeGateE-passport holders aged 10 and over from a listed set of countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, the UK, the USA and all EU states 14Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, arrivals and departures 14Checked 19 October 2026 14
SingaporeAutomated lanesCitizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders with enrolled biometrics. All foreign visitors arriving at passenger halls, without prior enrolment. Age 6 and over 15ICA checkpoints, including 130 automated lanes at Changi Airport 16Checked 19 October 2026 15
MalaysiaeGatePermanent residents, long-term pass holders and visitors from 63 listed countries with an e-passport and a digital arrival card. Eight ASEAN nationalities on departure only 17Not listed on the eligibility page 17Checked 19 October 2026 17
IndonesiaAutogateIndonesian and eligible foreign travellers aged 6 and over 18Nearly 200 autogates, including Soekarno-Hatta and Ngurah Rai airports 1831 August 2024 18
ThailandAutomatic channelThai nationals. From 15 December 2023, foreign e-passport holders on departure 19. Hong Kong e-passport holders on arrival and departure under a mutual deal 25Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports 19,2511 December 2023 19
Philippinese-gatesNot stated in the release 20NAIA Terminals 1 and 3: 78 e-gates, including 12 for overseas Filipino workers. Unveiled 16 December 2025 2018 December 2025 20
IndiaFTI-TTP e-gatesRegistered travellers. Indian nationals and OCI cardholders who enrol online. Free, aged 7 and over 21,2214 airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad 22Launched 22 June 2024 21
JapanFacial recognition gatesJapanese nationals on departure and return. Foreign Temporary Visitors on departure only 23Haneda first, from 24 July 2019, then Narita, Kansai, Fukuoka, Chubu, New Chitose and Naha 232019 23
Taiwane-GateTaiwan nationals and residents aged 10 and over. Registered e-passport holders from the USA (Global Entry members), South Korea, Australia, Italy, Germany, Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand. All foreign persons on departure 24Not listed on the page 24Updated 23 September 2026 24
Hong Konge-ChannelEnrolled users. Thai passport holders may enrol free of charge 25Immigration control points 2514 September 2018 25
MacaoAutomated passenger clearance (e-Channel)Residents, and registered foreigners from listed countries such as Australia, Korea, Portugal, Singapore, Brazil, Germany, Malaysia, France and Spain. Foreigners with a Chinese permanent residence card or a residence permit over 6 months 26All Macao checkpoints, joint channels at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hengqin and Qingmao 26Checked 19 October 2026 26
China (mainland)Facial recognition fast lanesMainland residents with Hong Kong and Macao exit-entry permits, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, from 5 November 2025. Foreigners are not listed 27Checkpoints linked to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan 273 November 2025 27
United Arab Emirates (Dubai)Smart GatesUAE and GCC nationals, UAE residents and visa-on-arrival guests with biometric passports. First-time users are registered at passport control 28Dubai International and Al Maktoum International 28Checked 19 October 2026 28
BahrainE-GatesBahraini citizens and residents, GCC nationals with e-passports, and visitors with multiple-entry visas after a first arrival at a counter 29Bahrain International Airport: 12 departure and 8 arrival gates 29Checked 19 October 2026 29
CanadaeGates and Primary Inspection KiosksTravellers make their declaration at the gate. Under 14s cannot use eGates 30eGates at Toronto Pearson Terminal 1. Kiosks at Toronto Pearson Terminals 1 and 3 and other airports 30Checked 19 October 2026 30
MexicoeGatesEligible foreigners, starting with US and Canadian travellers 31Cancun, 18 gates at launch. Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta named as next 3124 January 2023 31
BrazileGatesAt launch, Brazilian citizens aged 18 and over with an e-passport 32Rio de Janeiro Galeao 3224 June 2016 32. Current status not confirmed

Reciprocal deals

Some countries open their gates to each other's citizens. Hong Kong and Thailand began mutual automated clearance on 15 September 2018. Hong Kong e-passport holders can use the automatic channels at both Bangkok airports without enrolment. Thai passport holders can enrol for Hong Kong's e-Channel free of charge 25.

Taiwan lists partner countries whose e-passport holders can enrol. For the USA, only Global Entry members qualify 24. Macao lists foreign passports that may register for its e-Channel 26.

What happens to your data at the gate

Few operators publish retention rules on their gate pages. New Zealand does. It keeps the biometric information from an eGate for three months, then destroys it. It keeps other information, including border movements, indefinitely, under the Privacy Act 2020 14. New Zealand runs eGate as an automated electronic system under section 296 of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 14.

In the Schengen area, the Entry/Exit System changes the work the gate does for non-EU travellers. At Schiphol, the EES check for departing travellers is handled inside the gate, so they no longer need to visit a desk 6.

Limits of this table

This table lists only countries where we could open an official page or a dated news report. Several other countries are reported to run eGates, but we could not confirm details from a source we opened. Rows based on older reports, such as Norway (2013) and Brazil (2016), show eligibility at launch, not today 11,32.

The UK has started contactless travel at some eGates. From 6 October 2026 British citizens on a British passport can pass at participating airports without presenting the passport. The UK expects other eligible nationalities to follow by early 2027 1.

Common questions

Can foreign visitors use eGates?

In many countries, yes. Singapore opens automated lanes to all foreign visitors on arrival 15. The UK lets nationals of the EU and 12 other countries use them 1. Some countries limit gates to citizens or registered travellers 12,21.

Do children use eGates?

Age limits vary. The UK allows ages 8 and over with an adult 1. Singapore allows ages 6 and over 15. Ireland and Luxembourg require users to be 18 or over 2,8.

Can I use a national ID card at an eGate?

Usually not outside the issuing country. The UK and the Netherlands say ID cards do not work at their gates 1,6. Germany accepts the German ID card, and Belgium accepts the Belgian eID 4,7.

Do I need to register before using an eGate?

It depends on the country. India's FTI-TTP and Germany's EasyPASS-RTP need enrolment 22,4. Dubai registers first-time users at passport control 28. Singapore needs no enrolment for visitors 15.

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Sources

  1. GOV.UK, Border Force: Guide to faster travel through the UK border (updated 6 October 2026)
  2. Immigration Service Delivery (Ireland): eGates at Dublin Airport (updated 25 January 2023)
  3. Service-Public.fr: Passage rapide aux frontieres, comment utiliser un sas Parafe (checked 7 April 2025)
  4. Bundespolizei (Germany): Wer kann EasyPASS nutzen? (checked 19 October 2026)
  5. Bundespolizei (Germany): Wo gibt es EasyPASS? (checked 19 October 2026)
  6. Royal Netherlands Marechaussee: Self-service passport control (eGates) (checked 19 October 2026)
  7. Brussels Airport: Border control (checked 19 October 2026)
  8. Luxembourg Airport: New automated border control at Luxembourg Airport (26 July 2018)
  9. Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, External Funds Directorate: ABC automated travel document checks at airports, project RO#FSIB (checked 19 October 2026)
  10. SWI swissinfo.ch: Zurich Airport introduces automatic passport controls (9 April 2018)
  11. Future Travel Experience: Oslo Airport initiates self-service passport control (January 2013)
  12. N1 Serbia: Electronic gates at Belgrade airport (20 December 2024)
  13. Australian Border Force: Who can use SmartGates (checked 19 October 2026)
  14. New Zealand Customs Service: eGate (checked 19 October 2026)
  15. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (Singapore): Automated lanes at the passenger halls (checked 19 October 2026)
  16. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (Singapore): More foreign visitors able to clear immigration through automated lanes (media release)
  17. Immigration Department of Malaysia: MDAC eGate eligibility (checked 19 October 2026)
  18. Jakarta Globe: Six-year-olds can now use immigration autogates (31 August 2024)
  19. Khaosod English: Suvarnabhumi auto departure passport control is open to foreigners (11 December 2023)
  20. Bureau of Immigration (Philippines): BI thanks NNIC for partnership on e-gates (18 December 2025)
  21. Press Information Bureau (India): Home Minister inaugurates Fast Track Immigration, Trusted Traveller Programme (22 June 2024)
  22. Ministry of Home Affairs (India): FTI-TTP portal (checked 19 October 2026)
  23. Ministry of Justice (Japan): Use of facial recognition automated gates in departure procedures for foreign nationals (2019)
  24. National Immigration Agency (Taiwan): e-Gate eligibility (published 12 March 2024, updated 23 September 2026)
  25. news.gov.hk: Hong Kong and Thailand launch mutual automated clearance (14 September 2018)
  26. Macao SAR Government Portal: Registration for automated passenger clearance system for non-residents of Macao (checked 19 October 2026)
  27. National Immigration Administration (China): Announcement on new immigration measures (3 November 2025)
  28. Dubai Airports: Smart Gates (checked 19 October 2026)
  29. Bahrain Airport Company: Passports and visas (checked 19 October 2026)
  30. Canada Border Services Agency: Declare your travel information at an airport kiosk or eGate (checked 19 October 2026)
  31. Travel Off Path: Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta will be the next destinations in Mexico to open eGates (24 January 2023)
  32. TravelDailyNews: New automated border control solution at RIOgaleao in Rio de Janeiro (24 June 2016)

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