Expedited border controls




Certain countries and trade blocs establish programmes for high-frequency and/or low risk travellers to expedite border controls, subjecting them to lighter or automated checks, or priority border control facilities. In some countries, citizens or residents have access to automated facilities not available to foreigners.

British Islesedit

United Kingdomedit

ePassport gates are operated by the UK Border Force and are located at immigration checkpoints in the arrival halls of some airports across the United Kingdom, offering an alternative to using desks staffed by immigration officers. The gates use facial recognition technology to verify the user's identity by comparing the user's facial features to those recorded in the photograph stored in the chip in their biometric passport.

British citizens, European Economic Area citizens and citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States as well as Chinese citizens of Hong Kong who are enrolled in the Registered Traveller Service, can use ePassport gates, provided that they are aged either 18 and over or 12 and over travelling with an adult and holding valid biometric passports.

ePassport gates are available at the following locations:

  • Birmingham Airport
  • Bristol Airport
  • Cardiff Airport
  • East Midlands Airport
  • Edinburgh Airport
  • Eurostar St Pancras Terminal
  • Eurostar Brussels-Zuid Terminal
  • Gatwick Airport (North and South Terminals)
  • Glasgow Airport
  • Heathrow Airport (Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  • London City Airport
  • Luton Airport
  • Manchester Airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3)
  • Stansted Airport

Republic of Irelandedit

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service operates eGates at Dublin Airport for arrivals at Terminal 1 (Piers 1 and 2) and Terminal 2. They are currently available to citizens of Switzerland and the European Economic Area with electronic passports aged 18 or over. There are proposals to extend the service to non-European citizens. Irish Passport Cards can not be used.

East Asiaedit

Hong Kong & Macauedit

The e-Channel is an automated border control facility available at airports in Hong Kong and Macau, and at land borders between the mainland and the Special Administrative Regions. It is open to Chinese citizens with permanent residence in the appropriate regions, and to selected foreign nationals. A similar automated entry system, eGate, exists in Taiwan providing expedited border control for Taiwanese nationals l as well as certain classes of residents and frequent visitors. Users simply scan their travel documents at the gate and are passed through for facial recognition.

Japanedit

Along with the introduction of J-BIS, an "Automated gate" (自動化ゲート) was set up at Terminal 1 and 2 at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Chubu Centrair Airport and Kansai Airport. With this system, when a person enters or leaves the country, rather than having to be processed by an examiner there, a person can use a machine at the gate, thereby making both entry and departure simpler and easier, as well as more convenient. Japanese people with valid passports, foreigners with both valid passports (this includes refugees with valid travel certificates and re-entry permits) and re-entry permits can use this system.

South Koreaedit

South Korea maintains a programme known as the Smart Entry Service, open for registration by South Koreans aged 7 or above and by registered foreigners aged 17 or above. Foreign passport holders eligible to register include:
Singapore Singapore passport
Taiwan Republic of China passport
United States United States passport
Hong Kong Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport
Macau Macao Special Administrative Region passport

North Americaedit

North America has a range of expedited border control programmes.

CARIPASSedit

CARIPASS is a voluntary travel card programme that will provide secure and simple border crossings for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) citizens and some legal residents of CARICOM nations. The CARIPASS initiative is coordinated by the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), and seeks to provide standardised border control facilities within participating Caribbean communities.

CARIPASS is accepted as a valid travel document within and between participating member states and will allow cardholders to access automated gate facilities at immigration checkpoints that will use biometric technology to verify the user.

The following CARICOM jurisdictions are participating in the programme:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago

NEXUS and FASTedit

NEXUS is a joint Canadian-U.S. expedited border control programme for low risk travellers holding Canadian or U.S. citizenship or permanent residence. Membership requires approval by Canadian and U.S. authorities and entitles members to dedicated RFID-enabled lanes when crossing the land border. A NEXUS card can also be utilised as a travel document between the two countries and entitles passengers to priority border control facilities in Canada and Global Entry facilities in America.

Free and Secure Trade or FAST is a similar programme for commercial drivers and approved importers, reducing the amount of customs checks conducted at the border and expediting the border control process.

Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents who are approved by Canadian authorities but not by the Americans can join CANPASS, which provides similar border control benefits but solely in Canada.

Global Entry and SENTRIedit

Global Entry is an programme for frequent travellers that enables them to utilise automated border control facilities and priority security screening. In addition to U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, the programme is open to Indian, Singaporean, and South Korean citizens amongst others.

SENTRI is a similar programme for U.S. and Mexican citizens that additionally allows members to register their cars for expedited land border controls. When entering the U.S. across the Canadian border, it can be used as a NEXUS card, but not the other way around.

Global Entry members (as well as NEXUS and SENTRI card holders with a Known Traveller Number) are eligible to use automated Global Entry facilities at certain airports to clear border control more efficiently. Enrolled users must present their machine-readable passport or permanent residency card, and submit their fingerprints to establish identity. Users then complete an electronic customs declaration, and are issued a receipt instructing them to either proceed to baggage claim, or to a normal inspection booth for an interview.

Participants may clear U.S. border control by utilising automated kiosks located at the following airports (all airports below are in the United States (United States) or its territories unless otherwise stated):

  • United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)*
  • Anchorage – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
  • Atlanta – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
  • Boston – Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • Burlington International Airport (BTV)*
  • Canada Calgary International Airport (YYC)
  • Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT)
  • Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)*
  • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
  • Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)
  • Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
  • Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
  • Denver International Airport (DEN)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
  • Republic of Ireland Dublin Airport (DUB)*
  • Canada Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
  • Fairbanks International Airport (FAI)
  • Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
  • Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee (MKE)
  • Guam International Airport (GUM)
  • Canada Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ)
  • Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City (JFK)
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA)*
  • Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
  • McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS)
  • Miami International Airport (MIA)
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • Canada Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
  • Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
  • Oakland International Airport (OAK)*
  • Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  • Orlando-Sanford International Airport (SFB)
  • Canada Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
  • Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
  • Portland International Airport (PDX)
  • Aruba Queen Beatrix International Airport, Aruba (AUA)*
  • Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)*
  • Saipan International Airport (SPN)*
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
  • San Diego International Airport (SAN)
  • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • San Jose International Airport (SJC)*
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – SeaTac (SEA)
  • Republic of Ireland Shannon Airport (SNN)*
  • The Bahamas Lynden Pindling International Airport, Bahamas (NAS)*
  • Tampa International Airport (TPA)
  • Canada Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
  • Canada Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
  • Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)
  • Canada Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport (YWG)

The * indicates there are no enrollment centres at these sites.

Viajero Confiableedit

Viajero Confiable is a Mexican programme similar to Global Entry that allows expedited border controls in Mexico.

Oceaniaedit

Australiaedit

SmartGates located at major Australian airports allow Australian ePassport holders and ePassport holders of a number of other countries to clear immigration controls more rapidly, and to enhance travel security by performing passport control checks electronically. SmartGate uses facial recognition technology to verify the traveller's identity against the data stored in the chip in their biometric passport, as well as checking against immigration databases. Travellers require a biometric passport to use SmartGate as it uses information from the passport (such as photograph, name and date of birth) and in the respective countries' databases (i.e. banned travellers database) to decide whether to grant entry or departure from Australia or to generate a referral to a customs agent. These checks would otherwise require manual processing by a human which is time-consuming, costly and potentially error-prone.

New Zealandedit

In New Zealand, a SmartGate system exists at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports, enabling holders of biometric passports issued by New Zealand, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States to clear border controls using automated facilities. The system can currently only be used by travellers 12 years of age or older, however a trial is under way that may potentially lower the age of eligibility to use eGate for people with an eligible ePassport from 12 years of age to 10 years of age. New Zealand eGates utilise biometric technology, comparing the picture of your face in your ePassport with the picture it takes of you at the gate in order to confirm your identity. To make sure eGate can do this, travellers must make sure they look as similar to their ePassport photos as possible and remove glasses, scarves and hats that they were not wearing when their passport picture was taken. eGate can handle minor changes in your face, for example if the travellers' weight or hair has changed. Customs, Biosecurity and Immigration officials utilise information provided at eGates, including photos, to clear travellers and their items across New Zealand's border. Biometric information is kept for three months before destruction but other information, including about movements across New Zealand's border is kept indefinitely and handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1993, or as the law authorises. This might include information being used by or shared with other law enforcement or border control authorities.

From 1 July 2019 visitors from the 60 Visa Waiver countries will require a New Zealand electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). This is an online application and a further toolkit and requirements for airlines and travel agents can be downloaded from the New Zealand Immigration website.

Singaporeedit

The enhanced-Immigration Automated Clearance System (eIACS) is available at all checkpoints for Singapore citizens, permanent residents, foreign residents with long-term passes and other registered travellers. Foreign visitors whose fingerprints are registered on arrival may use the eIACS lanes for exit clearance. In addition, the Biometric Identification of Motorbikers (BIKES) System is available for eligible motorcyclists at the land border crossings with Malaysia.

APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)edit

The APEC Business Travel Card, or ABTC, is an expedited border control programme for business travellers from APEC economies (excluding Canada and U.S.A.). It provides visa exemptions and access to expedited border control facilities. ABTC holders are eligible for expedited border control at Canadian airports but not for any visa exemptions.

ABTCs are generally issued only to citizens of APEC member countries, however Hong Kong issues them to Permanent Residents who are not Chinese citizens, a category primarily consisting of British, Indian, and Pakistani citizens.

The use of ABTCs in China is restricted as a result of the One Country, Two Systems and One China policies. Taiwanese nationals, and Chinese citizens from Hong Kong, and Macau are required to use special internal travel documents to enter the mainland. Similar restrictions exist on the use of ABTC for Chinese citizens of other regions entering Taiwan. (see: Internal border controls).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

History

Image
States and rulers have always regarded the ability to determine who enters or remains in their territories as a key test of their sovereignty, but prior to World War I, border controls were only sporadically implemented. In medieval Europe, for example, the boundaries between rival countries and centres of power were largely symbolic or consisted of amorphous borderlands, ‘marches’ and ‘debatable lands’ of indeterminate or contested status and the real ‘borders’ consisted of the fortified walls that surrounded towns and cities, where the authorities could exclude undesirable or incompatible people at the gates, from vagrants, beggars and the ‘wandering poor’, to ‘masterless women’, lepers, Romani or Jews. The concept of a travel document such as a passport needed to clear border controls in the modern sense has been traced back to the reign of Henry V of England, as a means of helping his subjects prove who they were in foreign lands. The earliest reference to these documents is found ...
Read more

Webinar Hosting - How To Increase Your Site Traffic

Webinar hosting is an arrangement by which organizations host webinars of varying lengths, allow people to attend those webinars using software, and then charge a fee (usually per attendee) for each individual who uses the webinar. The host will generally charge either a fixed monthly fee or a set setup fee. The setup fee is intended to cover hardware and software, plus promotion. The monthly fee allows the host to make a profit from webinars. This article looks at some of the ways that webinar hosting can be used. There are several kinds of presentations, which are used in webinar hosting. Most commonly, a presenter will give a written presentation, often on a computer screen. He will introduce his audience, give a Q&A session, discuss one topic, answer questions, suggest another topic, etc., as needed. The topics are predetermined, although sometimes the presenters can contribute something in their opening or closing remarks. After the introduction, the presenter will welcome at...
Read more

Aspects

Image
There are multiple aspects of border control. Quarantine edit Quarantine policies exist to control the spread of disease. When applied as a component of border control, such policies focus primarily on mitigating the entry of infected individuals, plants, or animals into a country. Customs edit Each country has its own laws and regulations for the import and export of goods into and out of a country, which its customs authority enforces. The import or export of some goods may be restricted or forbidden, in which case customs controls enforce such policies. Customs enforcement at borders can also entail collecting excise tax and preventing the smuggling of dangerous or illegal goods. A customs duty is a tariff or tax on the importation (usually) or exportation (unusually) of goods. In many countries, border controls for arriving passengers at many international airports and some road crossings are separated into red and green channels in order to prioritise customs enforcement. Within t...
Read more