The New Zealand Customs Service is pleased to welcome eligible ePassport holders from a further 11 countries and territories to use its eGates.
Travellers from several European countries, including Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, and Vatican City, as well as Macau (a Special Administrative Region of China), and an initial group of Middle Eastern countries, including Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, are now able to use New Zealand's automated eGates nationwide.
This follows a successful trial period where Customs worked with Immigration New Zealand to ensure ePassports from these visa-waiver countries met the necessary border security and technological biometric requirements.
Customs has now opened its eGates to 48 countries in total and will later this year enable further countries to use the gates, helping make border processing systems more efficient, smart, and easy to use.
Acting Group Manager Border Operations, Paul Williams, says around 70% percent of arriving and departing passengers are currently processed through eGates in New Zealand.
"As we open New Zealand's eGates to more countries, even more travellers will have the option of a self-service route through both arrivals and departures. We welcome the new passport holders and encourage them to give our eGates a try," says Mr Williams.
"The use of eGates, along with other digital options such as completing a New Zealand Traveller Declaration digitally, will help reduce screening times in airport terminals, making it easier and faster for travellers to move through border security."
He adds that eGates use sophisticated biometric software and information from ePassports to carry out necessary checks within seconds, enabling Customs frontline officers to place increased focus on high-risk travellers and baggage, as well as boosting airport patrols to target illegal activities such as drug smuggling.
