Australian Smart Gates

fosterscik

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DW and I are going to Australia later this year for 4 weeks, after a live-aboard diving trip in Indonesia (3 weeks). We fly into Perth, WA and explore that area; fly to Brisbane, explore and drive a rental car to Sydney, explore; fly to Cairns, explore the area; then fly back to Perth. We'll store our diving gear in a storage unit near the airport in Perth. It does mean we have to fly Jakarta to Perth with the dive bags, but off airport storage is so much cheaper than airport storage at PER or CGK. We'll also be to unpack the bags and let things air out in the air-conditioned unit.

We have the necessary Australian e-visas, but want to know if anyone has used smartgates at an Australian entry airport (https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/smartgates/arrivals)? I assume it will make entry faster than manual passport control, but any advice from the knowledgeable travelers on this site would be appreciated. Is it as easy as the web site suggests?
 
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I was in Melbourne airport at the end of May and the lines were just as long at the smart kiosks as they were with the live agents. So I went to talk to a person.
 
Have not seen them. Our past two visits have been through Gold Coast Airport ( a little south of Brisbane). Last time we were through in 5 minutes flat. Time before 10 minues.
 
I used the ePassport kiosk (I think that's what they are called) when I arrived in Sydney from LA the day after Christmas 2022. Wait was short. Basically I scanned my passport face down, answered a couple of questions, and then took the ticket that the kiosk spit out. Then proceeded to line up to hand the ticket and my customs declaration form to a border agent, who directed me lane 6 (exit). Those who had things to declare were directed to other lanes to have their luggage x-rayed. The whole process (from using kiosk to entering the arrival hall) took maybe 10 minutes. Very easy and smooth.
 
Thanks lucky dude. Sounds like it's what we want. I'll update the thread for others once we return.
 
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