In welcome news for overseas arrivals at Australia’s busiest hub, Sydney Airport has added eight new Australian Border Force (ABF) SmartGate kiosks at its T1 International Terminal, boosting inbound processing capacity by 640 travellers per hour.
The rollout is part of a joint plan between Sydney Airport and the Australian Border Force (ABF) to introduce 40 new SmartGate kiosks in the terminal, aiming to bring faster processing, stronger security and a better experience for international passengers.
The consolidation of existing SmartGate units into central clusters, combined with these new additions, has already seen wait times drop by 10 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024.
Now, around 90 per cent of inbound passengers are clearing immigration within just 36 minutes, a significant 12-minute improvement over the past 18 months, even as international passenger volumes increased by 14 per cent.
By early 2026, the NSW gateway says another 32 SmartGates will go live, doubling the number of kiosks and easing the load on frontline officers, who’ll have more time to assist those who need it.
“Delivering these eight kiosks in under six months demonstrates the strength of our partnership with the Australian Border Force,” said Scott Charlton, Sydney Airport CEO.
“We applaud the Albanese Government for demonstrating flexibility and innovation in how public assets can be procured, as it allows acceleration of improved services and makes Sydney more competitive on the global stage.
“Being early adopters of this approach reflects our commitment to working hand-in-hand with government to deliver outcomes that benefit passengers, the economy, and the broader aviation sector.”
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The upgrade is part of a wider investment across the precinct. At T1, security screening is also getting an overhaul, with new CT scanners that will lift capacity by nearly 30 per cent and let passengers keep laptops and liquids in their bags.
The airport says the improvements underline its commitment to making travel smoother, faster and more passenger-friendly.
“We welcome this collaboration with industry to ensure passengers have a streamlined entry into Australia,” ABF Commander Belinda Conn said.
“The Australian Border Force’s priority remains protecting and upholding the nation’s border control, and with increased access to technological enhancements, we hope that traveller’s experiences will be seamless from gate to gate.
“ABF officers will always be on site to assist travellers through the border clearance process.”
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke added, “When a tourist reaches Australia, I want them straight out there enjoying Sydney as soon as they can.”
This new initiative should help Sydney Airport achieve that.
Earlier this month, Sydney Airport reported its strongest-ever quarter for international traffic, with 4.32 million international passengers passing through the terminals in Q1 2025.
