Sydney Airport today announced the installation of eight new Australian Border Force (ABF) SmartGate kiosks at the T1 International Terminal, in a move that will boost inbound international passenger processing capacity by 640 travellers per hour.
The rollout stems from a joint 2024 agreement with the ABF, under the government's new procurement policy, for Sydney Airport to procure 40 additional SmartGate units, which the ABF will operate. This approach helps airports manage growing passenger numbers, maintain border security and provide a smooth passenger experience.
The eight new kiosks complement the consolidation of existing SmartGate units into central clusters in Pier B and Pier C. This combination helped reduce wait times by 10 per cent in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024, with 90 per cent of inbound passengers clearing immigration within 36 minutes. This represents a 12-minute improvement over the past 18 months, with international passenger volumes increasing 14 percent over the same period.
By early next year, a further 32 new SmartGate kiosks will be deployed across the international precinct, doubling the total number of kiosks in the terminal. With the full network operational, passenger flows will accelerate further, freeing up frontline officers to assist travellers requiring extra assistance.
"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."
The Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Home Affairs said, "When a tourist reaches Australia, I want them straight out there enjoying Sydney as soon as they can."
ABF Commander Belinda Conn said the increased kiosks at Sydney Airport will continue to boost the ABF workforce's capacity to assist and clear passengers efficiently.
"We welcome this collaboration with industry to ensure passengers have a streamlined entry into Australia," Commander 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."
The deployment of additional SmartGate kiosks is part of Sydney Airport's wider capital investment program at the T1 International Terminal, with upgrades to security screening well underway.
Seven of fifteen new CT scanning lanes are already operational, with the balance to be completed by year-end, with the works anticipated to boost screening capacity by nearly 30 per cent and allow passengers keep laptops, liquids and aerosols in their carry-on bags.
Combined with a $200 million T2 Domestic transformation and a T3 food and beverage refresh, this investment underlines Sydney Airport's commitment to streamlining operations and enhancing the traveller experience across the entire precinct.
