NEWS FLASH
Sixteen eGates or automated self-service passport control machines have been delivered to Serbia as part of plans to streamline passport control procedures at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. In a statement to EX-YU Aviation News, Serbia’s Minister for Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, said, “The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia has acquired sixteen electronic gates which were delivered to Belgrade in July. Everything is ready for their installation. As we are now at the height of the summer season and the installation of the electronic gates would take at least three weeks, during which passport processing capacity would be reduced by 25%, we made the decision to begin with their installation in September. We simply could not risk reducing the flow of passengers at passport control during the summer rush”.
The use of the eGates will commence in October, which is expected to expedite passport control procedures five-fold. “We reached an agreement with the airport to initially have trained personnel assist passengers with the use of the eGates in case they did not have the opportunity to use them in the past. All passengers will receive flyers with instructions on how to use these gates. They will be distributed upon arrival, as well as on board Air Serbia flights. Our goal is to get as many passengers as possible to use these gates, as they will expedite passport check procedures and will require fewer police officers at passport control”, Mr Vesić said.
eGates usually involve a two-step process. Passengers first scan their passport after which the first gate opens. The traveller’s photo is then taken for facial recognition, after which a second gate is opened, and the passenger can continue onwards with their journey. Airports are increasingly using eGates with Singapore Airport becoming the first in the world since June to process all incoming passengers from all countries using eGates.
Excellent news!
ReplyDeleteWhat happened with previous egates. I used before around 5 years
DeleteSo I'm guessing 8 on arrival and 8 on departure? Not bad at all.
ReplyDeleteFinally
ReplyDeleteWill these be for Serbian passports only or for everyone?
ReplyDeleteI think there is no airport in the world where this service is available for everyone. It is mostly for domestic passport holders and as it is the case in FRA for EU + CH, USA, CAN, KOR passengers.
Delete^ Read the last statement. It is available in Singapore to everyone.
DeleteIn Milan Bergamo and in Italy eGates are for UK, USA, CAN, KOR, AUS, NZL, JPN, Singapore, Taiwan, Vatican, Israel beside EU and EEA citizens.
DeleteDXB, AUH, DOH everybody can use eGates after the initial registration (you only go to the immigration officer on your 1st entry).
DeleteI think we should follow a reciprocity principle.
DeleteIf country X allows Serbian passport holders to go through their eGates then we should allow the holders of this country's passport to do the same in BEG.
If not then they would que for a manned passport control booth.
Just my2cents
eGatesare for golden billion; LOL just kidding. it will reduce congestions so it is bonus.
DeleteAt London Gatwick airport after arrival we were directed to egates. It was flight from Zürich. Only people who needed visa had to go to immigration officer
DeleteFrom which age can the e-gate be used?
ReplyDeletegenerally 12+. just travelled with little kids via singapore, staff had to assist with kids to overide the issue a parent was holding the child up for the camera to tkae the photo
DeleteIn Milan Bergamo it's 14+ years, I guess it's a Schengen wide rule.
DeleteIn Belgium it is 1.5m height, while in germany at some airports its 12+.
DeleteAMS is 14+ as well.
DeleteStriking a deal with EU to use each others egates would be amazing, but unlikely.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily, after the introduction of EES there will be no longer passport stamps and given the fact that Serbia has visa-free access to Schengen countries it could happen that both sides can use the eGates
DeleteMinister failed to provide three key anwers:
ReplyDelete- List of countries/passports those machines be able to process?
- How many machines on departures and how many on arrivals?
- Why were those machines not installed and in-use way BEFORE summer 2024 season started, or as Ministry announced last September by 31 Dec 2023? https://www.exyuaviation.com/2023/09/belgrade-airport-to-get-passport-egates.html
I was hoping these would be installed before my flight in August, I'm not Serbian but would be interested in seeing how the traffic changes in immigration. I guess I will see how it works in November. Would be nice to see the members of the Open Balkan Initiative have use of these machines (Serbia obviously, North Macedonia, and Albania).
ReplyDeleteI use Belgrade airport often and it can be hit and miss about waiting times. However i tend to find the wait for passport and security compares well to other airports. Yes i've seen disaster days, but more ofteb than not i'm through the airport in minutes. The biggest issues i see in BG are useless air con! (It's always too warm) and ugly appearence of large parts of the cheap construction used to redevelop the airport.
Deletegood points
DeleteI used it in Singapore last month. It's such a bliss! So easy. By the way, Macedonian passport had no problem, I believe it would be the same for all the passports that have no visa requirements for Serbia?
ReplyDeleteFrom disembarkation to taxi 15mins! Amazing.
Bravo Belgrade airport.
In Tirana you can use e-gates with our (Serbian) passports. I was suprised, it was super quick.
ReplyDelete@11.31 I was immigrating via an officer in Bogota, but when I left, I could use the machine.
ReplyDeleteWas surprised.