Singaporeans first foreigners to use automated immigration lanes at Bangkok airport
A Singaporean passenger uses an automatic gate to check himself through immigration clearance at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday. Photo: Bangkok Post
BANGKOK — Singapore tourists visiting Bangkok can now use automated gates to clear immigration at Suvarnabhumi Airport, the first foreigners allowed to do so by the Thai authorities.
“Singapore is the first country to be allowed to use this Auto Gate at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The Immigration Bureau of Thailand will consider adding other countries to the list for the Auto Gate in the near future,” said the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore in a statement on Facebook on Sunday (Aug 20).
“At the Auto Gate, the system will record passenger information and fingerprints for identification on subsequent trips. It can also be linked to airlines’ check-in systems to verify passengers’ identities.”
The embassy said that Singaporeans who are visiting Thailand for purposes other than tourism would still need to apply for visas and go through the normal immigration channels.
Singaporeans have welcomed the news. “Grateful to the Thai authorities for allowing this,” wrote Mr J Y Sim on TODAY’s Facebook page.
“Using it next month with my new passport!” wrote another user.
The automated passport control system has been available for Thai nationals since 2012 and more than 20 million have used it, said Immigration Bureau commissioner Nathathorn Prousoontorn.
He added that the bureau decided to make it available to foreign visitors in order to speed up immigration clearance. Singapore was chosen based on an analysis of security and on a reciprocal agreement, as Singapore was now considering allowing Thai nationals to use its automatic gates as well, he added.
There has been growing public dissatisfaction with the immigration service at Bangkok’s two international airports, with travellers outraged earlier this month when they faced four-hour waits after a number of delayed international flights arrived simultaneously at Don Mueang airport.
The bureau will consider using the system at other airports such as Don Mueang and Phuket. AGENCIES
