New E-Gates for Thai Passports Debut at Suvarnabhumi Airport

[webfact]

 

On 1st July 2023, Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthiphol Ithisarnronnachai, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, inspected the new automatic passport control gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

 

Welcomed by Pol. Maj. Gen. Cheeringron Rimphadee, the inspection highlighted the introduction of new e-gates designed to streamline the passport control process for Thai nationals.

 

Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthiphol explained that the new Automatic Channels, a project supported by Airports of Thailand (AOT), will be phased in gradually. Initially, 13 of the planned 56 new e-gates have been activated at the departure area.

 

Once complete, these new gates will enhance the current setup, which only had 16 e-gates, significantly speeding up the process. For now, these will serve only Thai citizens, while foreign nationals will continue using the older systems, reported Siam Rath.

 

The system’s efficiency has been validated, with Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthiphol noting that each passenger takes no more than 20 seconds to process through the new e-gates. This marks a significant improvement in travel efficiency and passenger convenience at the airport.

 

Furthermore, preparations are underway to test the biometric capabilities of these gates fully. Once these tests, conducted in collaboration with AOT, are successful, the new gates will also cater to foreign travellers.

 

During his visit, Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthiphol also shared a meal with on-duty immigration officers, ensuring their welfare by stressing the importance of good quality and tasty food. He expressed gratitude towards AOT for their continued support and cooperation with the Immigration Bureau.

 

This new initiative is set to enhance the operational efficiency at Suvarnabhumi Airport, ensuring smoother and faster processes for passengers, with ongoing improvements and expansions in the pipeline.

 

Picture courtesy: Siam Rath

 

-- 2024-07-02

 

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[webfact]

Bangkok airport’s automatic passport control ready for check-in
by Ryan Turner

 

Image courtesy of KhaoSod

The head of the Thai Immigration Bureau inspected the readiness of Suvarnabhumi International Airport’s new automatic passport control channels, which will start being used by Thai citizens tomorrow, July 3. He also took the time to dine with the immigration officers, expressing the need to uphold their welfare.

 

The Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Ittipol Ittisarnronnachai, visited the immigration checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where Immigration Bureau Chief Cherngron Rimphadi warmly received his arrival.

 

Ittipol revealed that the visit was to check the readiness of the newly installed automatic passport control channels. The project, supported by the Airports of Thailand (AoT), aims to enhance the efficiency of the immigration process.

 

Initially, 56 automatic channels will be installed at the departure area, up from the previous 16 channels. Today, July 2, 13 of these channels will be operational, with the rest to follow soon. In this initial phase, the system will first be used exclusively for Thai nationals.

The Immigration Bureau received confirmation from AoT that the automatic passport control channels for Thai passports are fully functional. The process takes no more than 20 seconds per individual.

 

The AoT will conduct further tests to integrate the system with the Immigration Bureau’s biometric systems before it is opened to foreigners.

 

During his visit, Ittipol took the opportunity to dine with the on-duty immigration officers, sharing the same meal provided for their welfare. He emphasised the importance of good quality, sufficient quantity, and delicious-tasting meals for the officers. He also extended his gratitude to the AoT for their support of the Immigration Bureau operations, reported KhaoSod.

 

The introduction of these new automatic channels is part of a broader initiative to modernise and streamline the immigration process at one of the busiest airports in the region. Located in the heart of the kingdom, Suvarnabhumi Airport is a primary gateway for international travellers, and the new system is expected to handle a higher volume of passengers more efficiently.

 

The long-term plan includes expanding the automatic passport control channels to the arrival area, once the initial phase proves successful. The use of biometric data aims to enhance security and speed up the immigration process, ensuring that both Thai citizens and international visitors can pass through the airport with minimal delay.

 

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-02

 

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[isaanistical]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

For now, these will serve only Thai citizens, while foreign nationals will continue using the older systems

Used to be that I could go through the "Thai" section with my wife (usually making the process a lot faster). Anyone know if that has been discontinued now?

[ChrisY1]

57 minutes ago, isaanistical said:

Used to be that I could go through the "Thai" section with my wife (usually making the process a lot faster). Anyone know if that has been discontinued now?

Just doit....you won't be stopped.

[ChrisY1]

I thought the original article some time ago was a great initiative....now reading it's only for Thais, it's so damn backward.

The long queues to enter will prevail...as will the queues to leave.

[BigStar]

44 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

I thought the original article some time ago was a great initiative....now reading it's only for Thais, it's so damn backward.

 

Good they're testing it out on Thais first and iron out the bugs using them. Otherwise, farang would flood the forums with whinges and sneers.

 

46 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

The long queues to enter will prevail...as will the queues to leave.

 

Predictions here are a baht a dozen. Wait and see.

 

 

[sfbandung]

I have always gone with the missus in the Thai Passports section. Last time she used the automatic gate and I went to a manned one. Suvarnabhumi was busy but we were through security and immigration in 15 minutes. It has improved out of sight. Credit where it is due. The following morning we landed in Sydney and it was an absolute nightmare. Like it always is there.

[john11k]

I always gone through the thai line/gate with my wife and daughter 

Never any trouble, actually always very welcoming and smile

Technology passed me by years ago,  I like things the old way, where you have somebody to talk with and sort it there and then if there is a problem 

Twenty years of coming through suvarnabhumi airport. I’ve never had one second of trouble, they are always very helpful and welcoming 

[Thumbs]

Immigration and technology omg, took them 2-3 yrs to get the 90 day report to a workable level 

[ashkale]

There seems to be rush everywhere to get rid of manned immigration...suppose big data is super happy!

[rickray]

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

I thought the original article some time ago was a great initiative....now reading it's only for Thais, it's so damn backward.

The long queues to enter will prevail...as will the queues to leave.

I went through Suvarnaphum last week and the egates worked fine, went through in a breeze, no hassles.

[renaissanc]

They could easily programme a gate or two for resident foreigners. We're all in their database. Maybe they will think about doing this in 5-10 years.

[Will B Good]

Flew back Thursday......flashed my marriage extension and explained my wife was waiting for me.....could I go through the Thai passport section?.....yes sir, no problem. Happy days.

[ashkale]

I suspect it will be done by end of the year for all passports.

[Olav Seglem]

2 hours ago, isaanistical said:

Used to be that I could go through the "Thai" section with my wife (usually making the process a lot faster). Anyone know if that has been discontinued now?

If you are 70+ you can use it as "priority cate".

Getting old has it advantages over the other option 🙂

 

[Purdey]

Digitizing the paper residence certificates so that they are linked to a passport or passport owner is making more sense. That way, it wont be necessary to go to immigration to get a reentry permit but get one online and that is linked immediately to the passport holder. Should speed everything up at the airport.

[Caldera]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

During his visit, Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthiphol also shared a meal with on-duty immigration officers, ensuring their welfare by stressing the importance of good quality and tasty food.

 

Heartwarming. 

[yankee99]

what was wrong with the egates they previously had?

[Mazungu]

I went through Suvarnabhumi last Wednesday at 11 PM and was shocked that there was practically no line at Immigration. Each Immigration line only had 1 or 2 persons waiting. I've been coming here for 10 years and never saw it like that. Normally it can be a 30 minute wait. I don't know why it was like that but I hope it lasts!

[zackxx]

My work colleague, an American farang, had a white-coloured Thailand Certificate of Residence book that he would show Thai Immigration whenever he was exiting or entering Thailand. Our business travel was extensive and we would often travel together but I only had a one year Business Visa, extended annually. 

 

One would think that my colleague would pass through Thai immigration much quicker than I but the opposite was true. Why? Because Thai immigration officers were so unfamiliar with the "white book" that my colleague had and so were not quite sure what to do. Typically they had to call for their superior to come sort it out.

 

This hassle put me off for applying for Thai residency.

 

[superal]

This auto system does not work for me at arrivals in Heathrow . Then , after waiting to use the auto system which failed for me I was told to join the back of the long zig zag  queues for the I/O p/p control . 

These auto systems are a pain ( even when checking in at Heathrow ) and a staff member often has to help . 

         In a similar way , UK supermarkets and DIY stores are using a self service check out that often has long queues , to cut back on staffing levels . I have seen customers leave their shopping trolleys , rather than use these auto systems .

There is often confusion from infrequent users and the elderly .

If these systems break down there is mayhem with literally thousands of travelers stranded and the lack of I/Os means that there are delays at PP control of 5, 6, 7 hours as happened at Heathrow last year . 

Expensive and not necessary , just employ more staff .

[craighj]

TIT

 

13 of the 56 implemented and for Thai's rather than non Thai's.  

 

It is unfortunate that we don't have people in this organisations that can think in anyway other than politically.

 

Get them implemented quickly, trial with the non Thai's who are more compliated (take more time manually to process) to process and are generally tourists and maintain them correctly so they keep working!!!

 

Also, 20 seconds to process???  If it takes longer than 5 or 6 secounds then you need to tighten the rubber bands!

 

[sikishrory]

Ah yes, the "debut" of the electronic gate at suvarnabhumi for about the fifth time now.

It's like they built a spaceship or something. 

"Look at our amazing gate again" 

[paahlman]

1 hour ago, Thumbs said:

Immigration and technology omg, took them 2-3 yrs to get the 90 day report to a workable level 

More on the funny side... I remember we fought with the online registration at least 15 years ago. So it took more than 2-3 years.. Its still half working.. Most of the time it works now, but not always still.

[jiss2a]

3 hours ago, isaanistical said:

Used to be that I could go through the "Thai" section with my wife (usually making the process a lot faster). Anyone know if that has been discontinued now?

Done it 2 weeks ago with my thai wife, no problem...eventhough I'm on retirement extension

[NanLaew]

3 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

3 hours ago, isaanistical said:

Used to be that I could go through the "Thai" section with my wife (usually making the process a lot faster). Anyone know if that has been discontinued now?

Just doit....you won't be stopped.

 

But let your wife or Thai partner be processed FIRST. My experience, since voiced by others, the pencil neck at the desk can cop an attitude if you go first or, as in my case, put your foreign passport on top of the Thai passport if you go side-by-side.

 

YMMV

[DPKANKAN]

On 1st July 2023, Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthiphol Ithisarnronnachai, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, inspected the new automatic passport control gates at Suvarnabhumi Airport. 55555555😁😁😁😁😁😁

[bob smith]

E-gates reserved for Thai nationals only...

 

Just like everything else in this protectionist cesspit!

 

bob.

[retayl]

E gates at British airports are for UK passport holders  only, I assume it will remain the same in Thailand as foreign passports have to be stamped with the visa expiry date.

[richard_smith237]

8 minutes ago, bob smith said:

E-gates reserved for Thai nationals only...

 

Just like everything else in this protectionist cesspit!

 

bob.

 

 

Your bullshyite bias and persistent negative rhetoric against all things Thai is blinding you so severely lack a basic ability to comprehend what is in front of you.... 

 

 

After a 'testing phase' the new gates will cater to foreigners. 

 

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Furthermore, preparations are underway to test the biometric capabilities of these gates fully. Once these tests, conducted in collaboration with AOT, are successful, the new gates will also cater to foreign travellers.