A major upgrade has just arrived at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, aimed at making the immigration process faster and easier for foreign travelers. To cut down on wait times and improve the flow of passengers, the government has officially introduced 90 new autogates, offering a smoother experience for those entering or leaving the country.
These new autogates, managed by the Directorate General of Immigration, are divided between the airport’s two main international areas: 60 are dedicated to arrivals, while 30 are set up for departing passengers. The system is designed to be fast and efficient, ensuring a seamless transition through immigration checks.
Silmy Karim, the Director General of Immigration, explained that the installation of these machines is a major step forward in service efficiency, helping to alleviate the congestion often seen at immigration checkpoints. He emphasized the speed of the process, stating, “Within just 15 to 20 seconds, the autogate completes an automatic check of citizenship documents. This significantly reduces waiting times for travelers,” he said during the grand launch of the autogate system at Ngurah Rai Airport in Nusa Dua, Bali, on October 1, 2024.
The convenience provided by these machines is particularly noticeable in the international arrivals section, where foreign nationals can now bypass the traditional, lengthy manual counters. Each visitor’s passport is automatically verified for validity, matched with biometric data via an electronic chip, and cross-checked against immigration and Interpol databases to ensure security.
“Our main objective is to cut down service times at international arrival points, especially considering the high volume of international tourists visiting Bali every day. The entire process takes just 15 seconds,” Silmy added.
The system is not just limited to arrivals. In a bid to ease the departure process for tourists heading back to their home countries, 30 autogates have been placed in the international departures section. Passengers no longer need to worry about enduring long wait times to exit Indonesia, as passport checks, data verifications, and security screenings through Interpol systems are all handled swiftly by the automated system.
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“With autogates at departures, travelers no longer have to face the hassle of exiting the country. Just like at arrivals, everything is automated, and it takes less than 20 seconds,” Silmy explained.
Despite the significant number of autogates already in use at Ngurah Rai, Silmy assured that the government is ready to increase the number of units if necessary, especially considering Bali’s status as one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations. “If the need arises, we will certainly add more autogates to ensure maximum comfort for tourists and international travelers,” he noted.
This move aligns with Indonesia’s broader goal of enhancing service quality at key international entry points, particularly in major tourist hubs like Bali. Silmy highlighted the role of these autogates in modernizing and improving the country’s immigration services, making them among the most advanced and efficient systems in the region.
With Bali consistently attracting large numbers of international visitors, the introduction of these autogates is seen as a crucial step toward ensuring that the island’s immigration processes keep up with the rising demand, while also setting a new standard for efficiency in the region.
