NAIA May Allow All Passengers to Use Immigration E-Gates

Travelling internationally from the Philippines could soon become more convenient as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) considers expanding the use of automated immigration gates at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has proposed allowing all arriving and departing passengers to use immigration e-Gates, potentially eliminating routine face-to-face interviews for travellers who successfully pass automated screening.

Dizon shared the proposal with members of the media on 30 October 2026, explaining that the system should be capable of identifying passengers who are prohibited from leaving the country. The initiative aims to make airport processing faster and reduce long queues at immigration counters, particularly during peak travel seasons.

NAIA May Allow All Passengers to Use Immigration E-Gates

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Currently, NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 have automated e-Gates installed in their departure and arrival areas. However, access remains limited to passengers who meet the Bureau of Immigration's (BI) existing eligibility requirements.

For departing passengers, eligible groups currently include:

• Registered Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Balik-Manggagawa workers, including land-based workers and seafarers.

• Qualified foreign nationals admitted under the 30-day visa-free entry arrangement who have not extended their stay.

• First-time Filipino immigrants with a valid Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) certificate.

• Foreign passport holders admitted under the Balikbayan Program.

• Filipino tourists with previous short-term international travel of no more than 90 days who have not previously been repatriated.

Meanwhile, arrival e-Gates are currently available only to eligible Filipino passengers.

Under Dizon's proposal, these restrictions could eventually be expanded to cover all arriving and departing travellers, allowing more passengers to complete their immigration clearance through automated systems instead of routinely lining up for manual interviews.

Will Travellers No Longer Need to Answer Immigration Questions?

If implemented, the proposed system could significantly change the usual airport experience for Filipino travellers.

Instead of going through routine face-to-face questioning at an immigration counter, passengers who pass the automated screening process could proceed through the e-Gates.

The system is also expected to help immigration authorities identify individuals who are subject to travel restrictions or require further assessment.

However, this does not mean that immigration checks will be completely removed. Passengers flagged by the system may still be referred for additional inspection or questioning by immigration officers.

Travellers must also continue complying with existing immigration requirements and ensure that their travel documents are complete and valid.

When Will the New NAIA E-Gate System Take Effect?

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For now, the expanded e-Gate access remains a proposal, and no official implementation date has been announced.

Until the Bureau of Immigration introduces new guidelines, passengers must follow the existing eligibility requirements when using automated immigration gates at NAIA.

Nevertheless, the proposed expansion could be a welcome development for international travellers, especially Filipinos who regularly experience long immigration queues before departing for their trips.

If approved and implemented, the initiative could make airport immigration processing faster and more convenient while allowing immigration officers to focus on passengers who require additional screening.

For now, travellers should still prepare their passports, supporting documents and other travel requirements before heading to the airport.