Federal Police to Start Testing Electronic Passport Control in Guarulhos

09/26/2014 - 11h00

Still in testing, a security express lane, for Brazilians entering and leaving the country, started working on Thursday (25) at Cumbica's International Airport in Guarulhos (Sao Paulo).

16 devices known as "e-gates", the first in the country, allow passengers to make their own the process of passport control for immigration and emigration. The idea is to reduce the queue at one of the main bottlenecks areas of the airport.

The device has two glass barriers - and it is used in two steps. It checks whether the document is valid and it also does facial recognition.

To use the machine, you must be over 18 and have a passport with a chip; a standard in Brazil since January 2011.

HOW TO KNOW

Responsible for operating the "e-gate," the Federal Police issued 7.47 million passports with chip from 2011 until August 2014. These documents have a chip on the cover, under the word "passport".

The Federal Police will test the equipment until January 2015; the next day, the use will be released to everyone. Since then, the intention is that 30% of travelers will arrive or leave the country from Guarulhos using the device.

The remaining 70% will enter just like they do today, with outsourced staff.

Common in airports around the world, "e-gates" have the potential to reduce, from 3 minutes to 30 seconds, the time for passport control. US$ 8.7 million is the cost paid by GRU Airport, which manages Cumbica's International Airport.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA

	Davi Ribeiro/Folhapress
	Federal Police agent tests electronic passport control in Guarulhos airport, that intend to ease arrivals