The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will begin activating new Immigration eGates in Terminals 1 and 3 starting December, the NAIA Infrastructure Corporation announced.

Powered by Amadeus and operated by the Bureau of Immigration, the eGates are part of an automated border-control system that uses passport scanning and facial recognition to speed up both arrivals and departures.

The first set of eGates is set to go live this December, with full rollout expected early next year.

NAIA Infra Corp. explained that the eGates were funded by the National Network Infrastructure Company (NNIC) and installed in coordination with the Bureau of Immigration. They will complement existing biometric-in, pre-security, and boarding systems already being implemented across the airport.

“With NAIA now handling over 50 million passengers annually, these upgrades will help keep lines moving and make travel smoother for everyone,” the statement read. “More improvements are coming soon.”

The announcement comes shortly after Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez inspected NAIA facilities on November 22. The inspection was part of the Department of Transportation’s preparations for the expected holiday passenger surge, following the President’s directive to ensure all terminals, ports, and airports are fully prepared for the busy season.

Travelers can expect faster processing at immigration checkpoints starting this December as NAIA moves toward a more automated and efficient system.