No More Immigration Interviews at NAIA? DOTr Wants to Make It Happen

(SPOT.ph) Passing through immigration can be one of the more nerve-racking parts of traveling abroad, but what if you could skip the interview altogether? The Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon wants to make that possible at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

On October 30, Dizon proposed allowing all departing and arriving passengers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to use automated immigration gates, potentially eliminating the need for routine face-to-face interviews with immigration officers.

He said automated systems should already be able to verify passengers' identities. Instead of interviewing everyone, authorities could just focus on travelers flagged for further screening.

“Diba sa ibang bansa, kahit foreigner ka, e-gate na? We have to discuss this with BI, pero ang security, kung nagagawa ng ibang bansa, puwede rin dapat nating gawin. Hindi tayo dapat nakokontento,” Dizon said.

Also read: LOOK: NAIA T3 Opens New Biometric Immigration e-Gates + Two New Food Halls

Although NAIA already has automated immigration gates, expanding access to everyone would require coordination with the Bureau of Immigration (BI), which operates under the Department of Justice (DOJ) rather than the DOTr.

While the BI has not yet publicly responded to Dizon's proposal, NAIA previously explained in September why access to the e-gates remains limited.

“The BI has to ensure that automated processing meets the same screening and security requirements as manual immigration counters, including safeguards against human trafficking, immigration violations, and other border security concerns,” NAIA said. “This phased approach is also used in other countries, where access to automated border control systems has expanded over time rather than opening to all passengers at once.”

For now, there's no announced implementation date. Even if approved, the proposal wouldn't abolish immigration checks entirely. Passengers flagged by the system could still undergo interviews.

The airport's new biometric immigration gates were officially launched in December 2025, with a phased rollout at Terminals 1 and 3.  Unlike the older automated arrival gates, the new system also allows certain departing passengers to clear immigration without the usual interview.

Under the latest eligibility guidelines released in September 2026, departing Filipino passengers must fall under one of three categories: tourists who have traveled abroad before, OFWs with valid Overseas Employment Certificates, or registered Filipino emigrants.

They must also be at least 18 years old, have an electronic passport valid for at least six months, updated eTravel information, and no matches in the BI's derogatory records.

For arriving passengers, the rules are simpler. Only Filipino passport holders may currently use the arrival gates. They must have a valid electronic passport, updated eTravel information, no derogatory record matches, and meet the equipment's height requirement of 1.2 to 1.8 meters. There is no age restriction for arrivals.

If you're eligible, make sure you've registered through the official eTravel website or eGovPH app within 72 hours before your arrival or departure. At the airport, simply scan your passport at the e-gate and look at the camera for facial recognition. Once verified, the gate will open, allowing you to proceed without the usual immigration interview.

 Also read: A Proposed BI Fee Could Add P480 to Your Next International Trip