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

(SPOT.ph) Heads up, travel bugs: Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 has rolled out new passenger facilities—and yes, the much-awaited biometric immigration e-gates are finally here.

As part of the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation’s ongoing modernization push, the airport is entering its next upgrade phase. Think a shift from manual immigration to e-gate processing, a new food hall, and a lineup of passenger-friendly amenities designed to make the whole experience smoother. Could this be the moment where the vacation actually starts at the airport? If you’re flying out of NAIA this holiday season, here are the new tech upgrades and facilities to watch out for.

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Starting December 16, a total of 78 biometric immigration e-gates are being rolled out across NAIA under a phased deployment. You might recall an earlier e-gate launch back in September 2025, but that rollout was limited to security, check-in, and bag drop. This latest update takes things a step further by integrating with the Bureau of Immigration's systems, extending biometric technology to immigration checks themselves. According to the NNIC, the new system enables eligible passengers to complete immigration clearance in about 20 seconds, which theoretically could help ease congestion during peak travel periods.

E-gate access boils down to two things: your passport and your airline. At the moment, e-gate operations are still in Phase 1. This means only Overseas Filipino Workers are eligible to use the departure e-gates. On arrival, however, all Filipino passport holders may pass through the arrival e-gates. That said, eligibility also hinges on your airline—some carriers have yet to fully integrate with the new system, which means their passengers won’t be able to use the e-gates just yet.

The good news? More airlines are coming on board by the day, with the long-term goal of allowing all NAIA passengers to use the e-gates in future phases. For now, travelers who aren’t eligible will still need to proceed through manual immigration.

If you’re eligible to use the biometric e-gates, here’s what you’ll need to have ready before heading to immigration:

• A duly accomplished eTravel form

• Your valid passport

Once you’re at the e-gates, the process is pretty straightforward. Open your passport to the information page, scan it when prompted, look into the cameras, and you’re good to go. It’s very similar to how the existing arrival e-gates work.

These new e-gates—already operational at Terminals 1 and 2—are powered by Amadeus, a global travel technology company that provides advanced solutions to airports, airlines, and border authorities worldwide. It's the same provider used by airports like the Western Sydney International Airport and Germany's Stuttgart Airport for some of their passenger services, so yes, somehow we're in great company. Amadeus' software uses biometric identity verification and document authentication to streamline processing, while also double-checking with the security requirements of border authorities.

Beyond the tech updates, NAIA Terminal 3 is also getting new spaces where passengers can relax and dine before they fly out. Prior to this launch, many of you may have already dined at the 22 stand-alone restaurants at the over 6,800-square-meter Mezzanine Food Hall, but apart from officially opening that space to the public, NNIC also launched its sibling, another food hall called Tambayan. Unlike the Mezzanine Food Hall’s mix of continental and Filipino fare, Tambayan is all about Filipino food. The newly opened 6,200-square-meter space features 17 homegrown brands, putting local flavors front and center. This new space can accommodate over 2,000 passengers, giving travelers who arrive early (and hungry) a space to fill up before they go.

These food halls aren't the last dining spaces to open in NAIA. According to the NNIC, they are also preparing to open another Food Village—this time at the airside, i.e., the area beyond immigration and security. Though there isn't a final opening date as of writing, NNIC promises that this upcoming dining space will feature a mix of well-known local and international brands like Bebang Halo-Halo, The Cozy Kitchen, Lechon Diva, Bo’s Coffee, Mamak, Pho Hoa, Aristocrat, Cinnabon, Potato Corner and many more.

Beyond these two major updates to good ol’ NAIA Terminal 3, there’s also a newly inaugurated Dignitaries Lounge—though it’s not exactly open to the general public. The 200-square-meter space serves as a formal reception area designed to accommodate up to 61 guests during official engagements, offering a more private and polished welcome or departure within the terminal.

If you're more likely to fly out of NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 then don't worry, the improvements to those parts are on the way—maybe just months away, actually. According to the NNIC, Similar passenger facilities and system improvements are also being developed in other terminals to improve operational flow and consistency across the entire airport system.

These improvements are part of the New NAIA initiative, a public-private partnership designed to revamp and modernize Manila's primary gateway.

For more information, visit NAIA's Facebook page.

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