Border control and customs processes may need to be temporarily revised to increase physical distancing.
Where equipment already exists, the use of automated border control (ABC) equipment, digital passenger identification (biometrics) as well as technology (thermal screening) could serve as an additional health screening measure and could speed up the immigration process, with the objective of reducing queuing and minimizing contact between border officials and passengers.
Furthermore, some governments are requiring passengers to complete health declarations or health attestations before departure or on arrival as an initial assessment measure, which could be used to identify passengers that might need a secondary assessment.
​Considerations
- Coordination with various border regulatory authorities (e.g., immigration, health) should be established for measures facilitating the clearance of entry/arrival, such as enabling contactless processes (e.g., relating to the reading of passport chips, facial recognition).
- Where declarations are needed on arrival, governments should consider electronic options (e.g., mobile applications and QR codes) to minimize human-to-human contact. Information could be sent in advance via government portals. For customs formalities, where possible, green/red lanes for self-declarations are recommended.
- The identity verification process should be automated with the use of biometric technology. Use of contactless technology, automated border control or eGates should be encouraged in order to enhance transaction time and limit interaction between passengers, officers and staff.
- If needed by relevant regulations, smart thermal cameras can be installed to scan the temperature of multiple passengers rapidly and unobtrusively.
- During initial stages of recovery and if needed, secondary health assessments could be set to maintain the main general flow of passengers.
- For flights arriving from higher-risk areas where there are cluster or community transmission, a particular section of the arrivals terminal could be utilized to increase physical distancing, and/or smart thermal cameras could be placed at appropriate locations to screen arriving passengers, in consultation with the public health authorities.
Health Declaration
Transfer
- Develop health screening arrangements whereby passengers and property are not rescreened at transfer locations based on mutual recognition of health screening measures between the States in the travel itinerary.
- Where transfer security screening is needed, it should follow appropriate sanitary requirements as previously described in the departure process.
Means for uniform implementation
- Collaborate with relevant authorities for cost-effective solutions that protect the public.
- Collaborate with relevant authorities and airlines to develop efficient and cost-effective solutions that protect the travelling public.
- Work with governments and authorities if a health declaration is to be implemented.
- Greater use of standardized digital identity management solutions.
- Use the Airport COVID-19 Cleaning / Disinfection Control Sheet (PHC Form 3) or a similar one where appropriate.
