Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency Ranks 4th Globally for Best Airport Immigration Service in 2025 Skytrax Awards

• Date： 2025-04-10
• Source：Border Affairs Corps
• Hit：188
• Updated date：2025-04-14

The National Immigration Agency’s (NIA) Border Affairs Corps has earned global recognition in the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards, securing 4th place in the World’s Best Airport Immigration Service category. This prestigious accolade places Taiwan just behind Hong Kong International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Bahrain International Airport. Skytrax, a UK-based independent non-profit organization, has conducted annual global airport evaluations since 1999. The 2025 assessment was based on passenger surveys collected from over 100 countries between August 2024 and February 2025. Referred to as the “Oscars of the aviation industry,” the Skytrax awards are widely recognized as a benchmark for excellence in air travel services. Evaluation criteria for the immigration service category include waiting times, queuing systems, priority lanes, e-gate systems & efficiency, efficiency and courtesy of immigration staff. The NIA’s climb from 5th place last year to 4th this year is a testament to the dedication and efforts of its personnel and serves as a source of great encouragement and pride.

Director-General Bill Chung of the NIA remarked that in pursuit of enhanced border clearance services, the NIA accelerated the implementation of new generation e-Gate systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2024, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the nation’s primary gateway, completed the installation of 49 new e-Gates, adding to the 22 existing ones, bringing the total to 71 now operational. In addition, the NIA has launched construction of 27 more e-Gates across Kaohsiung, Songshan, and Taichung airports, as well as the upcoming Kinmen Shuitou Port Passenger Service Center. Of these, Kaohsiung Airport's new e-Gate facilities have already entered trial operations as of March 2025. The older e-Gates will be fully phased out to accommodate the increasing passenger volume and provide a more seamless and efficient travel experience.

To further expand accessibility, as of January 1, 2025, the minimum age for e-Gate usage has been lowered to 10 years, and the height requirement adjusted to 120 centimeters. This policy applies equally to nationals without household registration in Taiwan who hold a valid biometric ROC passport. The new generation e-Gates offer advanced features including integrated enrollment and clearance, real-time facial recognition during movement, and support for 40 languages. Travelers can enroll their biometric data (facial image and optionally, fingerprints) directly within the gate for immediate use. Moreover, all foreign nationals may utilize the e-Gate upon departure from Taiwan.

Director-General Bill Chung extended a warm invitation to all eligible nationals to experience the convenience of the new e-Gate service. He emphasized the NIA’s ongoing commitment to leveraging technology to enhance border management, provide a safe and efficient clearance environment, raise passenger satisfaction, and elevate Taiwan’s global image.