Cyprus authorities have placed an order for 40 state-of-the-art ABC Gates which are expected to be received by the end of this year and put into operation in the passenger halls of the island's two airports as soon as possible, Minister of Justice and Public Order Costas Fytiris has said.
He explained that this is done in the context of preparing for the operation of the European Entry-Exit System and the replacement of all passport control equipment.
Fytiris provided a reply to a parliamentary question by DISY MP George Pamboridis in relation to the effectiveness of the control system currently in force and the fact that passengers, after using the automated system, are also referred for control by a Police Officer.
In his response, dated 11 August, the Minister explains that with the accession of Cyprus to the Schengen area and the lifting of internal border controls, the operation of the so-called Interactive Kiosks will no longer be in operation. Fytiris said that their selection was made on the basis of a comparison of the technological solutions that existed at the time and mainly due to their speed and much smaller volume, and therefore the limitations in the passenger lounge areas, they were preferred over the Automated Border Control (ABC) Gates.
He said that the Kiosks are self-service systems used to collect and process passenger data, such as reading a passport, taking a photo and various additional checks. However, he noted that after the completion of the procedure at the Border Patrol, the intervention of a Passport Control Officer is still required to verify the traveler's identity, check the travel document and make the final decision on entry or exit. On the contrary, ABC Gates are fully automated border control systems, which also use biometric technologies.
A Passport Control Officer is still required to verify the traveler's identity
The Minister further said that their use is considered particularly effective in cases of reduced staffing, as it contributes to improving passenger service and more effective management of available human resources.
He said that according to figures in 2025, within the framework of passport controls carried out through Border Patrol, 65.60% were related to the Passenger Granted reference code, which corresponds to a non-positive indication.
Additionally, 13.00% had to do with the the reference code Ml (Minor), which constitutes important information for Passport Control Officers and helps to save time, in order to confirm that the minor is traveling accompanied by his/her parents or guardians for the purposes of preventing parental abduction and other related serious offenses.
The remaining 21.40% of cases required further control due to positive indications, in the context of automated checks in national and European databases, security checks, as well as additional checks in accordance with the established procedures applied by Passport Control Officers before making the final decision.
National authorities
In another question from the DISY MP, the Minister replies that the personnel of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) serving at the airports have been seconded at the request of the Republic on the basis of an EU Regulation and serve under the Administration of the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Cyprus Police.
He explains that these border guards carry out checks at the post designated by the Officer of the service, as do the rest of the staff, including the control of the printed receipts issued at the Kiosks. Fytiris further explained that Frontex staff, on the basis of the Regulation, have executive powers, however, with their secondment, they are placed under the orders of the national authorities.
He said that they perform the duties of an immigration officer, in passport control, checking the authenticity of travel documents and in conducting secondary checks under the instructions of the Passport Control Center Service Officer, who has the final responsibility for border control.
In another question, he explains that the possibility of implementing an electronic scanning system for receipts issued by Kiosks, by incorporating a QR code into them, through electronic gates (e-Gates) has been explored, which was however not approved as it would slow down the overall processing time of passport control.
(Source: CNA)
