Juan Santamaría International Airport, the primary gateway to Costa Rica, has announced plans to upgrade its immigration process through the introduction of electronic migratory gates, or eGates, a technology aimed at expediting passenger flow and modernizing the travel experience.

This initiative, set to commence in July 2025, is spearheaded by Aeris Holdings S.A., the management firm responsible for the airport's operations.

Ricardo Hernandez, a representative of Aeris Holdings, detailed the phased implementation of the eGates, which initially will cater to Costa Rican nationals.

As the systems are evaluated and refined, the service will extend to travelers from other regions, including the United States and Europe, specifically those in possession of biometric passports.

The strategic roll-out of this technology is part of a broader effort to increase the airport's capacity and improve the efficiency of its operations.

Current plans envisage the installation of eGates in both arrival and departure areas, which, once operational, are expected to reduce individual processing times to between 10 and 15 seconds.

This technological enhancement is the result of a collaborative effort between Aeris and the Directorate General of Immigration (DGME) to streamline the overall immigration process.

A crucial part of the airport upgrade involves the adaptation of existing kiosks to accommodate these new facilities.

This will include four eGates in the arrivals section—three of them standard and one designed for passengers with reduced mobility—as well as two eGates at the exit points.

A monitoring station will be in place to manage the new systems and ensure seamless operation, despite the shift to automated processing.

To fund this ambitious project, a technical fee of 14 cents will be levied on each outgoing passenger.

This fee will finance the purchase and installation of the necessary equipment, including servers, monitoring stations, and interfaces, and will also cover ongoing support and maintenance to ensure the technology remains current.

The anticipated benefits of the eGates have been well-communicated to stakeholders, with airlines being briefed on the changes and expressing their support.

Aeris Holdings is reportedly in the final stages of securing a contract with SITA, a leading provider of IT services for the air transport industry, to supply the necessary technological infrastructure.

By 2030, Aeris Holdings aims to update the eGate systems to prevent obsolescence, ensuring continued efficiency and enhanced passenger experience at Juan Santamaría International Airport.