Electronic passport gates down WORLDWIDE causing huge airport queues

Electronic passport gates are reportedly down worldwide leaving thousands of passengers needing their details processed manually.

Travellers in Catania, Italy, and in the Australian cities of Melbourne a Sydney have been affected.

Gatwick passengers have also reported long queues after the automated system rejected 1 in 3 passports.

Celebrity chef Adam Liaw said he was stuck in Sydney Airport along with hundreds of other of passengers.

He wrote on Twitter: "The SmartGate system is down at Sydney Airport and there are THOUSANDS of passengers waiting in line to be processed manually. This is going to take HOURS."

Another said: "Chaos at Melbourne airport- Immigration!! Machines down!"

Issues have been reported around the world (@juliascott /Twitter)

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Custom Borders Protection in the United States said: "Due to a global IT issue with @CBP Automated Passport Control, passengers travelling to the US may experience longer than normal processing times.

"If you're departing to the US from Toronto, please allow extra time when leaving for the airport.