Gate security systems use authentication methods to operate hardware components that grant or deny access to restricted areas. Each context has specific requirements to determine user admissibility. There are currently no design recommendations available for these systems despite their significance. Most research proposes designs based on their recommended authentication scheme without providing general guidance on constructing these systems. This study follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and conducts a systematic literature review, combining recent research on smart gates. Studies published between 2016 and 2023 are analyzed and evaluated to identify their main components and authentication schemes. A total of 52 research papers published in various journals and conferences were collected. After conducting the review, three main design themes were identified: smartphones, tags, and biometrics. These themes were the focal point of the study. Out of all the designs, 66% only consider using one-factor authentication. These designs primarily rely on biometricbased methods. During the COVID-19 crisis, some designs used biometric authorization instead of identity authentication to incorporate health status. The focus was detecting whether the person wore a face mask and had a normal body temperature. Furthermore, the review reveals that most studies disregard the system's hardware components and focus on authorization. Also, only 25% of the studies have conducted an implementation for their design and produced results evaluating their performance. The study concludes that a successful smart gate design must consider and balance cost, usability, and security. Furthermore, health status needs to be verified as an additional layer of protection after determining existing authentication requirements.