UK passport eGate replace: contactless know-how coming to 13 airports – full record
The Home Office has confirmed a new October passport rule at 13 airports across the UK. As of October 6, new contactless eGate technology will be introduced at these UK airports
eGates at UK airports will gradually switch to new contactless technology from this October (Stock)(Image: Getty)
The Home Office has announced new passport regulations will hit 13 UK airports this month.
From October 6, innovative contactless technology will be rolled out at eGates across British airports to accelerate security procedures and provide smoother experiences for travellers.
The change means passengers entering the UK will shortly pass through airport eGates safely without needing to present their passport. The upgraded contactless system is set to be implemented at every eGate by early 2027.
Instead of manually scanning passports at eGates, or presenting them to Border Force personnel, travellers will simply walk up to the eGates and have their photograph captured. The system will then verify this real-time image against confirmed immigration, travel and passport data. Then the eGate will automatically open once these verifications are completed.
The Home Office has announced changes (Stock)
The Home Office stated the contactless system employs cutting-edge facial recognition technology to confirm a passenger’s identity before the UK’s border security checks are conducted. Genuine travellers can then simply proceed through – without requiring to place their passport on the eGate scanner.
Should additional verifications be necessary, passengers will then need to position their passport on the reader or they may be referred to a Border Force officer. Border Force personnel will continue to oversee all eGates to provide support. And passengers are recommended to carry their passports with them constantly, reports the Express.
According to the Home Office, trials demonstrate the new contactless system is up to 25% quicker than using a passport on an eGate. This follows the Home Office’s decision to alter the age restriction for passengers who can use UK eGates back in July. The change allows children aged eight and nine who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall to use the gates.
Phil Douglas, director general of Border Force, said: “This is a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country. By using state-of-the-art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the UK’s robust border security.
The Home Office has said the changes will make passport checks quicker (Stock)
“Our digital transformation also builds on our work this summer to extend eGates to children aged eight and above, making life a little easier for families.”
The contactless system will be launched in stages, with the deployment beginning at East Midlands Airport, initially for British Citizens. It will later extend to additional airports and other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months.
Steve Griffiths, managing director of East Midlands Airport, said: “We’re delighted to be the first UK airport to have contactless eGates introduced by Border Force.
“As an airport committed to providing an effortless travel experience, we welcome any technological innovation that can help to safely make our customers’ journeys smoother, swifter and simpler.
“This complements changes that we carried out to our immigration hall recently to help improve the flow of arriving passengers through the area.”
eGates are available at 13 airports across the UK, with the new contactless system due to be rolled out at these locations by early 2027.
The locations include:
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- East Midlands
- Edinburgh
- Gatwick
- Glasgow
- Heathrow
- London City
- Luton
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Stansted
