The Home Office has announced that from July 8, children aged eight and nine returning to the UK will be eligible to use eGates at 14 airports across the country. The move expands access to up to 1.5 million additional children, allowing families to bypass manual passport control queues.
How eGates Work
eGates use facial recognition technology to verify passengers' identities against the photo in their passport, typically faster than manual inspections. Children must be at least 120cm tall to be seen by biometric scanners and must be accompanied by an adult. Currently, passengers under 10 are banned from using eGates, forcing many families to queue at passport booths.
Airports and Ports Included
The 14 UK airports with eGates are: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Newcastle, Cardiff, East Midlands, Southampton, and Southend. Additionally, children aged eight and nine can use eGates at ports in Brussels and Paris where juxtaposed checks take place.
Official Statements
Migration minister Mike Tapp said: “Travel with young children can be stressful for parents. By expanding eGate access, more families can experience a swifter and smoother journey home – freeing up precious time this summer holiday season. We are delivering continued improvement to the passenger experience, while keeping our borders safe and secure.”
Border Force Director General Phil Douglas added: “eGates are an essential part of keeping our border secure. Expanding access for families will deliver safe, smooth journeys whilst freeing up highly-skilled officers to focus on intercepting those who pose a threat to the UK.”
Eligibility and Benefits
UK eGates are available to British nationals and nationals from the European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the US. They can also be used by members of the registered traveller service. The Border Force said using an eGate typically takes just minutes, and increased usage should reduce queue times for all passengers.
Patricia Yates, chief executive of Visit Britain, said: “We want to provide a world-class experience for the millions of visitors who travel here every year. Expanding eGate access boosts our competitive tourism offer and our message of welcome, inspiring even more visitors and families to book a trip to Britain this summer and beyond.”
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, said: “This is a welcome development as it will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many. Airports work very hard with border authorities to ensure the UK’s front door is both secure and welcoming, with those coming home and visiting enjoying a smooth experience.”
