From Wednesday, July 8, a major security rule change at UK airports will allow children aged eight and nine to use eGates, provided they are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and accompanied by an adult. The change, confirmed by the UK Government in May, is expected to benefit up to 1.5 million more children annually, speeding up journeys for families during peak summer travel.
New Age and Height Requirements
Previously, only passengers aged 10 and above could use eGates, with under-17s requiring an adult. The new rules lower the minimum age to eight, but children must still be accompanied by an adult. Eligible children must have a biometric passport (indicated by a symbol on the cover). The government states that using an eGate typically takes just minutes, which should reduce queue times at passport control for all passengers.
Impact on Families
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, 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."
Airports with eGates
As of July 2026, eGates are available at 14 UK airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, London City, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Newcastle, Cardiff, East Midlands, Southampton, and Southend. 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."
Eligibility for eGates
To use eGates, passengers must be a British citizen, a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, or the USA, or a member of the Registered Traveller Service. The change is expected to ease travel for families returning from holidays this summer.
