From Wednesday 8 July, children aged eight and nine returning to the UK will be permitted to use e-gates at 15 airports across the country, the Home Office has confirmed. The policy change is expected to allow up to 1.5 million additional children to use the automated border control system, which employs facial recognition technology to verify passengers' identities against their passport photographs.
Eligibility and Requirements
Children must be at least 120cm tall to be detected by biometric scanners and must be accompanied by an adult. Previously, the minimum age for e-gate use was 10, meaning many families had to queue at passport control desks. The new rule applies to British citizens and nationals from the European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, as well as registered traveller service members.
List of UK Airports with eGates
The 15 UK airports equipped with e-gates 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 e-gates at ports in Brussels and Paris, where juxtaposed border controls operate.
Government and Official Reactions
Migration Minister Mike Tapp stated: “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.”
Impact on Tourism and Efficiency
Patricia Yates, chief executive of VisitBritain, 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, remarked: “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.”
The UK currently has nearly 300 e-gates. With increased usage, the Border Force expects waiting times at passport control to decrease for all passengers.
