UK airports have lowered the minimum age for eGates use from today, as they brace themselves for the peak summer holiday rush. An estimated 1.5 million more children will be able to use the eGates at the UK border, as children aged eight and nine returning to the UK are now eligible to use the facial scanners.
New eGates rules for children
Children aged eight and over can use the eGates as long as they are travelling with an adult and are at least 120cm tall (3ft 11in). Under previous rules, only passengers aged 10 and above were allowed to use the gates, meaning families with younger children were forced to queue for passport booths.
As well as the 13 UK airports with eGates, eight and nine-year-old children will now be able to use them in Brussels and Paris, where return checks take place.
Impact on summer travel
Today’s change comes as the summer getaway season ramps up, with schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland having recently broken up for the holidays. Minister Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, said: "Today’s change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday. It will also free up more time for tourists to enjoy our fantastic country this summer and in the years ahead."
Border Force director-general Phil Douglas previously said increasing access to eGates enabled “highly skilled officers to focus on intercepting those who pose a threat to the UK”. There are over 290 eGates in place at 15 air and rail ports to enable quicker travel into the UK. These are available to Brits and those from the European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the US.
EU entry system reminder
The Government added that families heading to Europe are being reminded to be aware of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and check with their travel operator for the latest information. The bloc's Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out on April 10, requiring UK passport holders heading to the Schengen Area to create a digital record, including submitting fingerprints and facial scans.
