Passengers arriving in the UK will soon be able to pass through eGates without presenting their passports, following a significant rule change set to take effect in early 2027. The Home Office has confirmed that all UK airports will be equipped with contactless eGates by that time, and many airports have already begun implementing the new system.
East Midlands Airport became the first to introduce the new system this week, using facial recognition technology to scan passengers as they approach. After capturing a photograph, the system cross-references the passenger against verified immigration, travel and passport information. The gate then opens automatically once the checks are completed, meaning passengers no longer need to place their passport on the eGate reader.
How the contactless eGates work
Passengers approach an eGate and have their photo taken. The system checks this live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information, and the eGate opens automatically once these checks are complete. Should further checks be required, travellers will need to place their passport on the reader or may be directed towards a Border Force officer, as is currently the case.
Border Force officers will continue to oversee all eGates, offering assistance where needed, and passengers are advised to keep their passport on them at all times. The system employs facial recognition technology to confirm a passenger's identity before the UK's border security checks are carried out in full.
Rollout timeline and airport list
The gradual rollout kicks off in October, with the upgraded system starting at Birmingham and East Midlands airports over the next few weeks. By early next year, the 'contactless borders' will be introduced across other UK airports that already have e-gates in place, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.
The phased rollout begins at East Midlands Airport, initially for British citizens, before being extended to further airports and other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months. Testing has revealed that the new contactless system is up to 25% faster than using a passport at an eGate.
Official responses and background
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. 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."
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, said: "This will be excellent news for the passenger and demonstrates how UK airports continue to be at the forefront of new technologies to keep our borders safe, while improving the travelling experience. It is vital that we have the fast, efficient borders that arrivals into the UK now expect, and we will work closely with our members and government officials to ensure a smooth rollout."
Chris Wilson, Head of Terminal & Capacity Planning at Birmingham Airport, said: "We're pleased to be one of the first airports in the UK to introduce UK Border Force's contactless eGates. Working closely with our industry partners and government agencies, we have actively supported the rollout of the new UK Border Force system here at Birmingham Airport. Passengers arriving into the UK stand to benefit from a quicker and more seamless journey through border control."
Millions of travellers already make use of eGates every year, widely regarded as the fastest way for legitimate visitors to enter the country. This represents the latest move in the government's ongoing drive to modernise the UK border, delivering on the Immigration White Paper.
Earlier this year, e-gates at UK airports were extended to accommodate younger children, permitting those aged eight and nine returning to the UK to make use of the technology. Children must be at least 120cm in height so they can be detected by the biometric scanners, and must be accompanied by an adult. Under the previous regulations, only passengers aged 10 and over were permitted to use the gates, meaning families with younger children had to queue at passport control booths. In addition to the 13 UK airports equipped with e-gates, children aged eight and nine are now also able to use them at ports in Brussels and Paris, where juxtaposed border controls operate.
