Access to e-gates at UK airports has been extended to include younger children, the Home Office has confirmed, just as the busy summer holiday season gets underway. From Wednesday, children aged eight and nine returning to the UK are eligible to use the automated e-gates.
How the E-Gates Work
The gates use facial recognition technology to check passengers’ identities against the photo in their passport, which is generally quicker than manual inspections. However, specific conditions apply: children must be at least 120cm tall to be seen by biometric scanners, and must be accompanied by an adult. Previously, only passengers aged 10 and above were permitted to use the e-gates, often forcing families with younger children into longer queues for passport control booths.
Impact on Summer Travel
The policy to cut the minimum age means up to 1.5 million additional children will be able to use them, the Government suggests. Most schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland recently broke up for the summer holidays, while those in England and Wales will do so later this month. In addition to the 13 UK airports with e-gates, children aged eight and nine are also now permitted to use them at ports in Brussels and Paris, where juxtaposed checks take place.
Official Statements
Border security minister Alex Norris 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.” The UK has nearly 300 e-gates. Border Force director-general Phil Douglas previously said increasing access to e-gates enabled “highly skilled officers to focus on intercepting those who pose a threat to the UK”.
Eligible Nationalities
UK e-gates are available to Britons as well as 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.
