The Home Office has expanded access to e-gates at UK airports to include children aged eight and nine, effective from Wednesday. The change comes as the peak summer holiday period begins, with schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland already on break and those in England and Wales set to follow later this month.
New Eligibility and Requirements
Under the previous rules, only passengers aged 10 and above were allowed to use e-gates, forcing families with younger children to queue for manual passport inspections. Now, children aged eight and nine can use the gates provided they are at least 120cm tall—so they can be seen by biometric scanners—and are accompanied by an adult. The government estimates that up to 1.5 million additional children will benefit from the policy change.
How E-Gates Work
The gates use facial recognition technology to verify passengers' identities against the photo in their passport, offering a quicker alternative to manual checks. The UK has nearly 300 e-gates in operation at 13 airports. Additionally, children aged eight and nine can now use e-gates at ports in Brussels and Paris, where juxtaposed checks take place.
Official Reaction
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.”
Eligible Nationalities
UK e-gates are available 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. Members of the registered traveller service can also use them.
Broader Impact
Border Force director-general Phil Douglas previously noted that increasing access to e-gates enables “highly skilled officers to focus on intercepting those who pose a threat to the UK.” The expansion is expected to streamline border processing during the busy summer season, benefiting both returning residents and tourists.
