The Home Office has confirmed that new contactless technology at eGates will allow passengers arriving at 13 UK airports to pass through without showing their passports, with the rollout beginning on October 6, 2026.
Instead of manually scanning passports or showing them to Border Force officers, passengers will approach the eGates and have their photo taken. The system will check this live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information, and the eGate will open automatically once the checks are complete.
Phased rollout and completion timeline
The Home Office said the upgrade is due to complete at every eGate across the 13 airports by early 2027, with the process having started last month. The contactless system uses facial comparison technology to verify a passenger's identity before border security checks are carried out in full.
If further checks are required, passengers will have to place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer, as is currently the process. Border Force officers will continue to monitor all eGates, and passengers are advised to keep their passports with them at all times.
Faster processing and expanded eligibility
According to the Home Office, testing shows the new contactless system is up to 25% faster than using a passport on an eGate. This follows a change in July that extended eGate use to children aged eight and nine who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall.
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.” He added: “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.”
First airport and full list of locations
The rollout starts at East Midlands Airport, initially for British Citizens, before expanding to more airports and other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months. Steve Griffiths, managing director of East Midlands Airport, said: “We’re delighted to be the first UK airport to have contactless eGates introduced by Border Force.” He added: “As an airport committed to providing an effortless travel experience, we welcome any technological innovation that can help to safely make our customers’ journeys smoother, swifter and simpler.”
The 13 airports with eGates where the new system will be rolled out by early 2027 are Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.
