The Home Office has announced that contactless technology will be introduced at eGates across 13 UK airports from October 6, allowing eligible passengers to enter the country without presenting their passport. The upgraded system is scheduled to be implemented at every eGate by early 2027.
How the contactless eGates work
Instead of manually scanning passports at eGates or presenting them to Border Force personnel, travellers will walk up to the gates and have their photograph captured. The system will verify this real-time image against confirmed immigration, travel and passport data, and the gate will open automatically once checks are completed.
The Home Office said the contactless system uses facial recognition technology to confirm a passenger's identity before border security checks. Genuine travellers can proceed without placing their passport on the scanner. If additional verification is needed, passengers will be asked to position their passport on the reader or may be referred to a Border Force officer, who will continue to oversee all eGates. Passengers are advised to carry their passports at all times.
Faster processing and rollout details
According to the Home Office, trials show the new contactless system is up to 25% quicker than using a passport on an eGate. The change follows the Home Office's decision in July to lower the age restriction for eGate use, allowing children aged eight and nine who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall to use the gates.
The contactless system will be launched in stages, beginning at East Midlands Airport for British Citizens, and will later extend to other airports and other nationalities eligible for eGates over the coming months.
Reactions and full list of airports
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."
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. 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 where the new contactless 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.
