The Home Office has confirmed that new contactless technology will be introduced at eGates across 13 UK airports from October 6, allowing passengers to pass through without showing their passport. The upgrade is due to complete at every eGate by early 2027.
Passengers arriving in the UK will soon pass through airport eGates securely without having to show their passport. Instead of manually scanning passports or showing them to Border Force officers, passengers will simply 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 checks are complete.
How the contactless system works
The Home Office said the contactless system uses state-of-the-art facial comparison technology to verify a passenger’s identity before the UK’s robust border security checks are carried out in full. Legitimate travellers can then simply walk through, without needing to place their passport on the eGate reader.
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 to offer assistance, and passengers are advised to keep their passports with them at all times.
Faster processing and rollout
According to the Home Office, testing shows the new contactless system is up to 25% faster than using a passport on an eGate. The change follows the Home Office’s decision in July to extend eGates to children aged eight and nine years old 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.”
“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.”
Rollout begins at East Midlands Airport
The contactless system will be introduced in phases, with the rollout starting 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.”
“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.”
“This complements changes that we carried out to our immigration hall recently to help improve the flow of arriving passengers through the area.”
eGates are available at 13 airports across the UK, with the new contactless system due to be rolled out at these locations by early 2027: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, and Stansted.
