Children aged eight and nine can now use e-gates at UK airports from today, the Home Office has announced. The change comes ahead of the peak summer season and lowers the previous age limit from ten years old.
New rules for families
Previously, families with younger children were forced to queue for passport booths instead of using the faster facial recognition technology. Children must be at least 120cm tall and accompanied by an adult to use the e-gates. The Government suggests up to 1.5 million additional children will benefit from the policy change.
Airports and ports affected
The new rules apply to the UK's 13 airports with e-gates, which includes Manchester Airport, as well as ports in Brussels and Paris where juxtaposed checks take place. 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."
Eligibility for e-gates
The UK has nearly 300 e-gates available to British nationals and citizens from various countries including EU nations, Australia, Canada, Japan, and the US.
