The Home Office has started switching UK airport eGates to contactless technology that checks a live photo of the passenger against verified immigration, travel and passport information, so most passengers will not need to place their passport on the reader. In a release published on 6 October, it said: "From 6 October, eGates at UK airports will gradually switch to the new contactless technology, with every eGate set to be upgraded by early 2027."
What changes
The Home Office said: "The phased 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." It says testing shows the contactless system is up to 25% faster than placing a passport on the reader.
The passport is still needed. The release says: "If further checks are needed, passengers will need to place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer, as happens today." It adds: "Border Force officers will continue to monitor all eGates offering assistance, and passengers should keep their passport with them at all times." For dual nationals, it says: "Dual nationals should travel on a valid British passport or hold a Certificate of Entitlement to minimise any potential delay at the border."
eGates currently operate at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.
What it means for operators
For now the Home Office names only East Midlands, for British citizens, so arrival planning elsewhere stays as it is until your airport is confirmed. When it reaches the airports you use, do not build meet and greet timings around the faster figure for the whole party: anyone flagged for further checks goes back to the reader or to an officer, and mixed-nationality groups will move at different speeds until other nationalities are added. Principals and team members should keep passports on them through the arrivals hall, and dual-national principals should travel on a British passport or hold a Certificate of Entitlement to avoid delay.
