United Kingdom Introduces Contactless Airport eGates

• The UK is rolling out contactless airport eGates that use facial recognition technology, allowing eligible travelers to pass through border controls without scanning their passports.  

New eGates Rolled Out at Designated Airports 

The Home Office and Border Force have begun rolling out a new contactless eGate system at UK airports. The technology, launched on Oct. 6, 2026, is intended to speed up passenger processing while maintaining existing border security checks. All UK airport eGates are expected to be upgraded by early 2027.  

Contactless Border Processing 

Under the new system: 

• Travelers approach an eGate and have their photograph taken; 
• Facial recognition technology verifies their identity against immigration, travel and passport records; and 
• The eGate opens automatically once checks are complete.  

Eligible travelers generally will not need to place their passport on an eGate reader, although passports must still be carried and may be requested for additional checks.  

Faster Arrivals 

According to Border Force, testing found the new system is up to 25% faster than the current passport-scanning process.  

Phased Rollout 

The rollout began at East Midlands Airport for British citizens and will expand to additional airports and other travelers already eligible to use UK eGates.  

What Travelers Should Know 

If additional verification is required, travelers may be asked to scan their passport or speak with a Border Force officer. Officials will continue monitoring all eGates during the transition.  

The initiative is part of the UK’s broader border modernization efforts, which also include the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) program and expanded eGate access for children.  

Looking Ahead 

As implementation continues through early 2027, travelers entering the UK can expect a more streamlined arrival experience while existing immigration and security screening measures remain in place.  

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