Passengers arriving at UK airports will be able to pass through border control without scanning their passports from 6 October, as the government begins a phased rollout of new contactless eGate technology across the country.
According to GOV.UK — wiadomości rządowe, the system will use facial recognition to verify travellers’ identities against immigration, travel and passport databases before carrying out full security checks. Once verified, eGates will open automatically, allowing people to walk through without placing their passport on the reader.
Testing has shown the contactless technology is up to 25 per cent faster than the current system, which requires passengers to scan their passport at the gate. The upgrade will be completed at all UK airports with eGates by early 2027.
Phased introduction across UK airports
The rollout begins at East Midlands Airport on 6 October, initially for British passport holders only. Other airports will follow in the coming months, with the technology gradually extended to other nationalities already eligible to use eGates.
eGates are currently available at 13 UK airports: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted. The government has confirmed that software updates rather than physical replacements will enable the new system.
Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, said the change would make journeys “smoother and faster” while fully maintaining border security. He noted that the digital transformation builds on summer changes that extended eGate access to children aged eight and above.
Steve Griffiths, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, welcomed being the first to introduce the technology, saying it complements recent improvements to the immigration hall designed to improve passenger flow.
Security protocols remain in place
Passengers who require additional checks will still need to place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer, as happens under the current system. Officers will continue to monitor all eGates and provide assistance when needed.
The government emphasised that all passengers must still carry their passports at all times, even though they may not need to scan them. Signage will be installed to guide travellers through the new process.
The contactless system forms part of wider border modernisation efforts outlined in the government’s Immigration White Paper. Recent changes include the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, which allows officials to identify potential security risks before people travel to the UK.
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, said the technology demonstrates how UK airports remain at the forefront of innovations that keep borders safe while improving the travel experience.
What this means for Poles in the UK
Polish citizens living in Britain who hold British passports will be able to use the contactless eGates from 6 October at East Midlands Airport, with other airports following over the coming months. The system should reduce queuing times by up to 25 per cent when returning from trips abroad.
Those travelling on Polish passports will need to wait until the technology is extended to other eligible nationalities in the months ahead. Poland is among the countries whose citizens can currently use UK eGates, so Polish passport holders should eventually benefit from the faster system.
Dual nationals should travel on a valid British passport or hold a Certificate of Entitlement to minimise potential delays at the border, according to government guidance. Even with contactless technology, all passengers must carry their physical passport, as it may still be required for additional checks.
Families with children aged eight or over can already use eGates together, and the new contactless system should make family travel through UK airports even quicker once fully rolled out across all 13 airports by early 2027.
