UK airport e-gates are being upgraded to use contactless technology, allowing eligible travellers to enter the country without physically presenting their passports at the border. The new system has begun operating at East Midlands Airport as part of a wider UK government rollout that is expected to reach airports across the country by early 2027.
The initial phase is limited to British citizens, but the government plans to make the technology available to other eligible nationalities as the system expands. The change is intended to make border processing faster while allowing Border Force to continue carrying out immigration and security checks.
East Midlands Airport is the first UK airport to introduce the new contactless e-gates. Steve Griffiths, managing director of East Midlands Airport, welcomed the introduction, saying technological improvements that make passenger journeys “smoother, swifter and simpler” were a positive development.
Government testing indicates that the contactless process can be up to 25 percent faster than presenting a physical passport at an e-gate. The rollout also builds on changes introduced during the summer that allowed children aged eight and above to use e-gates in eligible circumstances. Phil Douglas, director general of UK Border Force, said the changes should make border crossings easier for families as well as other travellers.
The new system relies on facial comparison technology. When an eligible passenger reaches the e-gate, a camera captures a live image of their face. That image is then compared with verified immigration, travel and passport records held by the authorities.
If the system confirms the traveller’s identity and there are no issues requiring further examination, the gate opens automatically. The passenger can then continue into the UK without having to place their physical passport on the reader.
The process will not eliminate the need for passports altogether. If the automated system cannot complete the necessary checks, a traveller may be asked to present their passport or speak to a Border Force officer. Officials are therefore advising passengers to keep their passports with them even when using a contactless e-gate.
Border Force officers will continue to monitor the e-gates and assist passengers who encounter problems. The technology is designed to automate part of the process, rather than remove human border control entirely.
British citizens who hold another nationality are also being advised to take particular care when travelling. The government recommends that dual British nationals return to the UK using a valid British passport or carry a Certificate of Entitlement. Doing so can help avoid delays or questions about their right to enter the country.
The contactless e-gates are currently available at East Midlands Airport, but the programme is due to expand. Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted are among the airports scheduled to receive the technology as the rollout continues.
The UK currently has more than 290 conventional e-gates operating across 15 air and rail ports. These gates are available to British and Irish citizens and to certain other travellers who meet the eligibility requirements, including people travelling with an Electronic Travel Authorisation, or ETA.
The ETA system, introduced in February, allows the UK authorities to assess eligible visitors before they travel. It is part of the country’s broader move towards a more digital border system, with more immigration and security processes being completed electronically before and during a traveller’s journey.
For passengers, the introduction of contactless e-gates could mean less time spent handling documents after landing. But the transition will be gradual, and travellers should not assume that they can enter the UK without carrying a valid passport simply because an airport has introduced the new technology. The passport remains an important travel document, particularly when automated checks cannot be completed.
The government expects the wider e-gate upgrade to be completed by early 2027. As more airports adopt the system, the UK will move closer to a border process in which facial recognition and digital records handle more of the routine identity checks, while Border Force officers remain responsible for cases requiring additional assessment.
