UK begins contactless airport border checks at East Midlands
The government plans to upgrade all UK e-gates by early 2027 and extend access beyond British citizens to other eligible nationalities.
British citizens arriving at East Midlands Airport can now use a small number of contactless e-gates that check their identity without requiring them to present a passport. The launch marks the start of a phased introduction of the technology at UK airports.
The government said it intends to complete upgrades to all the country’s e-gates by early 2027, with other eligible nationalities also due to gain access. Tests found that the contactless process was up to 25 per cent faster than checks involving a physical passport.
The gates photograph arriving passengers and compare that image with verified passport, travel and immigration data. The barrier opens automatically when checks are cleared. Travellers needing additional checks may have to scan their passport or see a Border Force officer.
Officials said passengers should still carry their passports. The government said Border Force staff would continue to supervise the gates and provide help. Dual British nationals are advised to enter using a valid British passport or to hold a Certificate of Entitlement to avoid possible border delays.
The rollout will also cover Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted airports. The UK currently has more than 290 standard e-gates across 15 air and rail ports. Phil Douglas, Director General of the UK’s Border Force, said the contactless initiative follows work during the summer to make e-gates available to children aged eight and older.
