A new contactless system will soon allow passengers arriving in the UK to pass through airport eGates without needing to show their physical passport, the government has announced. East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire became the first location to introduce this technology on Tuesday.
The Home Office stated that a nationwide rollout across all UK airport eGates is planned by early 2027. The contactless setup utilises facial technology to capture a passenger's image and verify it against official travel, passport, and immigration records.
Once cleared, the gate opens automatically, removing the need to place passports on a reader. The government indicates that testing showed the new system is up to 25% faster than current eGate passport use. Border staff will continue to monitor eGates, and the Home Office advises passengers to keep their passports with them at all times.