New Passport Rules Set to Be Implemented for All Passengers at Gatwick Airport
The contactless system uses facial recognition to speed entry and may be up to 25% faster, Border Force officials said.
- Gatwick Airport implemented facial-recognition eGates this week, allowing passengers to enter the UK without presenting physical passports by matching biometric data against official records.
- Early testing indicates the new contactless technology is up to 25% faster, supporting a nationwide initiative to modernize border control that will cover all UK airport eGates by early 2027.
- Passengers simply approach the gate to have their photo taken; Phil Douglas, director general of Border Force, called the system "a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country."
- Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, said the technology keeps UK airports at the "forefront of new technologies," though officials advise travellers to keep their passports with them at all times.
- This upgrade, which began at East Midlands Airport for British citizens, will gradually expand to major hubs including Heathrow, Manchester, and Stansted, complementing the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme.
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20 Articles
Basingstoke Gazette
New passport rules implemented for all passengers at Gatwick Airport
Passengers arriving at Gatwick Airport can now pass through eGates without showing their passports under new rules.
From October 2026 Passport Rules Are Changing For Anyone Traveling to The UK
Anyone who has landed at a busy British airport after a long transatlantic flight knows the routine. Stand in a snaking line, shuffle forward, and finally lay a passport flat on a glass reader while a gate decides whether to let you through. That last step is about to disappear for many travelers. The UK [...]
Traveling from Poland to the UK will become much faster. British airports are introducing a revolutionary update to their border control systems. New e-Gates at airports in London and beyond will allow for lightning-fast border crossings. Find out what's changing, who is affected by the new regulations, and how to prepare for your next flight. New e-Gates without having to pull out your passport […]
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