Arriving at London’s airports is about to get quicker, with a new contactless border system rolling out across the UK.
The technology replaces the need to place a passport on an eGate reader. Instead, passengers approach the gate, have their photograph taken, and the system compares the live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information. If the checks pass, the gate opens automatically.
Testing has shown the contactless system can be up to 25% faster than using a passport on a standard eGate.
The phased rollout began at East Midlands Airport on October 6, initially for British citizens. The Home Office expects contactless eGates to be available at all UK airports by early 2027 — including London Heathrow and London City.
Other airports in the rollout include Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.
There is one important catch: passengers must still carry their passport. If further checks are needed, travellers may be asked to place their passport on the reader or speak to a Border Force officer, as under the current system.
“The facial technology verifies a passenger’s identity before the UK’s immigration and security checks are completed,” the Home Office says. Border Force officers will continue to monitor the eGates and provide assistance.
British citizens are the first group able to use the contactless system. Other nationalities already eligible for eGates are expected to be brought into the system during the rollout, with existing eligibility rules otherwise unchanged.
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