Contactless eGates start at UK airports: how they work

What changed on 6 October

The Home Office announced on 6 October 2026 that UK airport eGates will gradually switch to contactless technology. The change is phased rather than immediate, and it applies to the eGates already in use at UK airports. Every eGate is set to be upgraded by early 2027. The announcement sets out a timetable that begins with a single airport and widens over the coming months.

Under the new process, passengers approach an eGate and have their photo taken. The system checks the live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information. The eGate opens automatically once the checks are complete, with no need to place the passport on the reader. This differs from the established routine in which a traveller presents a passport to the reader before the gate opens. The contactless approach removes that presentation step for passengers who pass the automated checks.

The phased rollout starts at East Midlands Airport, initially for British citizens. It will expand to more airports and to other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months. Birmingham Airport says it is one of the first airports to introduce the contactless eGates. The Home Office announcement therefore marks the start of a transition rather than a single nationwide switch on one day. Travellers using airports that have not yet moved to contactless eGates continue to use the existing process, in which the passport is placed on the reader.

How contactless eGates work

The contactless process has three steps. First, passengers approach an eGate and have their photo taken. Second, the system checks the live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information. Third, the eGate opens automatically once the checks are complete, with no need to place the passport on the reader. The sequence is designed to remove the step in which a traveller opens a passport and positions it on the reader before the gate responds.

The check relies on a live image captured at the gate and on records already held and verified. The system compares the two. If the comparison and the associated checks are completed, the gate opens. The passenger does not need to place the passport on the reader as part of the standard contactless flow. This is the central operational change: the passport remains a travel document that must be carried, but it is not presented to the reader in the contactless process.

Border Force officers will continue to monitor all eGates. The automated process therefore operates alongside human oversight rather than replacing it. If further checks are needed, passengers place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer. That fallback preserves the existing route for cases that the automated check cannot resolve. Signage will be in place to support passengers. The three steps apply to passengers who are eligible to use eGates and who pass the automated checks.

Why the system is up to 25% faster

Testing shows the contactless system is up to 25% faster than using a passport on an eGate. The figure compares the contactless process with the established process in which a passport is placed on the reader. The gain comes from removing the presentation step and allowing the gate to open automatically once the checks are complete. The 25% figure is a testing result, not a guarantee for every passenger or every airport.

Software is being updated as part of the rollout; the eGates are not being replaced. The physical gates remain in place, and the change is delivered through updated software. This matters for travellers because the equipment they see at the border is the same equipment, operating a different process. The upgrade programme is scheduled so that every eGate is set to be upgraded by early 2027.

Because the rollout is phased, the speed benefit applies at airports and for passenger groups that have moved to the contactless process. The testing result of up to 25% faster is the basis for the Home Office announcement. The comparison is specifically between the contactless system and using a passport on an eGate. It does not compare eGates with manual clearance by a Border Force officer. Passengers who need further checks place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer, and those cases follow the existing route.

Which airports and which passengers come first

The phased rollout starts at East Midlands Airport, initially for British citizens. It will expand to more airports and to other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months. Birmingham Airport says it is one of the first airports to introduce the contactless eGates. The order of the rollout therefore begins with a defined airport and a defined passenger group, then widens on both counts.

eGates are available at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted. These are the 13 airports where eGates operate. The contactless upgrade applies to the eGates at these locations as the programme proceeds. Every eGate is set to be upgraded by early 2027.

Eligibility for eGates is separate from the contactless change. The rollout will expand to other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months. eGates were extended to children aged eight and above in summer 2026, according to Border Force. Passengers who are not eligible for eGates continue to use the staffed border process. The contactless change applies to passengers using eGates, and the expansion to other eligible nationalities follows the initial phase for British citizens at East Midlands Airport.

What travellers still need to do

Passengers must still carry their passports at all times. The contactless process removes the need to place the passport on the reader, but it does not remove the requirement to hold a valid travel document. Travellers should therefore keep their passport accessible throughout the journey and at the border. The passport remains the document that underpins the verified information used in the check.

If further checks are needed, passengers place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer. This means the passport may still be required at the gate in some cases. Border Force officers will continue to monitor all eGates. Signage will be in place to support passengers. Travellers who are unsure which process applies at a given airport should follow the signage and the instructions at the gate.

Dual nationals should travel on a valid British passport or hold a Certificate of Entitlement to minimise delay at the border. This guidance applies alongside the contactless change. Because the rollout is phased, some airports and some passenger groups will use contactless eGates while others continue with the existing process. Passengers should expect the process to depend on the airport and on their eligibility. Carrying the passport, following signage and being ready for further checks if required are the practical steps for travellers during the transition.

Source: Home Office news story, 6 October 2026.

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Frequently asked questions

When did the contactless eGates change start?

The Home Office announced on 6 October 2026 that UK airport eGates will gradually switch to contactless technology. The rollout is phased, and every eGate is set to be upgraded by early 2027.

How do contactless eGates work?

Passengers approach an eGate and have their photo taken. The system checks the live image against verified immigration, travel and passport information. The eGate opens automatically once the checks are complete, with no need to place the passport on the reader.

How much faster is the contactless system?

Testing shows the contactless system is up to 25% faster than using a passport on an eGate.

Which airport is first and who can use it?

The phased rollout starts at East Midlands Airport, initially for British citizens. It will expand to more airports and to other nationalities already eligible for eGates over the coming months. Birmingham Airport says it is one of the first airports to introduce the contactless eGates.

Do travellers still need to carry a passport?

Yes. Passengers must still carry their passports at all times. If further checks are needed, passengers place their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer.