UK eGate access for children is set to expand from July 2026, allowing more younger travellers to use automated border gates if they meet age, height, passport, and accompaniment requirements. The change sits within the UK’s wider move toward digital and contactless border processing, but eGate use does not remove the need to satisfy UK entry requirements.
What UK eGates Are
UK eGates are self-service gates that allow eligible biometric passport holders to clear the UK border more efficiently while border security checks continue in the background.
The system has developed over several decades. The first digital UK passport was introduced in 1998, including a digital image of the holder’s photograph and signature. Biometric passports with an electronic chip were introduced in 2006. The first UK ePassport gates were introduced in 2008.
A new generation of ePassport gates opened at Gatwick Airport in December 2013. In October 2018, the government announced plans to expand ePassport gate eligibility to millions more travellers arriving in the UK. At that time, 259 ePassport gates were in operation.
There are now more than 270 eGates at 15 air and rail ports in the UK.
Who Can Normally Use UK eGates
Travellers can normally use eGates if they:
- Have a biometric symbol on the cover of their passport
- Are aged 10 or over
- Are aged 10 to 17 and accompanied by an adult
- Are a British citizen, or a national of an eligible country
- Are a member of the Registered Traveller Service
Eligible nationalities include nationals of:
- EU countries
- Australia
- Canada
- Iceland
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- United States
Travellers cannot use eGates if they are travelling with an ID card.
Passengers no longer need to complete landing cards when arriving in the UK.
FastTrack passport control is available for a fee at some UK airports, including Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. However, these services vary by airport and do not guarantee faster entry through Border Force.
When Travellers Must See a Border Force Officer
Some travellers must see a Border Force officer instead of relying on an eGate.
A traveller must see an officer and obtain a passport stamp if seeking entry under the Temporary Creative Worker Visa route for a short-term assignment of up to three months.
If a traveller uses an eGate by mistake in a situation where a stamp is required, they must see a Border Force officer before leaving the port to receive the passport stamp.
Travellers using eGates should also consider keeping evidence of travel, especially where later UK immigration or nationality applications may require proof of entry and exit. This is relevant because eGate use may mean there is no passport stamp.
eGate Use Does Not Guarantee Entry
Using an eGate does not remove the requirement to meet UK entry rules.
Visitors entering the UK must still meet the relevant Standard Visitor requirements. Border Force may refer a passenger to an officer where identity, security, safeguarding, or immigration status checks are required.
A traveller may also be unable to use an eGate because of:
- A passport error
- A microchip error
- User error, such as failing to remove the passport from a protective case
- No valid ETA, eVisa, or digital exemption linked to the relevant UKVI account
- Expired or invalid digital status
Border Force may not always be able to explain in detail why a passenger cannot proceed through an eGate, particularly where national security considerations apply.
Travelling With Children
Travellers accompanying a child under 18 may need to carry evidence of their relationship with the child or the reason for travel.
This is especially relevant where the accompanying adult is not the child’s parent, or where they may not appear to be the parent, such as where surnames differ.
Helpful evidence can include copies of:
- A birth or adoption certificate showing the relationship with the child
- A divorce or marriage certificate if the parent has a different surname from the child
- A letter from the child’s parent or parents authorising the child to travel and providing contact details
eGate Access for Children Aged 8 and 9 From July 2026
On 14 May 2026, the Home Office confirmed that eGate access is expected to expand to younger children in time for the summer travel period.
From Wednesday 8 July 2026, children aged 8 and 9 are expected to become eligible to use eGates if they:
- Are at least 120cm tall, or 3ft 11in
- Are accompanied by an adult
- Meet the usual passport and eligibility requirements
The government said the change could allow up to 1.5 million more children to use UK eGates, based on 2025 arrival rates.
The expansion is expected to cover more than 290 eGates in the UK and at juxtaposed ports, where UK border checks take place in Europe.
Contactless Borders and ETA Screening
The expansion of eGate access is part of the UK’s wider border transformation plans.
The government has described a future contactless border using facial comparison technology to verify identity, rather than requiring travellers to present a passport in the traditional way.
The Home Office has also enforced the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme since February 2026. According to the source article, almost 25 million ETAs had been issued since introduction.
A UK ETA is a digital permission to travel for certain non-visa nationals. It allows the Home Office to carry out security and suitability screening before travel.
An ETA is not a visa and does not grant immigration permission by itself. It allows an eligible traveller to travel to the UK and present themselves at the border for entry consideration. This may include entry through eGates, but Border Force can still refuse entry if the traveller does not meet the relevant requirements on arrival.
Practical Considerations
Families travelling to the UK after 8 July 2026 may benefit from expanded eGate access for children aged 8 and 9, but eligibility depends on age, height, accompaniment, nationality, and passport type.
Travellers should not assume that eGate access guarantees admission to the UK. Entry requirements still apply, and Border Force can refer travellers for officer checks.
Those travelling with children should consider carrying relationship and consent documents, especially where surnames differ or the adult is not the child’s parent.
Travellers who may need evidence of UK travel history should keep independent proof of travel, because eGate use may not result in passport stamps.
Source article: immigrationbarrister.co.uk
