- Border Force began contactless e-gates at East Midlands on October 6, 2026.
- The rollout covers 13 UK airports, with completion expected by early 2027.
- Initially, British citizens only can use facial checks; passengers must still carry passports.
UK Border Force began rolling out contactless border e-gates at 13 airports on October 6, 2026, starting at East Midlands Airport. The system lets eligible British arrivals use a facial image instead of presenting a passport at the gate.
Birmingham is also due to receive the equipment early. The other airports are scheduled to follow in phases, with the programme expected to reach all 13 by early 2027.
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At first, only British citizens can use the new process. Other nationalities who already qualify for UK e-gates may be included later.
Passengers should keep their passports with them. Airlines still need the documents for check-in and boarding, and travellers may need to scan them if the camera cannot confirm a match.
The rollout changes one step at the border, not the documents required for a trip. A failed match can still lead to manual checks.
Phil Douglas, director general of the agency, described the plan as a way to speed arrivals while maintaining security.
“This is a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country. By using state-of-the-art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the UK's robust border security.”
The rollout covers 13 airports across the UK
The programme is intended to reach every UK airport currently equipped with e-gates. East Midlands activated the system on October 6; Birmingham is expected to be among the first additional locations. Exact installation dates for the remaining 11 have not been specified.
| Airport | Airport | Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Airport | Bristol Airport | Cardiff Airport |
| East Midlands Airport | Edinburgh Airport | Glasgow Airport |
| London City Airport | London Gatwick Airport | London Heathrow Airport |
| London Luton Airport | London Stansted Airport | Manchester Airport |
| Newcastle International Airport |
The new process uses facial-comparison technology. A camera captures the arriving passenger’s face, then checks it against verified immigration, travel and passport information supplied to the agency.
The system is designed to compare arrivals against a limited group of expected passengers. Airlines send the agency a daily “gallery” of passport photos for British passengers travelling that day, rather than requiring a search across the entire passport database.
Douglas described the smaller comparison pool this way:
“Because we know who's coming and can load up that gallery of who is arriving, it's not a one in 60 million check, it's a one in tens of thousands check [because the system only needs to check against the passports of passengers travelling on that particular day].”
The Home Office says the technology could cut border-processing times by up to 25%. Manchester Airport held a three-week trial in October 2025 before the current rollout began.
A passport remains part of the journey
The camera does not replace a passport for the rest of the trip. Travellers must present the document for airline check-in and boarding, and airline staff may also request it for identity checks.
If the system does not recognise someone, the passenger will be asked to use the existing passport-scanning process. If that check also fails, the agency can send the traveller to a staffed desk for manual inspection.
Passengers may also need the document at other points where an airline or official requests it. The new gate changes the automated immigration step only.
Other e-gate users may be added later
The first phase is limited to British citizens arriving through eligible gates. The government plans to consider expanding the system to other nationalities already allowed to use UK e-gates, but has not set a date for that change.
Potential groups include biometric-passport holders from European countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. The expansion remains a later possibility, not part of the initial launch.
Airport and industry leaders back a phased introduction
Steve Griffiths, managing director of East Midlands Airport, welcomed the location’s place in the first phase. He said the airport had recently changed its immigration hall to improve passenger flow.
“As an airport committed to providing an effortless travel experience, we welcome any technological innovation that can help to safely make our customers’ journeys smoother, swifter and simpler.”
Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, called the rollout “excellent news for the passenger.” She said the organization would work with airport members and government officials to support its introduction.
Chris Wilson, head of terminal and capacity planning at Birmingham Airport, said the airport was pleased to be among the first locations. Birmingham worked with industry partners and government agencies on the project.
The technology has also drawn questions about facial-recognition accuracy, privacy and passenger-data handling. Critics cited a claim that 80% of people misidentified by facial-recognition systems in London in 2025 were Black.
Passenger responses have varied. Some have called the technology a “game-changer,” while Connor Lomax described it as a “waste of money.” Douglas has presented the programme as part of a wider digital transformation of the UK border. The next stated milestone is completion of the airport rollout by early 2027.
