UK airports have begun rolling out facial-recognition technology that could allow British passengers to clear immigration without physically showing or scanning their passports, with East Midlands Airport becoming the first to introduce the system.
The new contactless eGates went live at East Midlands on October 6, marking the start of a phased UK rollout that will then include Birmingham Airport and the other airports operating eGates. The government expects the technology to be available across the UK airports’ network by early 2027.
Under the new system, passengers approach an eGate and have their photograph captured automatically. The live image is checked against verified immigration, travel and passport information. If the identity checks are successful, the gate opens without the passenger placing a passport on the reader.
Government testing indicates the contactless process can be up to 25% faster than the existing passport-scanning system, potentially helping reduce queues during busy arrival periods.
The Home Office said the change does not remove existing border controls. Passengers must continue to carry a valid passport, and those requiring additional checks may be asked to scan their document or speak with a Border Force officer.
The initial rollout is limited to British citizens, although the government says other nationalities already eligible to use UK eGates are expected to gain access as the program expands.
East Midlands Airport is positioning itself as the first UK airport to introduce the technology. Managing Director Steve Griffiths said the airport welcomed the innovation as a way to make arrivals “smoother, swifter and simpler,” adding that it complements recent changes to the airport’s immigration hall designed to improve passenger flow.
Birmingham Airport is also among the first locations being upgraded. Chris Wilson, its head of terminal and capacity planning, said the airport had worked with Border Force, government agencies and industry partners to support the rollout and that arriving customers would benefit from a faster journey through the border.
The technology could eventually transform the airport arrival experience, but it also raises questions about facial recognition and privacy. The Independent newspaper, which reported plans for the system before the government announcement, noted warnings from privacy campaigners over potential errors and discrimination in facial-recognition systems.
For travelers, the immediate change is straightforward: passports remain essential for the journey, but eligible British passengers may soon no longer need to take them out at the UK immigration gate.