UK airports expand e-gate access for kids

Children aged eight and nine will soon be able to use electronic passport gates when returning to the UK, following a new government announcement aimed at speeding up airport border checks for families.

Starting on 8 July, children in this age group can use e-gates at UK airports and selected overseas border points, provided they are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and accompanied by an adult. Previously, the minimum age requirement was ten.

The Home Office estimates the change will allow around 1.5 million additional children to benefit from the automated system. More than 290 e-gates across the UK and at overseas “juxtaposed” border locations — where UK border checks take place before departure — will be included in the rollout.

Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said the updated policy would help families enjoy “a swifter and smoother journey home” during the busy summer travel season.

E-gates use biometric passport scanning technology to speed up border processing and reduce queues. In the UK, they are available to British citizens, travellers from EU countries, and eligible visitors from nations including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.

Border Force Director General Phil Douglas said the move would also allow officers to focus more closely on identifying security threats.

AirportsUK chief executive Karen Dee welcomed the decision, saying it would reduce waiting times and improve the travel experience for many families.

The e-gates are currently installed at 13 UK airports, including Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, Manchester Airport and Edinburgh Airport. They are also available at UK border checkpoints in Brussels and Paris.

The announcement forms part of the UK government’s wider border modernisation programme, which recently introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for visitors from visa-free countries such as Canada and Australia. Under the scheme, travellers must now obtain digital permission before entering Britain, costing £20.

The changes come amid wider discussions about airport technology after technical problems with digital passport systems caused delays at several European airports in recent months.