UK begins contactless border rollout at 13 international airports

The UK has begun a phased rollout of contactless border technology at its 13 international airports. Under the system, UK citizens and eligible third country nationals will not need to scan their passport to enter the country.

The gates use Amadeus Seamless Gates, supplied under a long-term contract with the Home Office and UK Border Force. A camera photographs the passenger as they approach the eGate, and the image is checked against verified immigration, travel and passport information. The gate opens once those checks are completed successfully. Only when further checks are needed are passengers asked to place their passport on the reader or directed to a Border Force officer.

Existing eGates will switch to the contactless technology gradually. All are due to be upgraded by early 2027.

Phil Douglas, director general of UK Border Force, said the change would make journeys smoother and faster while maintaining border security. It builds on work over the summer to extend eGates to children aged eight and above, he said.

Georges Fenergi, Amadeus senior vice president for airports and border authorities in EMEA, said the approach shows a digital identity system can increase throughput and improve the passenger experience while keeping a sovereign immigration process.

The gates are available at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow and London City, among other airports.