UK eGate Entry for Youngsters from July 2026

By Alexandra Pease –
Barrister Associate

02 Jun 2026

This text considers UK eGate entry for youngsters, present eGate eligibility, when travellers should see a Border Drive officer and the UK’s wider transfer in the direction of contactless borders.

1. What Are UK eGates?

The eGates are self-service gates that permit eligible biometric passport holders to clear the border extra effectively, serving to to keep away from delays whereas sustaining safety.

The eGates system has expanded through the years. In 1998, the primary digital UK passport was launched; this included a digital picture of the {photograph} and signature. The primary biometric passports, with an digital chip that includes the holder’s information, had been launched in 2006. The primary ePassport gates had been launched within the UK in 2008.

In December 2013, the then Immigration Minister, Mark Harper, formally opened the brand new technology of ePassport gates at Gatwick Airport.

In October 2018, the Authorities introduced plans, as a part of the Finances on 29 October 2018, to develop ePassport gate eligibility to tens of millions extra travellers arriving within the UK. There have been then 259 ePassport gates in operation.

2. UK eGates: Who Can Use Them and When Should Travellers See a Border Drive Officer?

There at the moment are over 270 eGates in place at 15 air and rail ports within the UK. The eGates are designed to allow faster journey into the UK. The system is monitored by border safety officers. At current:

“You possibly can usually use eGates if you happen to:

• have a biometric image on the quilt of your passport
• are aged 10+ (10 to 17 yr olds have to be accompanied by an grownup)
• are both:
  • a British citizen
  • a nationwide of an EU nation, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein,New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA
  • a member of the Registered Traveller Service”

You possibly can learn the total UK authorities information on eGates right here.

You can not use the eGates in case you are travelling with an ID card.

It’s potential to fast-track passport management by paying a small payment on the following UK airports:

• Gatwick
• Heathrow
• Stansted
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Glasgow

The FastTrack providers fluctuate relying on the airport and don’t assure sooner entry by way of Border Drive.

Passengers not have to finish touchdown playing cards when arriving within the UK.

You could see a Border Drive officer and acquire a passport stamp in case you are in search of entry underneath the Momentary Inventive Employee Visa route for a short-term task of as much as 3 months.

Within the occasion that you simply use the eGates by mistake, you will need to see a Border Drive officer earlier than you allow the port to obtain a stamp in your passport.

If utilizing the eGates, and within the absence of stamps in a passport, you will need to take into account whether or not it’s best to retain proof of journey. This can be vital and wanted for a later UK immigration or nationality utility.

3. UK eGate Eligibility, Border Drive Referrals and Entry for Youngsters

Use of an eGate doesn’t take away the requirement to fulfill the UK’s entry necessities. Travellers coming into the UK as guests ought to be sure that they meet the related UK Customary Customer visa necessities. If you’re unsure or have issues, you might want to take into account in search of authorized recommendation prematurely of journey. Border Drive should refer a passenger to an officer, together with the place identification, safety, safeguarding or immigration standing checks are required.

If you’re travelling with a toddler underneath 18 and you aren’t the kid’s father or mother, or might seem to not be the father or mother, for instance you probably have a special household identify, the Information to sooner journey by way of the UK border, up to date April 2026, advises as follows:

“We don’t want to delay your journey any longer than mandatory and it could assist if you happen to carry proof of your relationship with the kid and/or the explanation why you might be travelling with the kid, this might embrace copies of:

• a start or adoption certificates displaying your relationship with the kid
• a divorce or marriage certificates in case you are the father or mother however have a special surname to the kid
• a letter from the kid’s father or mother(s) giving authority for the kid to journey with you and offering contact particulars in case you are not the father or mother”.

The Issues with ePassport gates (eGates) steerage dated April 2026 identifies additional circumstances the place border officers might have to verify your identification or assess your eligibility to enter the UK.

You can be unable to make use of the eGates if there’s a passport or microchip error; if there’s a person error, for instance if a passport just isn’t faraway from its protecting case; or if you happen to should not have a sound ETA, an eVisa or a digital exemption linked to the related UKVI account, or in case your digital standing is not legitimate.

The steerage reads:

“Within the curiosity of nationwide safety, Border Drive might not at all times be capable of clarify intimately why you’ve got been unable to proceed by way of an eGate.”

4. Youngsters Aged 8 and 9: UK eGate Entry from July 2026

In a current authorities announcement on 14 Might 2026, the House Workplace confirmed that as much as 1.5 million extra youngsters will quickly be capable of use UK eGates, simply in time for the summer season. This determine relies on 2025 arrival charges:

“Youngsters aged 8 and 9 years, who’re at the very least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and accompanied by an grownup will change into eligible underneath plans introduced at present

(….)

The expanded entry is ready to start from Wednesday 8 July 2026, masking greater than 290 eGates in UK and juxtaposed ports (the place border checks happen in Europe).”

The announcement quotes the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp:

“Journey with younger youngsters might be nerve-racking for fogeys.

By increasing eGate entry, extra households can expertise a swifter and smoother journey dwelling – releasing up treasured time this summer season vacation season.

We’re delivering continued enchancment to the passenger expertise, whereas retaining our borders secure and safe.”

The Authorities confirmed that this can be a additional transfer in the direction of “UK border transformation, delivering easy journeys for passengers and defending border safety”.

The announcement continues:

“Contactless border will see state‑of‑the‑artwork facial comparability know-how confirm identification, reasonably than needing to current a passport. That is all while retaining our nation’s borders safe.

The House Workplace have enforced the Digital Journey Authorisation (ETA) scheme since February of this yr, with nearly 25 million (24.8 million) ETAs having been issued since their introduction.”

The UK Digital Journey Authorisation (ETA) is a digital permission to journey launched as a part of the UK’s transfer in the direction of a extra automated, “digital by default” border. It applies to sure non-visa nationals. The ETA permits the House Workplace to hold out safety and suitability screening earlier than journey.

An ETA just isn’t a visa and doesn’t, by itself, grant immigration permission. As a substitute, it permits an eligible traveller to journey to the UK and current themselves on the border to be thought of for entry within the regular manner. This will likely embrace entry by way of the eGates. Border Drive should refuse entry if the individual doesn’t meet the related necessities on arrival.

For extra data, together with key options and necessities, learn the UK Digital Journey Authorisation (ETA) Software Information.

For skilled recommendation and help on ETAs, eVisas or any associated visa or immigration utility, contact our immigration barristers on 0203 617 9173 or full our enquiry kind.

7. Steadily Requested Questions: UK eGates for Youngsters