Changes coming for UK travellers ahead of Summer holidays
Key Points
- What is the minimum age for UK eGates? Children aged 8 and over can use UK eGates from 8 July 2026, provided they are travelling with an adult and are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall.
- How many children are affected? The Home Office estimates 1.5 million more children will be eligible to use eGates over the next year.
- Can all 8 year olds use eGates? No. Children must meet the 120cm height requirement, so shorter children in the eligible age bracket will still need a staffed passport desk.
Children aged 8 and over can now use eGates at UK airports and ports, after a change to the minimum age requirement came into effect on Tuesday (8 July).
Under the new rules, children aged 8 and 9 can pass through the automated gates provided they are travelling with an adult and are at least 120cm tall, which is roughly 3 ft 11 in.
The change means families with younger children will no longer need to queue for a staffed passport desk when arriving in the UK, a process that can add significant time to journeys during busy periods.
The Home Office estimates that 1.5 million more children will be eligible to use eGates over the next year, based on 2025 arrival figures.
An 8 or 9 year old who is shorter than 120cm will still need to go through a staffed desk, so families should not assume every child in the eligible age bracket can use the gates.
The timing coincides with the start of the summer getaway season. Schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland have already broken up for the holidays, with England and Wales to follow later in July.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said the change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday, while freeing up more time for tourists visiting the UK.
There are more than 290 eGates in operation at UK airports and ports, as well as at juxtaposed ports where UK border checks take place in Europe. Millions of passengers use them each year, with crossings typically taking a few minutes.
Other changes
The government is also developing a contactless border, which will use facial comparison technology to verify a traveller’s identity without a passport needing to be presented.
Families travelling to Europe this summer face a separate change at the EU border.
The Entry/Exit System, which replaces passport stamping for non-EU nationals, requires travellers to register their passport, fingerprints and photo on first crossing into the Schengen area.
After registration, only one biometric alongside a passport scan is needed on entry and exit. Travellers are advised to check with their operator for the latest guidance before departure.
