UK implements facial recognition at airport eGates

The UK Home Office has officially implemented a new generation of contactless eGates at border control points to streamline passenger processing. Under this new system, British citizens can complete identity verification through facial scanning without the need to physically place their passports into readers.

Following successful testing at Manchester Airport, the rollout has begun at East Midlands Airport. The technology is expected to increase processing speeds at eGates by up to 25% compared to traditional electronic passport checks. While the system speeds up the gates themselves, officials noted this does not necessarily guarantee a 25% reduction in total airport waiting times.

The project, referred to as ‘contactless borders’, will be phased across 13 major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. The goal is to have the upgraded system installed at all eGates within these locations by early 2027.

Border Force Director General Phil Douglass stated that the system will provide a ‘faster, more modern and more secure’ transition process. Although facial recognition will handle border entry, passengers are still required to carry their passports for airline check-in and boarding procedures.