The Home Office has announced that it is expanding the use of eGates to include children aged 8 and 9. The change will come into effect from 8th July 2026 and it is estimated that 1.5 million more children will be able to use eGates to enter the UK in the next year as a result.
eGates allow quicker travel to the UK as it avoids having to see a UK Border Officer to have your passport stamped to enter the UK. At present, there are over 270 eGates across 15 airports and rail ports in the UK.
It is hoped that by giving eGate access to more children, the process of entering the UK border will be smoother and quicker for many families.
The change will impact those visiting the UK as well as British citizens returning from travel overseas.
To be eligible, the child must be aged 8+, be at least 120cm tall and they need to be accompanied by an adult. In addition, they will need to meet the normal criteria for use of eGates which includes having a biometric passport and being either:
- A British citizen
- A national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Lichtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA
- A member of the Registered Traveller Service
The expansion is part of the Home Office’s plan to transform the UK border.
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