From 8 July, children aged eight and nine returning to the UK will be eligible to use automated e-gates at airports and ports, a change expected to benefit up to 1.5 million additional children. This policy aims to provide families with a swifter and smoother journey through border control, utilising facial recognition technology for identity verification.
Eligibility Requirements
To use the e-gates, children must be at least 120cm tall to ensure they can be seen by biometric scanners and must be accompanied by an adult. The new eligibility applies to the 13 UK airports equipped with e-gates, as well as ports in Brussels and Paris where juxtaposed checks are conducted.
Official Reactions
Migration minister Mike Tapp said the change will improve travel for families, while Border Force director-general Phil Douglas noted it allows highly skilled officers to focus on intercepting threats to the UK.
