The United Kingdom government has announced that children aged eight and nine years will soon be allowed to use electronic passport gates at airports when travelling with adults. The change will officially begin from July 8, 2026 and is aimed at making airport immigration processes faster and smoother for families. According to the UK Home Office, eligible children must be at least 120 centimetres tall to access the e-gates. The updated rules will apply across more than 290 e-gates operating at airports in the United Kingdom and selected border control locations in Europe. Officials believe the move will improve passenger flow during busy travel periods while reducing waiting times for families travelling internationally during school holidays and peak tourism seasons.
The government stated that the expanded eligibility is expected to benefit around 1.5 million additional child passengers over the next year based on travel figures from 2025. Authorities explained that the decision forms part of broader efforts to modernise the country’s border systems while maintaining security standards. Families travelling with younger children often experience longer processing times at immigration counters, especially during holiday rush periods. By allowing more children to use automated systems, airport authorities expect smoother movement through border checkpoints. Officials also believe the updated policy will create a less stressful travel experience for parents while helping border staff manage passenger traffic more efficiently across major international airports.
UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said travelling with young children can often become difficult and stressful for parents. He explained that expanding e-gate access will help families enjoy quicker and easier journeys while saving valuable time during vacations and holiday travel. According to the minister, the government remains focused on improving passenger experience without compromising border protection and national security. Authorities highlighted that automated systems help immigration staff spend more time monitoring higher-risk cases instead of processing low-risk travellers manually. The government believes this approach strengthens border management while also improving efficiency for millions of regular passengers entering the country every year through airports and international terminals.
Border Force Director General Phil Douglas also supported the expansion, stating that electronic passport gates continue to play an important role in maintaining security standards at UK borders. He explained that automation enables border officers to concentrate resources on cases requiring additional checks or investigation. Industry leaders have welcomed the policy as well. Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, said the move will reduce queues and improve overall airport experiences for travellers. VisitBritain Chief Executive Patricia Yates added that easier immigration procedures strengthen the country’s tourism sector and encourage more family travel. Tourism officials believe smoother entry processes can improve the United Kingdom’s image as a family-friendly destination for international visitors.
The updated e-gate policy forms part of wider border modernisation plans currently being introduced by the UK government. Officials highlighted the continued rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system, commonly known as ETA, which has already issued nearly 25 million approvals since its launch. Authorities explained that the long-term goal is to move toward a more contactless border system using facial recognition technology and automated identity verification. These systems are expected to improve both efficiency and security at immigration checkpoints. The government believes digital technologies will help reduce delays while allowing travellers to complete border formalities much faster compared to traditional manual document verification methods currently used at busy airports.
Officials stated that using e-gates generally takes only a few minutes and wider usage is expected to reduce congestion for all passengers arriving in the country. The expansion for younger children is seen as another important step toward improving airport infrastructure and travel convenience. Authorities hope the measure will particularly help families travelling during summer vacations and holiday seasons when airports usually experience very high passenger volumes. The government also believes improved immigration processing can support tourism growth and strengthen the aviation sector by encouraging smoother international travel experiences. As more digital border technologies are introduced, officials expect airport operations to become increasingly efficient while maintaining strict safety and security procedures for travellers entering the United Kingdom.