Overview
- The rule change took effect on Wednesday, July 8, allowing children aged eight and nine to use e‑gates when returning to the UK.
- Children must be at least 120cm tall and be accompanied by an adult to use the automated gates.
- The expansion covers about 13 UK airports and nearly 300 e‑gates and the government estimates up to 1.5 million more children will become eligible based on 2025 arrivals.
- Officials say the gates use facial‑recognition biometric checks and that wider use will cut queues and free Border Force staff for security tasks.
- Reports say the change also applies at juxtaposed checks in Brussels and Paris and could extend to Eurostar/Eurotunnel routes and 48 EU airports, though some foreign implementation depends on separate arrangements.