From today, Wednesday 8 July, children aged eight and above are permitted to use eGates at Birmingham Airport and 12 other UK airports, a change expected to significantly ease the return journey for families travelling abroad this summer. Previously, only passengers aged 10 and over could use the automated gates, forcing those with younger children into slower family queues.
The age reduction means around 1.5 million more children can now pass through electronic gates more quickly. However, children must also be at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall to be reliably detected by biometric scanners, according to the Mirror.
New eGate Age Threshold and Airport List
The change applies to 13 major UK airports: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, and Newcastle. The eGates, part of the government's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, scan passports to streamline entry.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: "Today's change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday. It will also free up more time for tourists to enjoy our fantastic country this summer and in the years ahead."
Industry Reaction and Benefits
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, described the move as a "welcome development." She added: "It will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many. Airports work very hard with border authorities to ensure the UK's front door is both secure and welcoming, with those coming home and visiting enjoying a smooth experience."
Citizens from Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, and the US will also benefit from the modification.
Expert Advice on Passport Validity
Tom Vaughan, Travel Insurance Expert at Confused.com, commented: "The minimum age for UK airport e-gates drops from ten to eight today, meaning up to 1.5 million more children could clear the border automatically instead of queuing at a staffed desk. This is great news for families travelling with young children. Anyone who's queued at border control with tired kids will know it could mean shorter waits and a smoother end to the journey home."
He added: "It's also a sign of where things are heading. As facial recognition technology becomes more established, it wouldn't be surprising to see the age threshold lowered further in the coming years. But whether or not your child can use an e-gate, the basics still apply: everyone in the family needs a valid, biometric passport to travel. It's easy to overlook this among the excitement of planning a trip."
Vaughan warned that confusion around passport validity remains common: "Our research shows that less than half (43%) of holidaymakers are aware that passports for EU travel must be issued within 10 years of departure. That's a significant number of people who could turn up at the airport only to discover their passport isn't valid, regardless of which gate they're heading for. With summer getaways in full swing, it's worth taking a few minutes to check every family member's passport now."
