e-Passport gates to ease travel for American passengers into the U.K.

Friday 09 November 2018

Millions more people will be able to use ePassport gates as they arrive in the U.K., under plans announced on October 29.

From summer 2019, eligible travelers from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States will be able to use the ePassport gates at 14 ports in the U.K. and at juxtaposed locations. 

The ePassport gates expansion will provide an automated route through the border for an estimated additional 6 million international travelers arriving in the U.K. every year.  The move is the next step in the Government’s continuing program of work to roll out digital technology at the border and is expected to significantly improve the flow of passengers at busy airports such as Heathrow.

ePassport gates, which are currently available for British and EU nationals, provide a faster route through the border as they allow eligible passengers to be processed quickly and securely. All passengers are automatically checked against Border Force systems and watchlists. The technology also allows Border Force officers to focus on other priority work such as identifying potential victims of trafficking.

Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:

“We want to encourage people who boost our economy through tourism and business to travel to the U.K., while at the same time maintaining border security. Expanding the number of nationalities eligible to use ePassport gates supports this aim.

“Increasing the use of digital technology is part of our ambitious program to improve the passenger experience and meet the challenge of increased passenger numbers.”

ePassport gates use facial recognition technology to compare the passenger’s face to the digital image recorded in their passport. The system is monitored by Border Force officers and anyone rejected by the gates will be sent to an alternative channel to have their passport checked.

There are now 259 ePassport gates in operation at 14 ports around the U.K. and juxtaposed control locations. The gates can be used by those aged 18 and over, and who are traveling using a biometric or ‘chipped’ passport. Those aged 12 to 17 years old, and who are accompanied by an adult, are also able to use them.   

 

Notes to editors:

  1. ePassport gates operate in 14 ports across the U.K. and at juxtaposed control locations which include:
    • Airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol, Luton and London City. Cardiff airport will benefit from an installation of ePassport gates in early 2019.
    • Rail terminals (Eurostar terminals at Brussels and Paris, known as the juxtaposed controls).
  2. ePassport gates first went live in U.K. airports at Manchester Airport in 2008. In the year ending September 2018, 51.9 million passengers used them across the U.K.
  3. From Summer 2019, both visitors and those coming to the U.K. with a visa to study or work from eligible countries will be able to use the ePassport gates.
  4. Travelers who aren’t eligible to use ePassport gates (including family travelers with children under 12 years of age, people traveling with ID cards or without a biometric passport) will continue to be seen by an officer at the PCP (passport control desk).

For more information contact:

VisitBritain Media Team

pressandpr@visitbritain.com

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