Dublin Airport has completed the installation of 25 upgraded automated-border eGates supplied by Vision-Box/Amadeus, the Department of Justice announced on 25 May 2026. The new system features enhanced facial-comparison algorithms, improved impostor detection and—crucially for business travellers from EU-ID-card jurisdictions—an integrated ID-card reader. In 2025, some 6.3 million passengers used eGates at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Passenger numbers are projected to exceed 20 million in 2026, raising concerns about queue times and manual-booth capacity.
![Dublin Airport Deploys 25 Next-Generation eGates to Speed Arrivals]()
For travellers who still need visas or travel authorisations, services like VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork well before you reach the eGates. The company’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and courier handling, making it easier to obtain the correct entry documents while Dublin Airport focuses on accelerating biometric processing.
The technology refresh supports a passenger-throughput increase of up to 30 % per gate, according to the supplier. Eligible travellers must be aged 18 +, hold an electronic passport or (for selected EU states) a biometric national ID card, and not require additional immigration checks. When the gate flags anomalies, Border Management Unit officers conduct secondary screening. For corporate mobility planners, the upgrade means faster clearance for EU and British frequent flyers, though visa holders from non-eGate-eligible countries will see no change. The Department stresses that privacy protections comply with EU GDPR rules, and that biometric templates are encrypted and purged after exit. The launch aligns with Ireland’s broader digital-borders agenda, which includes the forthcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES) now scheduled for late 2026. Integration testing with EES is already under way, positioning Dublin Airport to switch to pan-EU biometric checks with minimal disruption.
For travellers who still need visas or travel authorisations, services like VisaHQ can streamline the paperwork well before you reach the eGates. The company’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and courier handling, making it easier to obtain the correct entry documents while Dublin Airport focuses on accelerating biometric processing.
The technology refresh supports a passenger-throughput increase of up to 30 % per gate, according to the supplier. Eligible travellers must be aged 18 +, hold an electronic passport or (for selected EU states) a biometric national ID card, and not require additional immigration checks. When the gate flags anomalies, Border Management Unit officers conduct secondary screening. For corporate mobility planners, the upgrade means faster clearance for EU and British frequent flyers, though visa holders from non-eGate-eligible countries will see no change. The Department stresses that privacy protections comply with EU GDPR rules, and that biometric templates are encrypted and purged after exit. The launch aligns with Ireland’s broader digital-borders agenda, which includes the forthcoming EU Entry/Exit System (EES) now scheduled for late 2026. Integration testing with EES is already under way, positioning Dublin Airport to switch to pan-EU biometric checks with minimal disruption.
