A new wave of biometric ‘walk-through’ eGates is now live at East Midlands Airport, marking the first phase of a nationwide contactless-border programme announced by the Home Office earlier this month. Trade publication Passenger Terminal Today confirmed on 13 October that passengers who are already eligible for eGates can clear immigration simply by having their face captured while walking, without placing a passport on a reader. The technology builds on the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and eVisa rollout by linking live facial recognition with data held in government databases before the traveller reaches the border. Border Force says every eGate in the country – including at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh – will be upgraded by early 2027. From a mobility perspective, contactless eGates could cut queue times for frequent travellers and reduce the operational impact of peak-hour staffing constraints. Employers should update travel policies to remind staff that they must still carry a valid passport and that Border Force may randomly require documents. Airlines and corporate travel managers should also note that carriers remain liable for checking ETAs or visas at check-in and will need to align their systems with real-time status verification. Privacy groups have raised concerns about biometric data retention, prompting the Home Office to stress that images are deleted immediately after matching unless a threat is detected. Businesses may wish to brief employees on biometric consent and data-protection safeguards, especially for jurisdictions with strict privacy rules that could affect onward travel itineraries.
Source: Passenger Terminal Today
