Border Force has extended its contactless-travel pilot from Heathrow to Birmingham Airport, updating its “Getting through the UK border faster” guidance on 20 October 2026. Passengers with a biometric passport who register via the UK Digital Travel app can now walk through a dedicated lane where cameras confirm identity in motion, eliminating the need to pause at an eGate. The Home Office says the technology cuts average clearance time to under 10 seconds while maintaining watch-list checks. Children aged eight and above are eligible, matching the July rollout that lowered the eGate age limit. Contactless lanes are currently open during peak periods for inbound flights from the EU, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Japan; other nationalities will be phased in once biometric pre-clearance via Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) becomes mandatory in 2027. For corporates routing mobile talent through Birmingham, the change promises faster arrivals and reduced risk of missed train connections to regional hubs. Mobility managers should update pre-travel briefings: staff must download the app, scan their passport chip and live-capture a selfie at least two hours before departure. Those travelling on a visa or with an online immigration status must add their UKVI account details so the system can match their eVisa. Border Force warns that passengers carrying restricted food products or requiring a passport stamp for Permitted Paid Engagements must still see an officer; the new lane is strictly for automated clearance. Airlines report no additional check-in requirements beyond ensuring travellers hold a biometric passport. The expansion is part of the government’s digital-border strategy, which will replace all physical BRP cards with eVisas by the end of 2026 and aims to process 80 % of arrivals via automation by 2030.
