Passport-free travel is coming to 13 major U.K. airports. Here’s who’s eligible
Travelers flying through the United Kingdom may soon be able to keep their passports stowed away while in transit—but only at select locations.
The U.K. is deploying new contactless border control checkpoints at its 13 international airports, using the Seamless Gate system developed by global travel technology company Amadeus.
Available for U.K. citizens, the new system will use facial recognition from images of passengers arriving at an eGate. The biometric data will then be verified against prestored passport, immigration, and travel information, allowing travelers to proceed once verification is complete.
While the initial rollout includes only U.K. citizens, eligible foreign nationals will be able to utilize the contactless technology in a later phase. These may include citizens of the European Union, the U.S., and other nations with electronic travel authorization (ETA)—a form of preclearance for visa-exempt foreign travelers.
Travelers who are flagged and require further checks may be redirected to a U.K. Border Force officer or asked to physically scan their passport.
The project is part of a long-term contract between Amadeus, the U.K. Border Force, and the U.K. Home Office. The initial pilot program kicked off on October 6.
“By using state‑of‑the‑art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the U.K.’s robust border security,” Phil Douglas, director general of the U.K. Border Force, said in a statement. “Our digital transformation also builds on our work this summer to extend eGates to children aged 8 and above, making life a little easier for families.”
The remaining eGates at U.K. airports will gradually transition into the contactless technology, with full deployment expected early next year. The 13 participating airports are Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle, and London Stansted.
