From today (Wednesday, 8 July 2026), children aged eight and above are permitted to use eGates at 13 UK airports, including London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, and Stansted. This change aims to streamline the return journey for families during the summer holidays.
Lowering the age threshold
Previously, eGates were available only to passengers aged 10 and over, forcing families with younger children to use the often longer family queue. The new rule lowers the minimum age to eight, but children must also be at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall to ensure biometric scanners can detect them properly. This adjustment is expected to allow approximately 1.5 million additional children to pass through electronic gates more quickly.
Official reactions
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, said: "Today's change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday. It will also free up more time for tourists to enjoy our fantastic country this summer and in the years ahead."
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, described it as a "welcome development." She added: "It will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many. Airports work very hard with border authorities to ensure the UK's front door is both secure and welcoming."
Airports affected
The change applies to 13 major UK airports: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, and Newcastle.
Expert advice on passports
Tom Vaughan, Travel Insurance Expert at Confused.com, commented: "The minimum age for UK airport e-gates drops from ten to eight today, meaning up to 1.5 million more children could clear the border automatically instead of queuing at a staffed desk. This is great news for families travelling with young children. Anyone who's queued at border control with tired kids will know it could mean shorter waits and a smoother end to the journey home."
He also warned about passport validity: "Our research shows that confusion around passport validity is still common, with less than half (43%) of holidaymakers aware that passports for EU travel must be issued within 10 years of departure. That's a significant number of people who could turn up at the airport only to discover their passport isn't valid, regardless of which gate they're heading for."
