UK airport is now letting Brits use their FACE to enter the country under new 'contactless passport' scheme

Published: 17:26 EDT, 6 October 2026 | Updated: 17:27 EDT, 6 October 2026 Passengers arriving into the UK will be able to use their face to enter the country under a new contactless system.On Tuesday, East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire became the first airport to offer the new technology before it is rolled out to all eGates at UK airports by early 2027, the Home Office said.The system uses facial technology where passengers approach the eGate and have their photo taken which the system checks against verified immigration, travel and passport information.The gate then opens automatically once the checks are complete, meaning passengers do not need to place their passport on the eGate reader.If further checks are needed, travellers will need to put their passport on the reader or may be directed to a Border Force officer.The officers will continue to monitor all eGates and offer assistance, while passengers should keep their passport with them at all times, the Home Office said.Testing showed the new contactless system is up to 25% faster than using a passport on an eGate, according to the Government.Phil Douglas, director general of Border Force, said: 'This is a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country. The current 'ePassport gates' at Gatwick Airport's Passport Control on the UK Border which may soon receive the new facial recognition technology that is being used at East Midlands Airport'By using state–of–the–art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the UK's robust border security.'Our digital transformation also builds on our work this summer to extend eGates to children aged eight and above, making life a little easier for families.'Karen Dee, chief executive of Airports UK, the trade body for the country's airports, said the move was 'excellent news for the passenger'.She added: 'It is vital that we have the fast, efficient borders that arrivals into the UK now expect, and we will work closely with our members and Government officials to ensure a smooth rollout.'Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport's managing director, said: 'We're delighted to be the first UK airport to have contactless eGates introduced by Border Force.'As an airport committed to providing an effortless travel experience, we welcome any technological innovation that can help to safely make our customers' journeys smoother, swifter and simpler.'This complements changes that we carried out to our immigration hall recently to help improve the flow of arriving passengers through the area.'EGates are currently available at Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, London City, Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted.