The United Kingdom has begun rolling out contactless eGates that allow travellers to pass through border control without physically placing a passport on a reader, when the system already holds the information it needs. The technology was tested in a pilot at Manchester Airport and is now expanding to additional ports of entry, starting with British citizens and gradually extending to other nationalities already eligible to use eGates.

What changes for travellers

For travellers, the border is not disappearing, but the check is becoming less visible when digital checks can be completed automatically. The rollout sits within a wider move to digital border processing, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for eligible visa-exempt visitors, the shift toward eVisas, and the advance transmission of traveller information. Travellers must still carry a passport and comply with UK entry formalities.

ETA still required where it applies

For US, Canadian, Australian and other eligible visa-exempt travellers, an ETA remains mandatory where it applies and stays electronically linked to the passport used for the application. An ETA is permission to travel, not a visa, and it does not guarantee entry at the border. This is general information only: rules change, so travellers should check the official GOV.UK page for their own circumstances before travelling, and never rely on a single summary.