Holidaymakers can use UK passports on electronic passport gates at major international airports in Portugal and Spain, although they are still urged to get their passports physically stamped upon entry.
Before Brexit was completed, UK passport holders could use e-gates to enter EU countries, which is often quicker than queuing up for a manned desk. Most EU countries now no longer allow British visitors to use e-gates, as they are mostly designed for EU/EEA and Swiss passports. The UK is no longer in the EU.
But Spain and Portugal have updated e-gates at international airports, which accept UK passports. Although using them for a holiday is not as straightforward as before Brexit.
Read more: Spain e-gate warning as holidaymakers told to bring extra proof
Where in the EU can I use a UK passport on an electronic gate?
Currently, Spanish and Portuguese international airports allow UK passport holders to use electronic gates. On Portugal, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) says : "You can use the staffed immigration booths or, if you are aged 18 and over, the e-gates designated for UK and some other non-EU nationals."
The rules for Spain state: "You can use the staffed immigration booths or, if you are aged 18 and over, and are instructed to do so by airport staff, you may be able to use the e-gates, if these are in operation."
Which airports in Spain and Portugal have electronic gates that accept British passports
Airports popular with tourists flying from Newcastle are among with e-gates that allow British passports, including Mallorca, Tenerife, Barcelona, Malaga and Alicante in Spain, and four of Portugal's international airports.
Spain says the following airports have electronic passport gates that accept UK passports: Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Girona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Málaga, Mallorca, Menorca, Valencia, Fuerteventura, Sevilla, Tenerife Sur.
In Portugal, Lisbon, Faro (Algarve), Porto and Funchal (Madeira) airports have 'RAPIDforALL' e-gates British passport holders can use.
Speaking in April, Chloé Lapeyre, CCO, ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, said: “We are positive about the implementation of this new system RAPIDforALL by the Portuguese immigration authority in our main international airports and we facilitated the logistics to agilise their installation. We hope that it will contribute positively to welcoming the traffic recovery, namely for British passengers that amounted 2,5 million and represent a relevant segment of tourism in Portugal.”
Who can use the e-passport gates
British passport holders aged 18 and over can use the electronic passport gates at Spanish and Portuguese airports. They require a biometric passport, they can either be the old EU UK passport (if it is still valid and has an issue date no more than 10 years old) or the new blue coloured post-Brexit UK passports.
How to use an e-gate for passports
Electronic passport gates are fairly straightforward to use. Have your passport to hand and approach the gate when signaled to. Place it face down on the reader, put your feet in line with the feet marks, and look into the camera. The doors should then open and you can enter. If they don't open, a border guard will take you aside.
Do I need to get my passport stamped if I use an e-gate?
Yes, even if you use an e-gate, you are advised to hand your passport to a border officer to be stamped. Since the UK left the EU, there are time limits on how long UK passport holders can spend in the Schengen zone (which includes Spain, Portugal, and most of the EU) at any one time. Passport stamps let border officials know you have not overstayed.
The FCO says: "Border guards use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, a border officer may presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit.
"If you are missing entry/exit stamps, you can show evidence of when and where you entered or exited the Schengen area and ask the border officer to add this date and location in your passport. Examples of acceptable evidence include boarding passes and tickets."
You should also bring these with you to Portugal and Spain
Portuguese border officials may ask you to show a return or onward ticket, and proof you have enough money for your stay. Spanish officials may ask for that too, as well as proof of accommodation.
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