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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rosie Shead

UK airports to roll out major change for all passport holders

  • UK airport eGates are introducing contactless technology allowing arriving passengers to enter the country without scanning a physical passport.
  • East Midlands Airport launched the facial recognition system on Tuesday ahead of a planned nationwide rollout by early 2027.
  • The technology matches a facial image taken at the gate against official travel, passport and immigration records to automatically clear passengers.
  • Government testing indicates that the new contactless setup is up to 25 per cent faster than standard eGate passport scanners.
  • Border Force officials emphasised that the new system will make journeys smoother and faster while fully maintaining robust border security.

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