Eight-Year-Olds Can Now Use UK eGates
Families arriving in the UK have a faster border option from today, as eGate access has been expanded to some younger children. The age limit now includes eight- and nine-year-olds, instead of only children aged 10 and over. The change should keep more families out of staffed passport queues after holidays, especially at busy airports during the summer rush.
Who Can Use the Gates Now
- Starts: today, 8 July 2026
- New age: children aged eight and nine
- Conditions: at least 120cm tall and accompanied by an adult
- Document: biometric passport and eGate eligibility still required
- Expected impact: around 1.5 million more children over the next year
- Applies at: 13 UK airports with eGates, plus Eurostar and Eurotunnel border controls
- Airports include: Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, Luton, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Glasgow
“Traveling with young children can be stressful for parents. By expanding eGate access, more families can experience a swifter and smoother journey home – freeing up precious time this summer holiday season."
The lower age limit applies only where the child meets the conditions. They must be travelling with an adult, be at least 120cm tall and hold a passport that can be used at UK eGates. The height rule matters because the gate has to capture the child’s face properly. Anyone rejected by the machine can still be directed to a border officer.
The change is useful for family trips through the main UK gateways, where passport queues can eat into the first hour back on home soil. It also helps overseas families arriving for London museums, Edinburgh festivals, Manchester events, Glasgow city breaks or summer visits around Bristol and Cardiff, as more children can stay with adults in the faster automated lane.
Before joining the eGate queue, parents should check two things: the child must be at least 120cm tall and their passport must be biometric. Hats, sunglasses and face coverings should come off before the scan. If the gate cannot read the passport or capture the child’s face clearly, the family may still be sent to a staffed border desk.
