United Kingdom: Contactless Border Checks Launched

The UK government has announced that it will be introducing contactless border technology at Birmingham and East Midlands airports for British passport holders in the coming weeks, and there are plans to expand it to other major UK airports by early 2027. Initially, British passport holders will be able to clear immigration on arrival through facial recognition without scanning their passports; the system may later be extended to other nationalities eligible to use eGates. The technology should reduce border-processing times and queues, but it does not change immigration or entry requirements, and travelers must continue to carry their physical passports for check-in, boarding and travel. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.