UK airports will now allow younger passengers to use the eGates, in a huge boost for families travelling this summer holidays.
From today, passengers aged eight and nine will be able to use the faster eGates at airports across the country.
Previous rules only allowed kids who were the age of 10 or over to use the eGates, meaning families had to wait in much longer queues at passport control.
The only other rule is that kids must be at least 120cm tall, so they can still access the screens.
The new rules are predicted to affect 1.5million kids.
There are more than 290 eGates at UK airports and ports, plus juxtaposed ports (where UK border checks take place in Europe).
This means borders like the Eurostar at London St Pancras and Eurotunnel in Folkestone.
Minister Alex Norris, Minister for Border Security and Asylum said:
”Today’s change will make journeys easier for families with small children and reduce the hassle of travelling home after a holiday.
“It will also free up more time for tourists to enjoy our fantastic country this summer and in the years ahead.”
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, added: “This is a welcome development as it will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many.”
It’s not just Brits the new rules affect either.
Non-British residents including those from the US, Australia and Japan, along with non-Schengen countries in Europe will be able to use the eGates too.