NEW passport rules are being rolled out across the UK which will make travelling MUCH quicker.
The government recently announced its new scheme where passengers arriving into the UK will be able to pass through e-gates without scanning their passport.
It has now opened up to passengers returning to the UK via East Midlands airport – the first to use the system.
The government has said that in its testing, the new contactless system is up to 25 per cent faster than current e-gates.
It will work by passengers having their photo taken at the e-gate – it’s checked by the system, verified against immigration, travel and passport information.
Essentially it takes away the need to both have a picture taken and scan the passport.
Once the checks are complete, the e-gates will open automatically.
If there is a need for further checks, then passengers will need to place their passport on the reader – or they could be asked to see a Border Force officer.
Passengers should still keep their passport with them at all times.
At the moment, the contactless system will be for British citizens only, but will eventually be able to be used by other nationalities.
It’s set to be in place at all airports across the UK by early 2027.
Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, said: “This is a win for travellers coming to our brilliant country.
“By using state-of-the-art technology, we are making journeys smoother and faster, all while fully maintaining the UK’s robust border security.
“Our digital transformation also builds on our work this summer to extend eGates to children aged eight and above, making life a little easier for families.”