Parents traveling through UK airports with children will find it easier this summer as a significant rule adjustment has been announced. The UK Home Office has confirmed that children as young as eight will now be permitted to use the e-gates, a decrease from the previous age requirement of 12. This change will become effective on July 8, perfectly timed for the upcoming summer holiday season, known for being one of the busiest travel periods.
The modification is expected to benefit approximately 1.5 million additional children by enabling them to utilize the e-gates, facilitating a smoother re-entry process for families. To access the e-gates, children must be at least 120cm tall to view the biometric screens easily and must be accompanied by an adult.
Previously, families with children aged 10 or older were eligible to use the e-gates, while those with younger children had to utilize the family queue, resulting in longer wait times. With the new adjustment, families with children aged eight or above will now be able to pass through the electronic gates and other re-entry points more efficiently.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp, expressed that lowering the age requirement for e-gates will provide families with a faster and smoother journey home during the summer holidays. The change will impact 13 UK airports equipped with e-gates, offering enhanced convenience to travelers.
E-gates, part of the government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), scan passenger passports to expedite the entry process. Residents from various countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the US, will also benefit from this airport adjustment.
Karen Dee, the chief executive of AirportsUK, welcomed the development, emphasizing that it will allow more families to utilize the technology, thereby streamlining border processes and reducing wait times for travelers. Airports collaborate closely with border authorities to ensure a secure and welcoming experience for individuals entering or returning to the UK.
In other news, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out across airports on April 10, 2026. This new system mandates British travelers heading to the Schengen area to register and provide their biometric details, including fingerprints and a photograph. While the EES applies to most Schengen countries, Greece has opted out of this requirement for British nationals.
The Schengen area includes several European countries such as Austria, France, Italy, and Spain, among others. Travelers are required to register upon their first entry into a Schengen area border, with the registration remaining valid for three years.
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