A significant modification in rules at airports in the UK is poised to simplify travel with children during the summer break. The Home Office has officially announced that children as young as eight will now be permitted to utilize the UK e-gates at airports, reducing the age requirement from 12. This alteration will be effective starting July 8, just before the peak summer holiday season, streamlining the travel process for families.
This adjustment is expected to facilitate an additional 1.5 million children in using the e-gates, ensuring a smoother re-entry into the UK for families. To pass through the e-gates, children must be at least 120cm tall to comfortably view the biometric screens and must be accompanied by an adult.
Presently, only families with children aged 10 and above can access the e-gates, whereas those with younger children are directed to the family queue, which can be time-consuming. However, families with children aged eight or older will now be able to expedite their passage through the electronic gates and other re-entry points.
Mike Tapp, the Minister for Migration and Citizenship, expressed that lowering the age for e-gate access will enable families to have a more efficient and seamless journey home during the upcoming summer holiday season.
This change will impact 13 UK airports where e-gates are operational. These e-gates, part of the government’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, scan passenger passports to hasten the entry process. Additionally, residents from several countries including Australia, Canada, Japan, and the US will also benefit from this airport adjustment.
Karen Dee, the chief executive of AirportsUK, lauded this development, stating that it will allow more families to leverage technology, reducing wait times and enhancing the border process for returning and visiting individuals.
In other news, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully implemented across airports on April 10, 2026. This system mandates British travelers heading to the Schengen area to create a digital record and submit their biometric details upon arrival. The EES remains valid for three years after the initial registration, excluding Greece which has waived this requirement for Brits despite being part of the Schengen area.
The Schengen area includes countries such as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, among others.