Younger children now able to use passport e-gates

Younger children will be able to use e-gates at UK airports as the summer holidays begin, the Home Office has announced.

Children aged eight and nine returning to the UK are now eligible to use the facial scanners.

The gates use facial recognition technology to check passengers' identities against their passport photos, in a process which is generally quicker than manual inspections.

Children must be at least 120cm tall and accompanied by an adult to use the biometric scanners.

Previously, only passengers aged 10 and above were allowed to use the gates, forcing families with younger children to queue for passport booths.

The policy will mean up to 1.5 million additional children will be able to use the e-gates, the government suggested.

Most schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland have broken up for the summer holidays, with those in England and Wales to follow suit later this month.

In addition to the 13 UK airports with e-gates, eight and nine-year-old children will now be able to use them in Brussels and Paris, where return checks take place.

Border security minister Alex Norris 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."

Border Force director-general Phil Douglas previously said increasing access to e-gates enabled "highly skilled officers to focus on intercepting those who pose a threat to the UK".

The UK's nearly 300 e-gates are available to Britons and nationals from the European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the US.

Members of the registered traveller service can also use the gates.

(c) Sky News 2026: Younger children now able to use passport e-gates