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New contactless passport checks are set to be rolled out across major UK airports, including Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow, in a move designed to make border control faster and more convenient for returning travellers.
The new technology will allow eligible passengers to pass through airport eGates without physically scanning their passports, with facial recognition instead used to verify their identity.
However, the changes do not mean travellers can leave their passports at home.
With the technology being introduced gradually, passengers are also being warned to keep their passports easily accessible when travelling in case they are still required at border control.
Paul Stewart, travel expert and founder of international luggage shipping service My Baggage, has explained what travellers need to know about the changes.
Do I still need my passport with the new eGates?
Yes. Travellers will still need a valid passport when travelling internationally, even where contactless passport checks are available.
Paul said: "Contactless passport checks are a welcome change for travellers, but the biggest mistake people could make is assuming that contactless means passport-free.
"Passengers will still need a valid passport for international travel, and airlines will continue checking travel documents before boarding.
"With the new technology being rolled out gradually, travellers should keep their passports secure but easily accessible, as they may still be asked to present them at border control."
Which UK airports are getting the new passport checks?
The contactless technology is being introduced gradually, rather than becoming available everywhere at once.
eGates will be updated gradually across various UK airports by early 2027, including:
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- East Midlands
- Edinburgh
- Gatwick
- Glasgow
- Heathrow
- London City
- Luton
- Newcastle
- Stansted
At present, British citizens are the first group able to use the contactless system, with other nationalities already eligible for eGates expected to be brought into the system during the rollout.
Should I put my passport in my hand luggage?
Travellers are advised to keep their passport in their hand luggage rather than packing it in their checked baggage.
Even where an eGate does not require passengers to physically scan their passport, they could still need the document for airline checks or additional identity verification.
Keeping it somewhere secure but easy to reach could therefore help avoid unnecessary delays.
Do the new checks change passport validity rules?
No. Contactless border checks do not change the passport validity requirements for the country you are travelling to.
Passengers should continue to check their passport's expiry date and the entry requirements for their destination before setting off.
The rules can differ depending on the country, so travellers should make sure their passport meets their destination's requirements rather than assuming the new eGate technology changes them.
What should passengers do before travelling?
The key message is that travellers should treat the technology as a change to how their identity may be checked at the border, rather than a change to whether they need a passport.
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Paul added: "Technology can make travelling easier, but it doesn't replace the need to prepare properly.
"Whether you're heading abroad for a holiday, returning from a business trip or relocating internationally, having the right documents ready is still one of the simplest ways to avoid disruption.
"With more airports adopting contactless checks, travellers should welcome the convenience while remembering that the responsibility for having valid travel documents hasn't changed."
Are you travelling abroad any time soon? Let us know in the comments.