Contactless airport gates planned for British travellers, but passports still needed

British passport holders are expected to gain access to contactless border checks at Birmingham and East Midlands airports in the coming weeks, according to reporting published on Sunday. The change would allow eligible arrivals to use facial recognition without first placing their passport on an e-gate scanner.

Carry the document

The Mirror’s account, republished by AOL, says physical passports remain necessary for check-in and boarding. Passengers whose faces are not recognised would be asked to scan their documents; unresolved checks would go to a Border Force officer.

A phased change

The report says airports with e-gates are expected to receive the upgrade by early next year, initially for British passport holders. Border Force director general Phil Douglas told the Sunday Times that contactless checks could be up to 25% faster. That is a projected improvement, not a measured result across the country.

What the government has published

The government’s digital-services roadmap confirms plans to extend facial comparison to more ports from late 2026 after the Manchester pilot. It does not, by itself, establish that the new process is already available at every airport. Passengers should follow the instructions at their arrival gate.