New July 8 UK airport rule will affect British families - 'get through quicker'

New July 8 UK airport rule will affect British families - 'get through quicker' Travel could be about to get faster for some families this summer at dozens of UK airports Families are being reminded that a major change to a key rule across more than a dozen UK airports will come into effect this summer. From next week, on July 8, a security rule will be eased for certain primary school-age children. Back in May, the UK Government announced that up to 1.5 million more children would soon be able to use UK eGates, helping to speed up the process for them and their families during the summer holidays. Children aged eight and nine, who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and travelling with an adult, will become eligible under the new measures that come into force on Wednesday, July 8. Officials say the change to the age threshold will be a welcome relief for families returning home from their holidays with young children in tow. The government claims that passing through an eGate typically takes just a matter of minutes. With greater numbers of passengers making use of eGates, waiting times at passport control are also anticipated to fall. Prior to 8 July, eGates were generally available to those aged 10 and above, though children under 17 were required to (and must still be) accompanied by an adult, reports the Express. Passengers are eligible to use an eGate if they have a biometric symbol on the front cover of their passport and are either: - a British citizen - a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA - a member of the Registered Traveller Service Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp said: "Travel with young children can be stressful for parents. By expanding eGate access, more families can experience a swifter and smoother journey home - freeing up precious time this summer holiday season. We are delivering continued improvement to the passenger experience, while keeping our borders safe and secure." Border Force Director General, Phil Douglas said: "eGates are an essential part of keeping our border secure. Expanding access for families will deliver safe, smooth journeys whilst freeing up highly-skilled officers to focus on intercepting those who pose a threat to the UK." Karen Dee, Chief executive of AirportsUK, the trade body for UK airports, said: "This is a welcome development as it will give more families the ability to take advantage of this technology, speeding up the border process and reducing waiting times for many. Airports work very hard with border authorities to ensure the UK's front door is both secure and welcoming, with those coming home and visiting enjoying a smooth experience." The UK first introduced ePassport gates at airports in 2008, with the very first gate going live at Manchester Airport. Initially, the automated gates were limited to UK, EU, and Swiss citizens but have since expanded to include eligible travellers from dozens of countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Full list of UK airports with eGates (as of July 2026): - London Heathrow - London Gatwick - London Stansted - London Luton - London City - Manchester - Birmingham - Edinburgh - Glasgow - Bristol - Newcastle - Cardiff - East Midlands - Southampton - Southend