Using eGates to enter the UK

Please see this section for information on who can use the eGates, and, how to use the eGates, when you enter the UK.

Who can use eGates to enter the UK?

Who can use eGates on arrival to the UK:

If you have been granted a Student visa sticker in your passport, or if you are a non-visa national who is applying for leave to study for less than 6 months under the Standard Visitor visa route, you may be eligible to use the eGates on arrival.

Travellers are now able to use eGates on arrival in the UK at 15 major airports (including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Heathrow airports) and Eurostar terminals. EGates use facial recognition technology to check your identity against the photo in your passport, therefore the arrival process should be much quicker. 

You can normally use eGates if you:

  • have a biometric symbol on the cover of your passport
  • are aged 10+ (10 to 17 year olds must be accompanied by an adult)
  • 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

Please note:

  • You cannot use eGates if you are travelling with children under 12
  • You cannot use eGates if you are using a national ID card or passport which does not have a biometric chip

Useful links:

UKVI: Using eGates for quicker entry

UKVI: eGates information and video

UKVI: Reasons you may not be able to get through the eGates

Electronic Visa Waiver

Who can apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver

If you are a national of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, you may be able to obtain a visa for a short course of study (where the course lasts 6 months or less) by using the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW).

When you get your Electronic Visa Waiver evidence check it to ensure that:

  • Your personal details are correct, and,
  • The type of leave to enter granted is correct and,
  • It is valid for the date on which you want to travel and for the correct duration.

Please note: The introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for visitors to the UK was announced in March 2023.

This will be gradually rolled out from October 2023 and is expected to become a requirement for all non-visa nationals coming to the UK as visitors for a short stay.  

UKVI anticipate the ETA scheme will replace the Electronic Visa Waiver by the end of 2024.

Electronic Visa Authorisation scheme

The introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for visitors to the UK was announced in March 2023.

This will be gradually rolled out from October 2023 and is expected to become a requirement for all non-visa nationals coming to the UK as visitors for a short stay.  

UKVI anticipate the ETA scheme will replace the Electronic Visa Waiver by the end of 2024.

How to apply:

The Home Office have confirmed the ETA scheme will be applied for using an app.  Biometric details will also need to be given as part of the application process. 

"Visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council states, and Jordan, will be the first to benefit from the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, ahead of a worldwide expansion of the scheme throughout 2024. Qatari visitors will be the first to be able to apply for an ETA in October 2023."  UKVI say the ETA scheme will entirely replace the current Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) Scheme.

Useful links: