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 Travel Authorisation scheme (ETA)

UKVI are moving towards universal permission to travel, i.e everyone will need some kind of permission to come to the UK, no unauthorised travel. Nothing changing for those with existing permission/status/visa. 

The Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme 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. The change only applies to those who do not need a visa to travel to the UK

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. 

If you cannot use the app

You can apply online.

Useful links: