Stansted Airport to get faster contactless eGates by 2027

A new contactless system is being rolled out at UK airports this week, designed to speed up arrivals while maintaining existing border security checks.

The phased rollout began at East Midlands Airport on October 6, initially for British citizens, with the technology expected to be introduced at all UK airports, including Stansted, by early 2027.

Testing has shown the contactless system can be up to 25% faster than using a passport on an eGate.

A different side of our transformation! 🌿👀🐝 As part of our transformation project, we’ve created a new wildlife habitat at Bury Lodge Lane, near to @stn_airport, to help offset the impact of the airport’s expansion. From log piles and invertebrate scrapes to bee posts and brush piles, the site has been designed to provide valuable habitats for local wildlife and support biodiversity. 🦋🌱 #wildlife #biodiversity #sustainability

— London Stansted Airport (@STN_Airport) October 8, 2026

How the new contactless airport eGates work

Instead of placing a passport on the reader, passengers approach the eGate and have their photograph taken.

The system then compares the live image with verified immigration, travel and passport information.

If the checks are completed successfully, the gate opens automatically and the passenger can walk through without presenting their passport to the machine.

The Home Office says the facial technology verifies a passenger's identity before the UK's immigration and security checks are completed.

However, there is an important catch for holidaymakers: you must still carry your passport with you.

If further checks are needed, passengers may be asked to put their passport on the eGate reader or speak to a Border Force officer, just as they do under the current system.

Border Force officers will also continue to monitor the eGates and provide assistance where needed.

Which airports are getting contactless eGates?

The technology is being introduced gradually rather than all at once.

The airports included in the phased rollout are:

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• East Midlands
• Edinburgh
• Gatwick
• Glasgow
• Heathrow
• London City
• Luton
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Stansted

The Home Office expects contactless eGates to be available at all UK airports by early 2027.

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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.

The existing eGate eligibility rules otherwise remain unchanged.

Do you think the eGates will help cut passport queue times? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.