Facial recognition could soon replace passports at UK airport eGates

The United Kingdom's Border Force is gearing up to trial "smart" eGates equipped with advanced facial recognition technology at airports, which could eliminate the need for passengers to present their passports upon arrival. (Border Force is the part of the Home Office responsible for securing the U.K. border.)

The plan will allow arriving passengers to effortlessly enter the U.K. by simply looking into a camera, a concept already successfully implemented in global travel hubs like Dubai.

Trials of the new eGate system are expected to begin toward the end of this year. If the trials are successful, a nationwide rollout will follow.

"EGates are an important tool in providing hassle-free journeys, and our priority is to drive up usage among those who are eligible to use them," a Home Office spokesperson said. "We will begin trialing facial recognition at eGates toward the end of this year."

There are currently more than 270 eGates in place at 15 air and rail ports across the U.K. which currently require travelers to scan their passports when passing through. The new system would eliminate this need, relying instead upon facial recognition and a centralized database in which travelers would need to be registered.

Presently, eGates at U.K. airports are only open to travelers age 10 or above who are British or citizens of the European Union (and wider Schengen Area), the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea.

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The move toward facial recognition is part of a broader shift in border control strategies and would work in conjunction with the U.K. electronic travel authorization program, which will provide authorities with more comprehensive information about travelers.

"We will know a lot more information about people upfront," Phil Douglas, director-general of the Border Force, told The Times.

Similar technology is already used at some Australian airports, and Dubai International Airport (DXB) claims its "smart gates" allow travelers to pass through immigration in as little as five seconds.

Bottom line

The U.K. is set to integrate facial recognition into the border control process in 2024, simplifying the travel experience at airports nationwide.

The potential benefits include a more efficient and secure process, with passengers enjoying a smoother and faster entry into the U.K.

The success of these trials will determine whether the U.K. fully rolls out the new technology across all of its airports.

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