Good news for UK holidaymakers: British travelers will soon enjoy faster passport checks at European airports. A new UK-EU agreement will allow them to use automated e-gates. This is part of updated EU travel rules for UK citizens, aiming to reduce long airport queues this summer.

E-Gates to Speed Up Passport Control for UK Citizens

Since Brexit, passport control from the UK to the EU has been slower. UK travelers have faced manual passport checks and stamping, which caused long delays at popular EU hubs like Lisbon and Madrid.

Now, that’s changing. Under the new agreement, UK citizens will soon be able to use e-gates at many EU airports. These gates scan passports automatically, cutting down wait times.

Although an official launch date hasn’t been announced, the UK government hopes the system will be ready for summer. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asked EU countries to act quickly. This new step is part of broader efforts to improve the fast track at EU airports.

Photo by WoodyAlec from Getty Images

Officials Say the Change Will Reduce Queues

UK officials are optimistic. EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said this will give British travelers at EU airport queues “more time to spend on holiday or work trips […] doing what you want, not being stuck in queues.”

However, some rules remain the same. The new system does not change post-Brexit EU travel updates. UK citizens can still only spend 90 days in the Schengen Area within any 180-day period. Travelers will need to keep track of the duration of their stay.

Biometric System Coming Later in 2025

More changes are ahead. The EU plans to launch the Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025. This will replace passport stamps with biometric checks, like fingerprint and facial scans, for non-EU travelers, including those from the UK.

 

This move will further modernize EU border control for Brits and help authorities track how long each traveler stays.

Together, these changes aim to make travel faster and smoother. They also signal stronger cooperation between the UK and EU in a post-Brexit world.

 

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