Doubts remain over e-gate use for British travellers this summer

Although the UK and the EU agreed that there will be ‘no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals’ this directive may not be implemented until October.

Even from October, it will be phased in over several more months through April 2026.

This means Brits will likely have to endure passport-stamping lines over the busy summer season and beyond.

PM Keir Starmer had said: “This partnership helps British holidaymakers, who will be able to use e-gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues at passport control.”

In some airports British travelers can use e-gates such as in Portugal but still require to have passports stamped.

Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at ABTA, said: “We believe there are three different scenarios of how EU countries allow UK citizens to use e-gates.”

“The first being no access is allowed at all, the second being occasional access might be granted at the border official’s discretion and the third will be some who allow it all of the time.”

“In terms of the second and third scenario, you’ll still need to have your passport stamped as that’s what monitors how long you’ve been in the country.”

“However, this could change once EES is introduced.”

The government said even with passport stamping, allowing access to e-gates would still be an improvement on the current situation.