Britons will not be able to use e-gates in EU until October at earliest

The Guardian

20-05-2025

British tourists will have to endure passport-stamping queues in the EU until at least October and possibly well into 2026 despite a high profile e-gates agreement unveiled at Monday's EU-UK summit in London, it has emerged.
According to the detailed text of the agreement, both the UK and the EU agree there will be 'no legal barriers to e-gate use for British nationals travelling to and from EU member states after the introduction of the EU entry/sxit system (EES)'.
But the government has conceded that is not being implemented until October and even then will only be phased in over six months until April 2026, meaning continued queueing for British holidaymakers.
Keir Starmer, the prime minister, told MPs on Tuesday that along with the recently negotiated US and India deals, the EU agreement formed a 'hat-trick' of pacts, which proved 'Britain was back on the world stage'.
He argued that the move to allow British travellers to use European e-gates was one of the core elements of the deal. '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,' he said.
A day before, he said he hoped this would happen 'as soon as possible'.
The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has said it is clear the deal 'won't impact this summer' and it would also rely on confirmation from EU member states when 'wet stamping' of passports would end.
At the moment in some airports, notably in Portugal, British visitors are already allowed to use e-gates but they still have to get their passports stamped because of Brexit restrictions that limit visa-free visits to the EU to 180 days a year and 90 days at a time.
Luke Petherbridge, the 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.'
Starmer said on Monday he had 'urged EU member states' to allow Britons to use e-gates as soon as possible. 'We will be pressing hard on that. There's no inhibition now on this, so I want to see it done quickly.'
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, accused him of promising more than the agreement actually delivered.
'The prime minister is boasting that we will now avoid airport queues because we will get access to EU e-gates,' she said. 'It sounds great, except it is not true; some airports already allow that, and this deal does not guarantee it anywhere, as each country still has to agree.'
Sources close to the government said even with passport stamping access to e-gates would be a huge improvement as it would separate British from other third country nationals, who need visas checked, something that can add hours to a journey in busy hotspots such as Rome, Paris and Madrid.
'The biggest impacts will be felt when wet stamping is removed, but in the mean time opening up e-gates will still help, giving UK citizens more options at ports and helping fluidity,' said one government insider.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said the introduction of the EES 'will open the possibility to use e-gates for all non-EU citizens, including UK citizens. This will contribute to fluidity at borders for both entry and exit.'
The Spanish government has confirmed that British travellers will be able to use electronic gates at Spanish airports once the system is up and running.
'When the EU orders the entry/exit border control system to begin operating, British citizens will be able to use electronic entry points as long as they have a valid travel document, such as a passport,' said a source at the interior ministry.
Under the new EES system, EU member states will require non-EU visitors, business or leisure, to provide biometric data including fingerprints and facial images entering the Schengen area.
Each visit after that will verify the biometrics and 'if your digital file is clear of any impediments to travel, you will usually not need to go via a passport control officer'.
The system is not currently in operation, and airports and ports including Dover and Folkestone Eurotunnel will have scanning systems in place once the EES is given the green light.
The system has already been delayed three times amid concerns the new system would cause delays at the Olympics in Paris last year and issues with an EU database.
There were also technical issues with each member state's system for interfacing with the agency eu-Lisa, which manages the technology and databases for the bloc in relation to free movement, security and justice.
Ultimately all travel in the EU will be digitally controlled with an electronic visa waiver system, Etias, pencilled in for the last quarter of next year and long-term plans for digital passports similar to those already operational in Ukraine's DIIA app.