UK holidaymakers can now use eGates at 14 major destinations
The opening of a raft of eGates at airports across Europe means less queues for British tourists this holiday season
Holidaymakers heading to popular destinations can breathe a sigh of relief with the news that a host of eGates have now officially opened in time for the summer season.
It should mean less queueing for Brits abroad, who, until now, have had to line up for manned immigration booths and have their documents stamped. Portugal announced the opening of their eGates at Faro Airport at the start of the month after the Prime Minister Keir Starmer struck a deal with EU leaders.
And now France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and eleven other EU countries have officially reopened fast-track eGates for British tourists. According to Travel and Tour World, passengers will now be able to breeze through 14 airports using the electronic system which will scan UK passports and replace the need for stamping them.
Exiting border control through these automated gates was something Brits could do before Brexit. After leaving, that access was restricted.
British travellers were then reclassified as "visa-exempt third-country nationals" and initially lost their ability to use e-gates at many European airports.
Until now, UK holidaymakers have only been able to use eGates at limited airports in Spain and Portugal. It's led to reports of 'nightmare' queues before peak summer season - July and August - has even arrived.
At Faro Airport, prior to the opening of the eGates, we reported on passengers waiting for three hours at the hub to have their passports stamped.
This week Sofia Airport in Bulgaria also opened for British fliers. And Tallinn Airport in Estonia has also relaxed the ban and will now allow Brits to use the gates.
The amendment to the eGate regulations now mean 49 destinations will allow Brits through their security system, the Sun said, with popular countries such as Paris, Rome, Lisbon and Tenerife on the list.
There had been fears that gates would not reopen for Brits before this summer with initial timescales set at October 2025 with the roll out taking place over six months from then.
Where Brits Can Use eGates This Summer
France: Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon, Nice Italy: Rome Fiumicino, Ciampino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice, Naples, Florence, Bologna, Pisa, Cagliari, Catania, Palermo, Bari, Brindisi, Bergamo, Treviso, Verona, Turin, Olbia Spain: Alicante, Mallorca, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Ibiza Portugal: Lisbon, Faro Germany: EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (shared with France) Belgium: Brussels Airport Netherlands: Amsterdam Schiphol (exit only) Cyprus: Larnaca, Paphos Ireland: Dublin Hungary: Budapest Czech Republic: Prague (Terminal 1) Finland: Helsinki Bulgaria: Sofia Estonia: Tallinn (starting next year) Eurotunnel/Eurostar: Folkestone Terminal, Calais Terminal, Port of Calais, Eurostar Paris Gare du Nord, London St Pancras
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