Brits to Be Allowed to Skip European Passport Queues

Written by Corie Daniel Last updated July 15th 202515/07/25

Good news for us UK travellers! In a significant new development, British holidaymakers will soon be able to use e-gates at European airports, reducing wait times at passport control. This change comes as part of a new agreement between the UK and the European Union, announced ahead of a major summit in London. The changes will come into effect shortly for this summer, meaning you will hopefully face smaller queues upon arriving in your holiday destination.

What’s Changing?

Since Brexit, UK citizens have faced longer queues at European borders due to the need for manual passport checks and stamping. Under the new deal, British travellers will gain access to e-gates previously reserved for EU and European Economic Area nationals, streamlining the entry process.

This move is expected to alleviate congestion at airports, especially during peak travel seasons. Currently, British passports are accepted at e-gates in only a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. The new agreement aims to expand this access across more European airports.

A welcome change

Travel industry leaders have welcomed the announcement. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, described it as “a significant breakthrough for British travellers.” Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, stated, “This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.”

Upcoming Changes – Entry/Exit System (EES)

While the e-gate access is a positive development, travellers should be aware of the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) set to launch in October 2025. This system will replace manual passport stamping with biometric checks, including fingerprint scans and photographs, for non-EU visitors. The data will then be stored for three years.

Stay in the know

So, some good news and a significant improvement in our post-Brexit travel arrangements – the quicker we can get through those e-gates and onto our holiday destination, the better! You can keep an eye out for any future developments regarding e-gates and the EES on our handy blog. We’ll always keep you in the loop!