Using e-passport gates
E-passport gates are a secure and convenient self-service alternative to the conventional border control process.
The system uses facial recognition technology to compare your face to the photograph recorded on the 'chip' in your passport. Once the checks are made, the gates will open automatically for you to go through.
E-passport gates are in operation at the following UK airports:
- Birmingham International terminal 1
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- East Midlands
- Edinburgh
- Gatwick north terminal
- Gatwick south terminal
- Heathrow terminals 1, 3, 4 and 5
- Luton
- Manchester terminals 1 and 2
- Stansted
You can use the gates if:
you are a passport holder of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) - including the UK - or Switzerland; and your EEA passport has this logo. You cannot use the gates with a national identity card instead of a passport.
You must be aged 18 or over, unless otherwise stated on airport signs.
Place your passport firmly on the scanner, ensuring the photograph is face down. If your passport is in a cover, please remove it before placing it on the passport reader.
When indicated, remove your e-passport and step forward into the booth, positioning your feet on the markings on the floor.
Remove your glasses and look straight at the camera - the booth will match your face to the photograph held in the chip in your passport. You can exit through the glass doors when they open.
If the system rejects you, please see the border officer at the desk who will provide a manual check.
E-Passport are very practical because they speed up the process in the busy period and only one security person needed to check 6-8 passport in the same time. It is very secured because they are taking picture of you and some places fingerprints also.
I have not had the chance to use one of these yet, due to my passport. However I really would like to as I believe this would be a faster way of getting through immigration and beating the queues. I think this is a good way to improve technology but also make airports a lot faster and more efficient. Great article Kamilla!
ReplyDeleteI used it a few times Emmaline, and I can tell you that it was fast and professional. I really liked it because when we arrived to the gates we saw a massive queue and I thought we will never get out, but than we got through in two minutes. Really good.
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