By MARK DUELL

Published: 11:35 BST, 5 June 2025 | Updated: 11:48 BST, 5 June 2025

Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this week ahead of the peak summer season in the Algarve, a minister revealed today.

The announcement comes after the Government said on May 19 that British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of a UK-EU deal.

Since Brexit, Britons arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology – leading to long waits, particularly in peak periods.

But Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister for EU relations, told the Commons today that UK tourists arriving at Faro over the coming days will be able to use e-gates.

Taking a question about steps ‘to improve relations with the EU, he said: ‘The historic deal that we signed with the EU on May 19 is in our national interests.

‘Good for bills, borders and jobs. It slashes red tape and bureaucracy, boosts British exporters and makes life easier for holidaymakers.

‘Indeed, I’m delighted to confirm this morning that Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this week.’

The issue over British tourists queuing abroad has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Faro Airport, pictured in June 2021

Faro Airport, pictured in June 2021

Faro Airport, pictured in 2018

Faro Airport, pictured in 2018

E-gates at London Heathrow Airport, pictured in 2021

E-gates at London Heathrow Airport, pictured in 2021

British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at only a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal.

Meanwhile the EU is planning to launch its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October.

This will replace the need for people arriving in the EU from non-member countries such as the UK to have their passports stamped.

Instead, they will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database, with the data stored for three years.

But there are fears this will cause queues at EU airports, as well as at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel’s terminal in Folkestone and London’s St Pancras railway station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys.

The Government also announced last month that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel ‘more easily’ by ‘eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip’. 

This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports.

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Popular EU holiday destination to let Brits skip border queues by becoming first to allow UK tourists to use passport e-gates

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