ePassport gates installed at Heathrow and Gatwick

People with a UK or European Union biometric passport can now use e-Passport gates at every major UK airport, following the installation of more automated terminals at Heathrow and Gatwick.

The gates use facial-recognition technology in the biometric passports to compare your face to the photograph recorded on the ‘chip' in your passport. The chip inside the passport contains information about the holder's face such as the distances between eyes, nose, mouth and ears.

These details are taken from the passport photograph that you supply. They can then be used to identify the passport holder. The chip also holds the information that is printed on the personal details page of your passport.

The details are checked against the full range of UK Border Agency systems – just as if they were seen by an officer. Once a check is completed and verified, the gates open and the passenger can walk through.

A representative for the Home Office said if there is a glitch in the automated system, there are measures to help passengers.

The Home Office said: "There are members of staff monitoring the passport channels and what would happen in most cases is the passenger will be directed to normal passport control."

Biometric ePassport gates are now installed at Birmingham Terminals 1 & 2, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Gatwick North & South, Luton, Manchester Terminals 1 & 2, Heathrow T1, T3, T4, and T5 and Stansted.

There is no need to register to use the new ePassport gates, but the passport holder must be aged 18 or over. They must be also be a citizen of the UK, European Union or European Economic Area citizen and hold a ‘chipped' biometric passport.