Major European holiday destination opens e-gates to British travellers just in time for summer

UK holidaymakers will soon be able to skip long passport queues at a major European airport, thanks to a new UK-EU deal. 

Portugal will be the first country in the EU to allow UK passport holders to use e-gates after the deal was struck.

The rollout will begin at Faro airport in the Algarve, just in time for the busy summer travel season. 

The Algarve region is one of the most popular holiday destinations for British holidaymakers, with millions of travellers passing through Faro airport last year. 

Since Brexit, UK passport holders have had to queue at manned border control desks to get their passports stamped when entering the Schengen area countries. 

But under a new agreement struck at a UK-EU summit in May, it was confirmed that there would be no legal barriers to UK travellers using e-gates. 

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed the news in Parliament last week, saying: ‘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.’

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that millions more Brits heading to the Algarve will be able to use the e-gates in time for summer holidays. 

He added: ‘We’re obviously continuing to work with other countries and other airports to ensure Brits can use more e-gates as soon as possible and that work continues.’

Just last week, Portuguese media reported large queues at passport control at Faro airport, with delays of up to two hours. 

Last year, tourists were met with three-hour delays at Faro airport, due to e-gates reportedly not working. Pictures shared on social media showed travellers crammed in like sardines before passport control. 

The EU’s Entry/Exit system (EES), expected to launch in October 2025, will eventually replace manual passport checks from non-member countries. 

According to the UK government website, when EES is introduced, travellers to the Schengen zone will need to create a digital record on their first arrival at the airport. 

It explains: ‘If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints or a photo, when you arrive.’

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