British holidaymakers travelling to a popular European airport will dodge lengthy queues from this week, a minister has confirmed.
Faro Airport, in the Algarve, Portugal, will start the rollout of e-gates for UK nationals after a new deal between the UK and the EU.
It will mean families travelling to the popular destination can avoid huge queues waiting to have their passports stamped.
Taking a question about steps “to improve relations with the EU”, Nick Thomas-Symonds – a minister in the Cabinet Office – told the Commons: “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.”
It is a huge boost for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after the agreement revealed only that the UK and European Commission will talk about “the potential use of eGates where appropriate” and that there will be “no legal barriers to eGate use for British Nationals traveling to and from European Union Member States”.
There was no guarantee on when British travellers could use the system.
The EU Commission has also claimed UK citizens will not have access to e-gates until the new European Entry/Exit Scheme (EES), which gathers biometric data on citizens arriving in the EU from non-member, third-party countries, is established.
This is not due to be rolled out until October 2025, due to repeated delays.
