Faro airport e-gates available to UK travellers this summer

UK travellers will be able to use e-gates at Faro airport from this summer, Portuguese authorities have revealed.

During the UK-EU summit last month, it was confirmed that there would be no legal barriers to UK travellers using e-gates in the EU when the Entry/Exit System (EES) is introduced from October.

The agreement to allow the use of e-gates at Faro this summer was welcomed by the UK government, which is calling for more countries to follow suit.

Nick Thomas-Symonds, minister for EU relations, said: “This is great news for sun-seeking Brits heading on holiday to the Algarve this summer. And that is on top of the wider deal we secured which is good for jobs, good for bills and good for borders.”

Millions of UK travellers pass through Faro airport as gateway to the Algarve but long queues often build up at passport control as British travellers wait to have their passports stamped.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson told national media: “Yesterday, Portugal opened e-gates at Faro airport to British citizens, which will mean millions more Brits going to the Algarve will be able to use e-gates in time for the summer holidays.

“We’re obviously continuing to work with other countries and other airports to ensure Britons can use more e-gates as soon as possible and that work continues.

“It’s obviously good news to see a very significant airport, I think for British holidaymakers, opening e-gates to British citizens.”

UK nationals have been unable to use e-gates in most Schengen area countries since Brexit.   

As the EES will be rolled out from October over six months, UK travellers are not expected to have widespread use of e-gates in the EU until next spring or summer.