British tourists will need to endure passport-stamping queues until October 2026, even after an e-gates agreement at the recent EU-UK summit. Both the UK and EU agreed that British nationals can eventually use e-gates, alleviating long queues at passport controls, but implementation won't occur until October, with a gradual rollout over six months. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized this move, equating it with other global agreements as evidence of Britain's renewed international standing. The Association of British Travel Agents noted that current EU travel restrictions, especially in airports like Portugal, still require passport stamping for visitors.
Keir Starmer stated that the agreement on e-gates for British nationals traveling to the EU forms a significant element of Britain's efforts to regain its global presence.
The implementation of the EU entry/exit system (EES) is set for October but will be phased in until April 2026, meaning continued passport-stamping for now.
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