British travellers returning from abroad will soon be able to pass through airport e-gates without scanning their passports, as new facial recognition technology rolls out at the border.The system, dubbed “contactless borders,” is set to launch at Birmingham and East Midlands airports in the coming weeks before being extended to every e-gate airport in the country. Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Cardiff, London City, Luton and Newcastle Airports are all set to use the new technology by early next year.The upgrade is designed to cut queuing times significantly and is expected to speed up border control processing by 25 per cent.New technology could make it easier to get through security | GB NEWSUnder the new arrangement, airlines will send passport photographs of all British passengers due to arrive that day to Border Force, which compiles them into a gallery for the e-gates to reference. Cameras at the gates then match each traveller’s face against this database.Border Force’s director general, Phil Douglas, told The Times: “Because we know who’s coming and can load up that gallery of who is arriving, it’s not a one in 60 million check, it’s a one in tens of thousands check.”It will mean we have a more secure border and a much faster transit through the airport. It’s quicker, it’s more modern, it’s more secure.”Passengers whose faces are not matched by the e-gate will be prompted to scan their passport in a more traditional way. If that doesn’t work, they will be directed to a staffed Border Force desk for manual processing.The technology was trialled successfully over three weeks at Manchester Airport in October last year, with the Home Office reporting that travellers generally cleared the gates more quickly and enjoyed an improved experience.For now, the system is limited to British passport holders, though it could eventually cover other nationalities holding biometric passports who are eligible to use e-gates. Travellers will still need their passports for check-in and boarding.This change could cut long airport queues and take some of the stress out of going on holiday. Travel insurance expert at Confused.com, Tom Vaughan, said: “This is good news for anyone who dreads the queues at border control. “Being recognised by your face rather than fumbling for your passport at the gate could make coming home that bit quicker and smoother, especially during the busy holiday getaways.The change could remove the need to show your passports upon return | GETTYThe update could make travel less time-consuming | GETTY”The rollout is expected to start at Birmingham and East Midlands airports in the coming weeks, before reaching more UK airports in the months that follow, so it could soon be a familiar part of the journey home.”The first passengers will notice the new system when travelling in the coming weeks, but it is worth noting passports are still a must when heading to the airport. Vaughan added: “There’s one thing travellers shouldn’t overlook. Even with this technology, you’ll still need your passport to check in and board your flight, and if the gate doesn’t recognise your face, you’ll be asked to scan it as usual. So your passport remains just as essential as ever, and it still needs to be valid and in date for your trip.”It’s easy to get caught out here, as different countries have different passport validity rules, and leaving renewals too late can be costly. Before you book or travel, it’s worth checking your passport meets the requirements for your destination. Our passport checker is a quick way to make sure you’re ready to go, so a smoother border crossing isn’t undone by a passport problem before you’ve even left.”