The effects of Brexit on travel can’t be mitigated by eGates

Great barrier grief: that is what the UK government promises to end, at least for British travellers to Germany.

- SIMON CALDER TRAVEL CORRESPONDENT

“Millions of UK travellers to Germany will be able to use eGates in the future thanks to a new agreement made between prime minister Keir Starmer and German chancellor Friedrich Merz today,” the Cabinet Office says. “Germany will roll out the first phase of eGates access for UK travellers by the end of August, starting with frequent travellers such as Brits with family in Germany or who travel regularly for business.”

To be more precise: by late August, the UK will join Germany's EasyPass. That's the branding for the eGates, which compare the biometric data in the traveller's passport with their face. Already citizens of China, Korea and the US can sign up for this. You must register for it, which means you go through passport control as normal at one of the bigger airports, then visit the police station for an interview.