- Germany agrees to phased opening of e-gates for the over 3
million Brits visiting each year
- Follows UK-EU Summit in May and agreement that there were no
legal barriers to allow UK citizens access to e-gates in more EU
Member States after the introduction of the EU's Entry/Exit
System
Millions of UK travellers to Germany will be able to use e-gates
in the future thanks to a new agreement made between Prime
Minister and German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz today (Thursday 17 July). Part of a landmark
bilateral treaty between the two countries.
Germany will roll out the first phase of e-gates 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. Access for all UK nationals will be
possible once Germany has completed technical updates to
its entry systems as it introduces the new EU's Entry/Exit
System.
3.2 million Brits visited Germany in 2023, with numbers growing
steadily since the Covid pandemic. Opening up e-gates in Germany,
and across the EU, will support UK trade and tourism and boost
growth through the Plan for Change.
The agreement follows the successful UK-EU Summit in May, where
the UK and EU made clear that there were no legal barriers to
even more EU countries allowing UK citizens to use eGates at
airports. EU Relations Minister Nick Thomas Symonds also visited
Berlin in June to discuss e-gates, among other issues, with
German ministers.
Since then, the UK has secured e-gates access for UK citizens
traveling to Bulgaria and now into Germany. Other countries and
airports have also opened up access, including Portugal (Faro
airport) and the Czech Republic (Prague airport) and
Estonia has confirmed they will open up access at (Tallinn
airport) in 2026.
EU Relations Minister said:
“eGates can make the slog of travelling through an airport that
bit easier, which is why I have been working with the EU and
member states to get more airports opened up to Brits
abroad.
“With £30 billion of services trade between the UK and the EU,
this agreement isn't just good for holidaymakers, it's good for
British businesses too. Making traveling easier between Europe's
biggest economies, to get deals done and boost growth.”
The UK and Germany have a trading relationship worth almost £150
billion a year. Germany is the UK's second largest trading
partner behind the USA, where the UK agreed a new trade deal last
month.
The UK exports almost £30 billion worth of services to Germany
each year, a growing market for British service providers.
Services trade, like financial services, IT and consultancy are
heavily reliant on face to face meetings and this e-gates
agreement will save British firms valuable time.
While many EU countries now allow UK citizens to use e-gates, the
government is continuing to work with others to do so.
