Most eligible travellers clear Heathrow passport control in a few minutes using the eGates, which read your passport and photo automatically. Queues build when several long-haul flights land together, usually in the early morning, and when Border Force is short-staffed or on strike. Allow up to an hour at the worst peaks if you have a tight onward connection. Checked August 2026.
How passport control works at Heathrow
Every arriving passenger clears UK immigration before collecting bags. There are two ways through: the automated eGates and the staffed desks. The eGates scan your passport chip and match it to your face, and when they work smoothly you are through in under a minute of reaching the front.
If you are not eligible for the eGates, you queue for a Border Force officer at a desk, which takes longer per person. The overall wait you experience is mostly about how many flights have landed in the same bank and how many gates or desks are open.
Who can use the eGates
The eGates are open to holders of a biometric passport from the UK and a list of other countries. As of 2026 that includes the EU and EEA, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and several more. You do not need to register in advance.
The minimum age to use the eGates dropped from 10 to 8 on 8 July 2026. Children aged 8 and over who meet the height requirement of about 120 cm can use them, accompanied by an adult. Children under 8 use the staffed desks with their family. For the full picture on who qualifies and the UK ETA you may need before you travel, see our guide to Heathrow entry requirements.
When the queues are worst
Passport halls at Heathrow are busiest when several long-haul flights arrive close together. The heaviest bank is typically early morning, when overnight flights from North America, the Gulf and Asia land within a short window. Late afternoon can be busy too. Between banks, the halls can be almost empty.
Two factors make a bad queue worse. One is Border Force staffing: if fewer desks are open, non-eGate passengers wait longer. The other is industrial action. Border Force officers staff passport control, so their strikes hit arrivals hardest. As of August 2026 a Border Force dispute over rostering has led to periods of strike action at Heathrow, and disputes like this recur, so check the current position before you travel. See our note on how strikes affect your flight.
Should you pay for arrivals Fast Track?
Heathrow sells an arrivals Fast Track that gives you a dedicated, quicker lane through passport control. It costs £25 per person off-peak and from £35 at peak times, is bookable up to six months ahead, and closes one hour before your flight lands.
Whether it is worth it depends on your risk. If you are arriving on an early-morning long-haul flight, have a tight onward connection or a car waiting on a meter, the certainty can be worth £25 to £35. If you hold an eligible biometric passport and are arriving off-peak, the standard eGates are usually so quick that Fast Track adds little. It makes the most sense for passengers who cannot use the eGates, or who are landing into a known busy bank.
How to speed yourself through
Have your passport ready and out before you reach the hall. If you are eligible, head straight for the eGates rather than the staffed desks, and use the family or assistance lanes if they apply to you. Fill in any required online forms or a UK ETA before you fly, so nothing holds you up at the desk. And if you have a connection to make, build in a buffer for the possibility of a slow bank, because a missed onward flight costs far more than the time you save by cutting it fine.
More
More: Overview, Facilities, FAQs.
Frequently asked questions
How long does passport control take at Heathrow? Usually a few minutes if you can use the eGates. When several long-haul flights land together, or Border Force is short-staffed, it can take much longer, so allow up to an hour at the worst early-morning peaks if you have a connection.
Can Americans use the eGates at Heathrow? Yes. US citizens with a biometric passport can use the Heathrow eGates, along with travellers from the UK, the EU and EEA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and more. No advance registration is needed.
What is the minimum age for the eGates at Heathrow? Children aged 8 and over who are about 120 cm tall can use the eGates, accompanied by an adult. The age dropped from 10 to 8 on 8 July 2026. Children under 8 use the staffed desks.
Is arrivals Fast Track at Heathrow worth it? It costs £25 off-peak and from £35 at peak. It is most worthwhile if you cannot use the eGates, are landing in a busy early-morning bank, or have a tight onward connection. Eligible eGate users arriving off-peak often do not need it.
Do Heathrow strikes affect passport control? Yes. Border Force officers staff passport control, so their industrial action hits arrivals hardest, lengthening queues. Check the current situation before you travel, as these disputes recur.
We recommend a transport partner and may earn a referral fee. It never changes what you pay, and we only list options we would use ourselves.
Last verified August 2026 by the Heathrow Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Heathrow Airport website before you travel.