Phil Douglas, Border Force director general, said new technology meant the way passport control operated was about to change with the advent of Electronic Travel Authorisation (Eta).
“Etas are very important; I really envisage in the next two to three years passport desks falling away,” he said, adding Border Force was “looking to procure” new-generation e-gates.
Currently, the UK lags behind some nations in adopting biometric technology, with Dubai airport already allowing facial recognition for 50 nationalities.
