My new UK passport has an exasperating problem and | Tech News

My job as Daily Express Technology Editor means I journey everywhere in the world overlaying launches from the most important corporations on the planet. It means I’m nicely rehearsed on what to do after I arrive home and wish to shortly whizz by way of Heathrow immigration and head home to the household. For years, it has been a seamless expertise, however the previous few months have been a whole nightmare.

I not too long ago seen my well-worn burgundy passport was utterly full of stamps and simply a few months from expiration. So I had no selection however to move online and apply for a brand-new journey doc. Due to my busy schedule and the quantity of work journeys overseas, I ended up utilizing the UK’s one-day premium service to make sure I wasn’t left with out a passport for upcoming occasions. This value me a whole of £235, together with the usual £222 premium price and the option so as to add additional pages for frequent flyers.

So with my shiny new blue passport tucked in my bag, I used to be off on my first journey to Europe, however on my return, I encountered an problem at Heathrow’s eGate.

Heading into the arrivals corridor, I walked into the enclosure, positioned my passport within the scanner, stared on the digital camera and waited. Using my previous doc, this course of took seconds, however not this time. After three long makes an attempt, the machine mentioned no, and I discovered myself in a new queue to see a UK Border Force workplace.

I did not assume something of it, however the next week I used to be on one other journey overseas, and the identical factor occurred again upon my return. Three makes an attempt, and then the machine spat me back into the queue relatively than letting me escape to the luggage corridor.

Soon after, I used to be back at Heathrow for a third time in fast succession – and nonetheless no luck on the eGates.

It was then that I puzzled if one thing was fallacious with my new passport, so I requested the Border Force officer what I ought to do.

She immediately replied that there is a “technical issue” with the new 2026 passports, and some aren’t working. She would not say how typically she was seeing the problem, however she definitely wasn’t stunned that I used to be standing in entrance of her holding the newest model of the UK passport.

It wasn’t long earlier than I used to be travelling again, and the frustration returned as quickly as I acquired to passport control.

This time, one of the Heathrow help employees noticed my passport and instantly pointed me straight to the Border Force staff, relatively than getting me to attempt to use the eGates again. That was a clear indication that I can not be the one one struggling this nightmare.

Once I’d lastly cleared immigration and was home, I contacted the Home Office for official remark and to see if they may offer any advice.

It appears the federal government division is totally unaware of any issues.

“We are usually not conscious of any widespread points with British passports used at eGates,” a Home Office spokesperson told me.

“While individuals may experience errors on rare occasions, the vast majority of travellers should expect a seamless experience with eGates.”

I was away again last week in Munich and, on my return, was blocked from passing through the electronic gates yet again.

As I approached the Border Force officer, he looked at me and said with a wry smile, “New passport, sir?”

According to that official, a fix is on its way, but if you have just got a brand new 2026 passport, you might face similar issues and the joy of queuing once for an eGate and then again to speak to Border Force.

I’ve now been asked to post my document to His Majesty’s Passport Office so “a full inspection and examination of the passport’s biometric chip” can be undertaken by the Faulty Chip/Damaged passport team.

As soon as I get a chance to package it up, write a covering letter, get to the post office and send it off recorded delivery, I’ll then find out if I’m simply unlucky or if this is a more serious problem affecting the system.

“We will write to you instantly when we’ve obtained the outcomes of the examination,” the Passport Office confirmed.

Have you had points along with your new passport? Leave a message within the remark part under in that case.