Key points
- Travelers from the UK, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea can now use eGates at Prague Airport
- The expansion took effect on May 15, 2026, for departures outside the Schengen area
- Users must be at least 15 years old and carry a biometric passport
- The move follows the EES becoming fully operational in April 2026, which required technical upgrades to the gate system
The expansion took effect on May 15 and requires a biometric passport and a minimum age of 15
Travelers from the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea can now use the automated eGate border control system at Václav Havel Airport in Prague.
According to Prague Morning, the gates opened to these new groups on Friday, May 15, 2026, marking a significant broadening of a system that had previously been restricted to citizens of EU and European Economic Area countries, as well as Switzerland.
To use the gates, travelers must be 15 years of age or older and carry a biometric passport. The service is available only on departures outside the Schengen area.
EES rollout required technical upgrades
The move follows the Entry/Exit System (EES) becoming fully operational across the European Union on April 10, 2026, after a phased rollout that began in October 2025. Czech authorities say an earlier rollout was technically impossible.
The EES, which tracks the movement of non-EU nationals crossing external Schengen borders, required technical adjustments to the airport’s existing automated gate infrastructure before third-country nationals could be admitted to the system.
Preparing for a record-breaking summer
Prague Airport is approaching 20 million passengers annually, a figure that grows each year. The eGate expansion is being rolled out deliberately ahead of peak season, when passenger numbers surge, and pressure on passport control intensifies.
Martin Kučera, board member responsible for operations and security at Prague Airport, said the upgrade has already informed how the airport is planning its summer setup.
“We have already reflected the experience from the first months of operation of the EES system in the organization of summer operations and the setting of capacities in the passport control area,” he said.
“We see the expansion of the use of eGATE to other groups of passengers as an important step towards faster and more comfortable check-in while maintaining all security standards.”
