Millions of British holidaymakers heading for Portugal are now able to use eGates at Faro airport and avoid lengthy Brexit border queues.
Portuguese authorities confirmed the new border arrangements which follow Sir Keir Starmer’s Government striking a trade deal with the European Union.
Britons were able to use the eGates at Faro from Wednesday.
Minister for EU Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “This is great news for sun-seeking Brits heading on holiday to the Algarve this summer.
“And that is on top of the wider deal we secured which is good for jobs, good for bills and good for borders.”
Ministers are now urging other EU airports to allow Brits to use eGates ahead of the summer holidays.
Some airports in Spain have already adopted this practice.
But many other airports have left Britons facing long queues following the UK splintering away from the European bloc with Brexit.
The UK Government sought to rebuild ties with the EU with the trade deal struck last month.
The Government claimed the agreement will boost Britain’s economy by £9 billion by 2040.
But the Prime Minister was hit with a huge row over fishing and following EU rules to ease trade across the Channel.
Key points in the deal include:
* Trade rules will be eased to allow more UK exports of food to the Continent and stop lorries full of produce being delayed at ports.
* However, the UK will have to follow EU rules on food standards which the Conservatives stressed would make the UK a “rule taker”.
* The Government made a major concession on EU trawlers to fish in UK waters, replacing annual negotiations with a longer time period of 12 years.
* “Pet passports” for UK cats and dogs will end the need for animal health certificates for every trip.
* A capped and time-limited youth mobility scheme for young Brits to be able to work on the Continent, and vice versa for EU citizens will be introduced.
* A defence and security pact, with an agreement allowing British firms access to a 150 billion euro (£125 billion) EU defence fund. But it is not yet clear how much the UK will have to contribute to the fund.
* Crime-fighting talks will continue on the UK getting access to EU facial images data, on top of the existing arrangements for DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data.
Sir Keir hailed the deal as a “new era in our relationship” with the EU but the Tories and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK have accused the Government of betraying British fishermen and women.
Many of the details of the agreement are yet to be finalised including over the youth mobility scheme and its time limits and the number of people who will be able to take part in it.
