British tourists must endure the EU's passport stamp queue until at least October, but probably until 2026, despite a high-profile electronic policy agreement at the EU summit in London on Monday, it has emerged.

According to the detailed text of the agreement, both the UK and the EU agreed that “there will be no legal barriers to and from British nationals to and from EU member states after the introduction of the EU Entry/SXIT System (EES).

But the government has acknowledged that it will not be implemented until October, even if it can only be staged within six months by April 2026, which means continuing to line up for British holidaymakers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told MPs on Tuesday that the EU agreement constitutes a "hat trick" of the agreement, proving that "Britain returns to the world stage" with the recent negotiations in the United States and India.

He argued that the move to allow British travelers to use European electronic gates was one of the core elements of the deal. "This partnership can help British holidaymakers who can use electronic gates when they travel to Europe, ending those huge queues of passport control," he said.

The day before, he said he hoped this would be "as soon as possible".

The Association of Travel Agency (ABTA) said it was clear that the deal “will not affect this summer” and that when the passport “wet stamping” ended, it would also rely on confirmation from EU member states.

Currently at some airports, especially in Portugal, British tourists have been allowed to use electronic doors, but due to Brexit restrictions, they still have to stamp their passports, which limit visa-free access to the EU to 180 and 90 days per year.

Luke Pethridgeridge, ABTA Director of Public Affairs, said: "We believe there are three different situations in how EU countries allow British citizens to use electronics and electronic networks. The first is completely unavailable. The second is occasional visits, the second occasionally allows the judgment of officials at the border, and the third is your second and third phases, your range is your second announcement in the second and third cases. However, once EES is introduced, this may change."

Starmer said on Monday that he "urged EU member states" to allow British people to use electronic gates as soon as possible. "We're going to work hard. There's no suppression right now, so I want to see it finish soon."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of committing more than the actual deal in the deal.

"The Prime Minister boasted that we will now avoid queues at airports because we will get EU e-policy," she said. "It sounds great, except that it is not true; some airports have allowed it, and this deal cannot be guaranteed anywhere, as every country still has to agree."

Sources close to the government say that even passport stamps access to electronic doors will be a huge improvement as it will be separate from other third nationals who need to check visas, which can add hours to the journey of busy hotspots such as Rome, Paris and Madrid.

"The biggest impact will be felt when wet stamping is removed, but at the same time, opening the electronic doors will still help, which provides British citizens with more port options and helps with liquidity."

A spokesman for the European Commission said the introduction of EES “will open the use of electronic networks for all non-EU citizens, including British citizens. This will lead to liquidity in and out of the border.”

The Spanish government has confirmed that once the system is up and running, British travelers will be able to use electronic gates at Spanish airports.

Sources from the Home Ministry said: "When the EU orders entry/exit border control system begins operation, as long as British citizens have valid travel documents, such as passports, they can use electronic entry points."

Under the new EES system, EU member states will require non-EU visitors, businesses or leisure to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images entering the Schengen region.

Every subsequent visit will verify biometrics, “If your digital files are not clear about any obstacles to travel, you usually don’t need to go through your passport control officers”.

The system is not yet in operation and once the EES is given green light, a scanning system will be established at airports and ports including Dover and Folkestone European hilars.

The system has been delayed three times due to concerns about the delays in the Paris Olympics last year and issues with the EU database.

Each member state and agent EU-EU interface system also has technical problems, which manages group technologies and databases related to free flow, security and justice.

Ultimately, all travel in the EU will be digitally controlled via the Electronic Visa System (ETIAS), which will be conducted in the last quarter of next year, and a long-term plan similar to the digital passports already running in the Ukrainian DIIA application.