Travelers crossing the UK-France border will not face the full implementation of the European Union’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) during the upcoming peak summer season. Officials at both the Port of Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal have confirmed that while the EU deadline for the system was April 2026, they are postponing the full rollout of 100 percent biometric checks until after the summer travel period concludes. The UK-France border has long been identified as a potential bottleneck for the EES due to high passenger volumes and the unique nature of juxtaposed border controls, with the Port of Dover’s leadership previously warning of the risk of severe congestion.
A spokesperson for Eurotunnel, which operates the LeShuttle car-train service, confirmed that there will be no EES biometric capture at its terminals in Folkestone and Coquelles this summer. LeShuttle customers will continue to travel as normal throughout the peak season with no change to the current process. Since April, the French Border Police (PAF) have been creating EES files for non-EU travelers at the border, but this process involves creating a digital record without biometric data, allowing passengers to remain in their vehicles. Eurotunnel has invested extensively in its infrastructure and systems to ensure readiness for the eventual implementation of biometric capture, including conducting live operational trials. The company is currently awaiting confirmation from French authorities regarding the timing of the next phase, which is expected to occur after the summer peak.
At the Port of Dover, a spokesperson confirmed that £40 million has been invested in new infrastructure, including the installation of 84 self-registration kiosks. However, the back-end technology required for full file creation has yet to be provided. While the port expects a very busy summer getaway, officials stated that thorough plans are in place, developed in cooperation with the French authorities and Kent County Council. The port advises travelers not to arrive more than two hours before their expected ferry departure time and to use the main A20 and A2 roads to avoid clogging local Kent infrastructure. Port Chief Executive Doug Banister had previously warned that without more flexibility in the EES, the port could face repeated episodes of severe congestion, with queuing cars potentially spilling onto the public highway for miles, which he noted could have a dire local impact.
Currently, only coach passengers and freight drivers are subject to fully EES-compliant border checks at the Eurotunnel terminal and the Port of Dover. A Eurotunnel spokesperson noted that the French Border Police have been delivering full EES compliance for these groups since October 2025. In Dover, a new border processing area is open for coaches, where passengers must disembark to have their passports manually scanned by border police before reboarding their coach, which is then sealed with a recognition sticker. The UK government recently announced an additional £20 million in funding to increase the number of passport check booths at the Port of Dover, building on a previous £10.5 million investment across Dover, Eurotunnel, and Eurostar terminals. Both the UK government and the European Commission have agreed to work together to ensure travel remains as seamless as possible through the summer and autumn.
Similar technical issues are believed to be affecting the Eurostar rail terminals at London Saint Pancras and Paris Gare du Nord, where full implementation of EES has not yet begun. Although self-check-in kiosks have been installed at Saint Pancras, they are not currently operational. The EES, which was designed to replace manual passport stamping by recording the entry and exit of non-EU short-term visitors in an EU-wide database, has been gradually introduced since October 12, 2025, with full implementation at Schengen external borders beginning on April 10, 2026. While the system requires biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images at the first crossing, countries retain the right to temporarily suspend checks if serious queuing problems arise, a measure already seen at several Italian airports, as well as in Spain and Greece.
