New EU border checks won’t be introduced at the Port of Dover until early 2026 over concerns of Christmas travel chaos.
The European Entry/Exit System – known as EES – is a new digital border system that was set to be launched on November 1 for car passengers passing through the Port of Dover.
It has been in place for freight and coaches since October 13 and applies to non-EU passengers (including those from the UK) travelling to countries within the EU Schengen zone.
However, the expansion in Dover has been delayed and now isn’t expected until early next year.
Part of the reason behind the pushback is to avoid ‘any significant changes for passengers just before the busy end-of-year period,’ according to the port.
In a statement, it said: ‘The Port of Dover is working closely with our French border agency partners to ensure a smooth introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for tourist passengers in early 2026.
‘We have a shared determination to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the gradual ramp-up period and not to cause any significant changes for passengers just before the busy end-of-year period.’
The port revealed that ‘significant progress’ had been made with the system to help ‘streamline’ the process and ‘minimise disruption for travellers’.
New EU border checks won’t be introduced at the Port of Dover until early 2026 over concerns of Christmas travel chaos
It added: ‘The successful implementation of EES for coach, freight and foot passengers in October has resulted in nearly 13,000 profiles being successfully created.
‘We understand that Dover accounts for more than 30% of all registrations made by French seaports since 12 October.
‘This also exceeds the intended target for this period of implementation, and firmly demonstrates the success of our collective efforts thus far.’
Passengers were also advised to ‘allow extra time for their journey during the transition period’.
Others have warned about the chaos EES could cause for Dover, and according to GB News, Councillor Kevin Mills told the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee about the situation.
He warned that even without the introduction of a new system, the town is frequently hit with 14-hour delays and sees ‘a gridlock several times a year’.
He said: ‘In Dover, it is not just the A20; the whole town stops. Nothing moves. I am not exaggerating. When you walk down the town – you have to walk, because you cannot get a bus or anything else – and see ambulances stuck in queues, you start to worry. The impact on Dover is particularly bad.’
Concerns have also been raised that the new biometric tests – which at Dover mean that they have to leave their cars and have their fingerprints and photo taken – could delay journeys by hours.
The European Entry/Exit System – known as EES – is a new digital border system that was set to be launched on November 1 for car passengers passing through the Port of Dover
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, previously told Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘What should have happened from this morning is that the checks that have been implemented for freight and coaches should have happened with cars.
‘That would have meant people driving to a designated area, leaving their cars and making their way to the Western docks to do the biometric tests.’
Ms Lo Bue-Said said the full implications for travellers would not be seen until the system was tested at busy times but warned there had already been ‘bottlenecks at some airports’ despite the limited rollout at ‘a predominantly quiet time of year’.
Every year, the port gets very busy during the Christmas period and delays are frequent.
Last Boxing Day, travellers faced chaos at the border at Dover. They were hit with delays of up to 90 minutes which was caused by heavy traffic in the area.
There was a waiting time of up to 90 minutes at border control at the Dover crossing into Europe before boarding DFDS Seaways, P&O Ferries and Irish Ferries service.
At the time, a spokesperson for the Port of Dover said: ‘Experiencing heavy traffic. Please allow extra time for your journey. The current waiting time in the Buffer Zone is approx. 1 hour.
‘Please have your passports ready when arriving at the French border. We wish all passengers a pleasant journey.’
