Key Takeaways:
- A £40 million EES biometric kiosk facility at the Port of Dover might not be ready for summer 2026.
- French border police have not yet activated the EU computer systems needed for processing.
- Without the facility, long queues are expected during the busy school holiday period.
- The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has already caused delays at European airports since April.
New Facility Stalled Before Summer Rush
The Port of Dover's state-of-the-art £40 million border processing centre for car passengers is complete, but it may stand empty during the peak summer season. Port CEO Doug Bannister confirmed that French authorities have yet to switch on the EU's computer kiosks, leaving the facility idle.
"We have done absolutely everything we could to prepare for the EES," Bannister said, "but it most probably will not open for the summer season." No date has been set by the French border agency, the Police aux Frontieres, to activate the kiosks.
The facility, built on reclaimed land, features 84 kiosks and space for 600 cars to process biometric data like fingerprints and photographs. Without it, travellers face potential chaos.
What Is the EES System?
Since April 10, 2026, the EU has required non-EU citizens to enter biometric details into the Entry/Exit System (EES) before entering the Schengen area. This post-Brexit measure has already caused huge queues at some European airports, with passengers missing flights.
At Dover, travellers are currently completing partial EES profiles without biometrics, as computer terminals remain unavailable. During the May half-term holidays, port operators had to ask EU bureaucrats to suspend the system when major queues formed.
Why Summer Could Be Worse
During the May half-term, Dover handled 8,000 cars per day. In summer, the port expects between 11,000 and 13,000 cars daily. The risk of border chaos is high if French and EU authorities don't resolve software glitches in the EES kiosk computers.
Additional congestion could arise as vehicles move from the Western Docks (where the EES site is located) to the ferry terminal at the Eastern Docks. Eurotunnel's kiosks at Folkestone are also not operational yet.
Official Responses and Next Steps
An EU spokesman defended the system, saying EES is working well and "any exceptional situations can be addressed with flexibilities and fall-back procedures." He added that member states are responsible for implementation.
Port of Dover is working with UK and French governments to ensure a smooth summer, but there's "no certain outlook" for the kiosks' activation.
What About ETIAS?
In October 2026, the EU plans to launch another layer of bureaucracy: the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). Linked to EES, it will require passengers to pay a £17.25 (€20) fee for a three-year permit to enter the Schengen area.
For now, travellers should prepare for potential delays at Dover and check for updates before travelling.
Bottom line: The EES facility delay means summer travellers through Dover should expect long queues. Stay informed and allow extra time.