Holidaymakers heading to France this half term are being warned to prepare for lengthy queues at the Port of Dover, where delays already building ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
The port says around 18,000 cars are expected to pass through Dover between Friday and Sunday, with Saturday the busiest day of the bank holiday getaway. Around 400 coaches are expected on Friday.
Although the new EU Entry/Exit (EES) System officially launched on 10 April, passengers’ fingerprints and photographs are not currently being taken at Dover, but they still face longer processing times because border officials are carrying out manual checks.
In an update posted on X this morning, Port of Dover said: “There is currently a 120-minute processing time for tourist traffic in the Buffer Zone.” It also warned of ‘external congestion on the Port approach roads’.
The port later thanked passengers for their patience, saying staff were ‘working hard to get everyone through Border Control and Check-In as quickly as possible’ and urging people to treat staff ‘with kindness and respect’.
It is advising passengers to stick to main routes to keep Dover town clear, arrive no more than two hours before their sailing time, ensure passports and travel documents are ready for inspection, and to pack water, snacks and entertainment for children.
If queues get worse, the nearby Lydden Hill racing circuit will be used as a contingency holding area for traffic.
Port of Dover said passengers who miss their booked crossing because of delays will be transferred onto the next available sailing.
