Port of Dover Ready for Smooth EU Border Upgrades Amid New EES Rollout
With £40 million in new infrastructure, Port of Dover ensures faster, hassle-free travel despite EU’s enhanced biometric border checks.
Britain’s Port of Dover is fully prepared to welcome the European Union’s new biometric border system, the Entry/Exit System (EES), with minimal disruption to travellers.
The port’s leadership expressed confidence that summer peak traffic will remain smooth and efficient, despite the enhanced checks that will take longer than the current process.
The EES, launching on October 12 for all non-EU citizens, including British visitors, requires passport scans, fingerprinting, and facial recognition at the border.
While the new checks are expected to take around six minutes per vehicle – six times longer than the current 30-60 second processing time – the Port of Dover’s £40 million investment in advanced facilities ensures streamlined operations and no congestion on surrounding roads.
Port of Dover CEO Doug Bannister highlighted that the new infrastructure has been purpose-built to handle peak summer traffic. “We have designed these facilities to accommodate our busiest days while ensuring travellers experience smooth passage without queues,” he said.
Additionally, the EU has allowed for precautionary measures during the first six months of full EES operations, enabling border staff to adjust processing as needed based on traffic volumes.
The system’s phased rollout over six months means different ports and airports in the Schengen zone may adopt the checks at slightly different times. For British travellers, the process at Dover, Eurotunnel in Folkestone, and Eurostar at St Pancras International will occur before leaving the UK.
Freight and coach traffic will be the first to undergo EES checks starting this Sunday, followed by passenger vehicles from November.
This carefully managed implementation reflects a strong partnership between UK and EU authorities, ensuring the upgraded system enhances security while maintaining travel efficiency.
By investing in infrastructure and planning for phased adoption, Port of Dover positions itself as a leader in modern border management, blending technology and operational excellence.
Travelers can look forward to a seamless experience even as border technology evolves. The new EES system not only strengthens security but also promises quicker and more reliable cross-border processing in the long term.
The Port of Dover’s proactive approach serves as a benchmark for other major transit hubs adapting to advanced border technologies.
In addition to smoother operations, the updated system will improve the accuracy of data collection, helping authorities better manage traffic flows and plan for future growth in passenger and freight volumes.
With these upgrades, Port of Dover continues to demonstrate its commitment to world-class service while supporting modern, secure, and efficient travel across the UK-EU corridor.
The £40 million investment ensures that both current and future travellers benefit from faster and safer journeys, reinforcing Dover’s reputation as one of Europe’s most reliable and traveler-friendly ports.
By combining technology, strategic planning, and infrastructure investment, Port of Dover is ready to handle the new EU Entry/Exit System with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency.
