Border controls

France set to miss EES deadline for registering all travellers

Technical difficulties with pre-registration equipment and its software hampering rollout efforts

French ferry ports warn of passenger delays as EES full rollout approaches

Software failures and insufficient staffing risk causing “congestion and disorganisation”

France says full EES rollout on track despite ongoing IT issues

All eligible travellers crossing French borders are due to be checked from March 30. Delays have remained under control so far, say officials

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France faces technical delays in EU EES border rollout

Problems with kiosks and tablets raise doubts over meeting deadlines for new biometric entry-exit checks

90/180 days rule: readers tell of impacts on health and on family and working life

Rule affects Britons post-Brexit as well as other non-EU citizens such as Americans

Germany to prolong EU border checks: how travel from France is affected

Checks at land borders will take place until at least September 15, 2026

EES: Why am I fingerprinted every time at Nice airport?

Phase-in period is continuing and technical improvements are still awaited

EES: Delay for British and American residents to use French passport e-gates

Phased rollout of checks set to reach full operation by April, with 'partial suspensions' possible over summer

Solutions ‘coming early in 2026’ to EES issues at French airports

European Commission denies claims of three-hour ‘peak time’ queues

France flagged as facing problems as airports urge EES changes

Urgent solutions needed to avoid ‘mayhem’, EU told

EU visa-free travel: new suspension rules explained

Reasons allowed for pausing ‘90/180 days’ travel rights are being expanded

Eurotunnel: EES digital border system on pause for cars coming to France

Discussions said to be ongoing to find the best start date

I am now registered in EES: What happens next time I cross the Schengen border?

The system is in effect since October 12

Long waits reported elsewhere but France limits EES to two hours a day

The French approach has been to start low key and without ‘travel questions’

When does EES start for Eurotunnel and how will it work?

We look at how lanes and pre-registration booths are being organised

How to get a DCEM travel document for children travelling through EES

Document set to be important for under-18s travelling into or out of France from this autumn

EES digital border checks: start date officially confirmed

Non-EU nationality visitors to France such as Britons and Americans will need to register in new system

Is a date set for start of EES border controls this autumn?

We also look at which passport lanes French visa and residency card holders will use

New UK-EU deal: What could change for Britons in France?

Erasmus, youth scheme, food, pets, borders… the new ‘partnership’ is wide-ranging

UK-EU summit: Will British travellers be allowed to use e-gates in EU?

France says its fast-track gates are being adapted – but it is still unclear how residency cards or visas will be verified for exemption to EES digital borders system

New EES border controls: will foreign residents of France be able to use e-gates?

Airports seek solutions to avoid obligatory queuing at border guards’ booths for French residency card and visa holders

EES digital borders scheme: Launch date update

Plans for a ‘progressive start’ are said to be well supported

UK ambassador’s New Year message to Britons in France

Dame Menna Rawlings reflects on 2024 and looks forward to the upcoming year

EES digital borders delays: French IT firm reported to be largely to blame

Atos, which was also involved in the Paris Olympics, is accused of misplacing parts, taking weeks to fix bugs and sending teams that lack experience

Plans for how EES digital border checks will be ‘phased in’ explained

The EU Commission is aiming for a ‘progressive’ start for the delayed system

EES: What are next steps for EU’s new digital border checks?

The scheme was intended to launch ‘in the autumn’ but time is running out

November 10 start date for EES would have been 'utter carnage,' UK Lords told

Council leader reports that Dover roads could not have coped; UK now has “no idea” when system will start

French ferry ports: ‘IT and tablets not ready for EES border changes’

It is possible that only ‘samples’ of passengers will be checked at first

New EU border controls: Will changes really start in November?

Eurostar ‘still awaiting a formal update’ on launch of EES biometric checks

UK’s new ETA travel fee permit: rules for French and other non-British visitors

We also look at whether binationals and the family of UK nationals are exempt, when this is due to start and if there will be changes to passport lanes

New EU border control checks to launch November 10 - official

EES system of checks on non-EU visitors, including taking facial images and fingerprints, to start in three months’ time

UK wants EES ‘soft launch’ measures to be extended into summer 2025

It is expected that in the first months of the EU’s new digital borders scheme some passengers will not have to provide fingerprints and a facial image

Foreign families urged to plan now for Christmas travel document

Under-18s should carry 'DCEMs' to avoid confusion once EES digital borders scheme starts

Dover port: French border zone to be expanded ready for new checks

Minister accuses previous government of not ‘pulling out all the stops’ to prevent long queues for ferry passengers when the EU checks begin in autumn

France slow to comment on use of new EES border check app

The phone app - intended to speed up procedures by collecting passenger information ahead of time - is optional for EU countries

EES border checks: why your fingerprints may be taken twice

Pre-registration data ‘kiosks’ are being installed at several Schengen area entry points and places such as London's St Pancras station but travellers will still have to pass in front of a guard

Key step completed for France-UK travel and new EU border controls

Total of 224 ‘kiosks’ being installed at UK and French tunnel borders to speed up data collection ahead of the launch of the EES system

Prepare for border changes to start November 6, French airports told

Airport officials say the date is too early for the Entry/Exit System and will lead to significant delays. It is still not known if France will opt to use a phone app

How will EES/Etias affect spouses of EU nationals in France?

The EES is set to replace the current manual stamping of passports for non EU-nationals entering the bloc

Alarm grows over new digital checks at UK/France borders from autumn

Ports, travel operators and airlines are calling for urgent action. Travel operator group Abta says France is not opting for a pre-registration app for EES

New EU border checks: how are French ports and airports preparing?

We look at whether the launch will be progressive and what disruption is expected

Plans for tighter 'crisis' border controls for Schengen zone

New provisions are planned to control the flow of migrants and manage internal security and future potential health crises

New European Entry/Exit System: 9 key things to know in advance

These digital EU border checks are set to come into force in 2024. Here is how they will work

Can I bring prescription pet food into France?

There are border restrictions however France offers a range of dietary foods for pets

What changes in France in 2024 for residency rights and border control

We look at France’s new immigration law, the EU’s Entry / Exit system and the UK’s ‘ETA’ border system

British MPs seek feedback for enquiry into EU border check delays

EU scrutiny group ‘alarmed’ by potential for longer queues due to European Entry/Exit System set to start in 2024

UK MPs call for urgent enquiry into impact of new EU border checks

The effects of the planned European Entry/Exit System (EES) have been ‘under-appreciated’, says an MP committee

What is the EU’s Etias visa waiver scheme?

Britons, Americans, Canadians and Australians will be among the nationalities that will have to apply for the €7 Etias

How incorrect French customs checks led to €40bn loss for UK

Mafia gangs have managed to dodge billions in excise duty due to allegedly less-than-thorough checks at French customs

Christmas travel: What is France’s DCEM form for young foreigners?

The document can make life easier for foreign families whose children do not yet need a residence permit while travelling abroad

UK again delays launch of its Brexit controls for goods coming from EU

Food-import restrictions have been put back for fifth time to give businesses more time to adapt to new measures

59 countries affected by new EU visa-free scheme, launch date awaited

All visa-waiver countries will be subject to a €7 fee authorisation

France residents: If I enter via another country is passport stamped?

Passports are not stamped at internal EU borders but the issue can arise when entering through an external Schengen border

Border changes, ferry discount, ghost station: 8 French travel updates

Plus the benefits of a French passport and a US pilot is banned after being caught over the alcohol limit ahead of a flight from Paris

Has a start date been set for the EU's new digital border system?

The European Entry/Exit System will be a digital system for collecting data on non-EU citizens entering and leaving the Schengen area

UK unveils launch price of new visa waiver: when and who is affected?

It is part of the UK’s new digital border system, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024

France travel news: Flights scrapped, new UK-Paris routes, Orly strike

Plus railway staff offered a bonus to work during Paris Olympics and a boost for Brittany Ferries as bookings rise

Passports, Etias, EES: Changes to European border control in 2023

We look at how passports will be used to track non-EU residents, how the new European Entry/Exit System will work and more

Here is what we know about the UK’s new digital border scheme

British and Irish citizens are exempt, but EU and US citizens will have to pay a visa waiver fee

Passport delay fears, P&O hit by strikes and other France travel news

Plus: Eurostar urged to resume stops at Ebbsfleet and Ashford and concerns over the price and frequency of flights this summer

EU’s online visa-waiver system Etias delayed to 2024

Official website has changed scheduled operational date in several places

France-UK ferry travellers told to expect disruption later this month

A UK Border Force union has called for four days of strikes from February 17-20, and warned that it will ‘have consequences’ for people travelling on those days

Eurostar border fears, new flights, SUV tax: 9 French travel updates

We also explain how an animal charity is suing SNCF after a cat was crushed by a train, hear about strike refund delays and more

Plan to ease launch of EU Entry/Exit system with app pre-registration

Officials are looking at ways to collect traveller data in advance of their arrival. The scheme is now not likely to launch in May

Dover border control boost, new UK, US flights: France travel update

We also look at renewed interest in a direct London-to-Bordeaux Eurostar ‘wine train’, how the French air industry aims to fight short-haul flight bans and more

Is the May launch of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System delayed?

This automatic border check system will affect many (but not all) non-EU travellers

French airports worried about extra waiting due to EU Entry/Exit plan

It is expected that special pre-registration booths will be installed at large airports, but they are said to be “not completely satisfactory” as yet

Must British EU residents give biometric data in new border controls?

We look at how the incoming Entry-Exit System will work with regards to foreign nationals resident in the EU

UK-France ferries boost, new flights: Eight France travel updates

We also look at a financial incentive to encourage drivers to avoid rush hour, resident complaints over night flights, the success of Italy’s rail operator in France and more