French authorities have temporarily suspended new European Union border checks at the Port of Dover after severe congestion caused long queues for holidaymakers travelling to continental Europe during the May bank holiday weekend.
The suspension was introduced after port officials escalated what they described as a “challenging situation” to border authorities, with the aim of easing delays and reducing traffic pressure on surrounding roads. The move comes as one of the busiest travel periods of the year coincides with unusually high temperatures across the United Kingdom.
Dover, a key departure point for cross-Channel ferries, requires passengers to pass through French border control before boarding. However, the rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which includes biometric registration such as fingerprinting and facial scans, has contributed to slower processing times. Officials confirmed that while the full biometric machines had not yet been activated, border staff were still required to manually create traveller profiles under the new system, adding to delays.
By Saturday morning, processing times inside the port varied significantly, while roads leading into the terminal remained heavily congested. Authorities diverted outgoing traffic onto the A2 in an attempt to manage the backlog. Passengers who missed their scheduled sailings were being accommodated on the next available ferries, the port confirmed.
The disruption coincided with an intense spell of hot weather across the UK. Friday recorded the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 28.4C in multiple locations including Heathrow, Cambridge and Cranwell in Lincolnshire. Forecasts suggested that conditions would continue to intensify over the weekend, with highs expected to climb into the upper 20s Celsius and potentially exceed 30C in some regions next week. The Met Office has issued amber heat health alerts across parts of England as temperatures continue to rise.
Officials warned that the combination of increased travel demand and extreme heat could place additional strain on transport infrastructure throughout the holiday period.
The Port of Dover said the decision to pause aspects of the new border checks would allow authorities to “clear the queues” and restore smoother operations. It added that coordination with French officials was ongoing to manage the rollout of the new EU border system while minimising disruption for passengers.
The May bank holiday is traditionally one of the busiest times for cross-Channel travel, and authorities had anticipated operational challenges as the new EU system begins to take effect. The latest disruption highlights the pressure on border infrastructure as travel volumes increase alongside the phased introduction of biometric controls.
Officials are expected to review procedures ahead of further peak travel periods later in the summer.
