Dover’s £40 million new EU border check facility is unlikely to open by summer, said the port’s chief executive.

The purpose-built facility on land reclaimed from the sea features 84 new dedicated kiosks in preparation for the EU entry-exit system (EES).

According to port bosses, there is “no date” for the kiosks to be activated by the French authorities, so the site cannot open.

Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister said: “We've invested £40 million in preparing for the new EU entry-exit system. We've reclaimed land from the sea and installed 84 new dedicated kiosks in a purpose-built facility.

“Our infrastructure at Dover is ready to go. However, the activation of the kiosks by the French authorities is outside our direct control and as we approach the summer, there is no date yet for that to happen.”

As of 10 April, the EU has required individuals from non-EU countries, such as the UK, to have their fingerprints registered and a photograph taken upon entry to the Schengen Area.

Dover is the UK’s busiest international ferry port, handling 33 per cent of UK trade in goods and welcoming over 11 million passengers each year.

Coach passengers have been registering their biometric data since October 2025.

Bannister added: “Our focus remains firmly on keeping traffic moving, working with both the UK and French authorities to ensure Dover continues to operate smoothly during the busy summer period.”

Over the late May bank holiday weekend, thousands of travellers were trapped in gridlock queues in blistering heat for up to four hours outside the Port of Dover as EU border checks were introduced.

Ferry passengers travelling to Europe faced hours-long waits while they waited to pass through border checks, the Port of Dover said.

The Independent has contacted the French Ministry of the Interior for comment.

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