EU Border Chaos: What to Expect at Dover This Summer (2026)

The EU's new border controls are set to cause chaos at Dover as the summer season begins, with millions of drivers expected to hit the roads. The port of Dover is bracing for long tailbacks as thousands of holidaymakers join lorries at Britain's main Channel ferry crossing. The semi-functioning entry-exit system (EES) is credited with helping push British domestic holidays to their highest levels since Covid halted international travel. However, the new automated facility is unable to operate due to software problems in France, which could lead to long queues at the border. The French border police will manually register non-EU travellers for EES, which could cause further delays. The port has urged holidaymakers to use only main roads and arrive no more than two hours before their booked sailing. Eurotunnel, which operates LeShuttle, also faces delays as border police will not be registering biometric information from car passengers for EES this summer. The RAC and Inrix expect the worst of the traffic on Friday in areas of the M25 around Greater London, as more than 14 million drivers make a getaway this weekend. With most schools in England and Wales closing for the summer, most leisure journeys will take place on Saturday, the RAC said. The AA's surveys show that about one in five drivers will be setting off on a leisure journey of 100 miles or more in the next week, with more potentially drawn to the coast if hot weather persists. London Heathrow airport is also expecting a busy weekend, with Friday likely to be the busiest day. Europe's biggest carrier, Ryanair, has warned that UK passengers could be 'the testing ground for unfinished border infrastructure', and told customers to prepare for long possible queues. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The RAC's spokesperson, Harriet Hernando, warned that the heatwave had seen a spike in breakdowns, and urged drivers to be prepared for delays and getting stuck in a jam in potentially very hot weather. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. Personally, I think the new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in the right direction, but they are not yet ready for the summer season. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a reminder that the travel industry is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, and that there are still challenges to be faced. The software problems in France are a particular concern, and could cause significant delays for holidaymakers. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a cause for concern, and could lead to significant delays for holidaymakers. The software problems in France are particularly worrying, as they could cause long queues at the border. The port of Dover is doing its best to prepare for the influx of holidaymakers, but it's clear that the new border controls are not yet ready for the summer season. The new EU border controls are a step in

EU Border Chaos: What to Expect at Dover This Summer (2026)
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