FlashFerry
If you are travelling to Britain
Citizens of the EU and of other visa-free countries — the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and many more — need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding. It is not a visa, but without it the ferry operator will not carry you.
The part many travellers have missed: since 25 February 2026, carriers are obliged to check. In the early months the rule was applied leniently so that everyone could adjust. That grace period is over.
| As of August 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Fee | £20 per person |
| Valid | 2 years, or until your passport expires |
| Stay | up to 6 months per entry |
| Processing | usually minutes, allow 3 working days |
| Where | gov.uk or the official UK ETA app |
If you are British and travelling to Europe
You need nothing to come home. Going the other way, ETIAS has no confirmed start date: the EU had pointed to the last quarter of 2026 but removed that target in July 2026, and 2027 is now widely expected. It will cost €20, valid three years, free for under-18s and over-70s although they still need the authorisation. A transition period of at least six months is planned before it is strictly enforced.
At the Schengen border you are also a third-country national now, which means the EES applies to you — in theory.
EES: live in law, not yet at the Channel
The EU Entry/Exit System replaces the passport stamp with fingerprints and a facial image. It became legally operational across the Schengen area on 10 April 2026.
The Channel crossings are the exception. Days before the deadline, biometric registration at Calais, Dover and the tunnel was suspended over software problems and a simple lack of space. Manual checks and stamps continue there. Full registration of car passengers has slipped to after summer 2026 with no confirmed date.
At Dover a single May weekend pushed waiting times to roughly four and a half hours — after only a few hours of EES processing.
Port reports, 22–23 May 2026
Before you leave
- Check the passport — an ID card is not enough for the UK.
- Apply for an ETA for every traveller, children included, at least three working days ahead.
- Keep booking reference, passports and vehicle documents to hand.
- Travelling with a pet? Check the tapeworm treatment window and the right document.
- Allow extra time; check-in normally closes 60 minutes before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Does the ETA apply if I only cross by ferry?
Yes. It covers every route into the UK: air, ferry and tunnel.
I am an EU citizen — do I need anything for the return leg?
No. Nothing changes for you on the way back, and ETIAS does not apply to EU citizens.
I am not an EU citizen. What applies to me?
It depends on your nationality. Visa-free nationals need the ETA for Britain; everyone else needs a UK visa. Entering Schengen you are covered by EES, and ETIAS will follow for visa-free nationals — though no start date is set since the EU withdrew its late-2026 target in July 2026.
Is an ID card enough for Britain?
No. A passport is required.
Do I have to register for EES in advance?
No. There is no pre-registration, and at the Channel ports it is not being collected at all right now.
What if I turn up without an ETA?
The operator cannot carry you. Applying on the spot is possible in theory but risky, because a decision can take up to three working days.
Prices and departures for Calais–Dover and every other Channel route in one view.
See Calais – Dover