UK Travellers to France Warned of Delays Starting November 1 as Border Controls Reintroduced

Holidaymakers from the UK planning to travel to France have been advised to expect delays starting from November 1, 2024.

The French authorities recently announced the reinstatement of internal Schengen border controls for an additional six months, extending until April 30, 2025.

As a result of this decision, travel experts have cautioned that Brits should brace for longer waiting times when crossing into France from neighboring countries. While these checks will not be conducted on every traveler, the chief executive of travel consultancy The PC Agency, Paul Charles, pointed out that spot checks will still contribute to delays and create uncertainty for those traveling from the UK. According to Charles, these measures could even deter people from visiting France.

“It adds to delays and uncertainty when travelling and that puts off people from travelling. It is a retrograde step,” Charles said.

He also expressed concerns that these spot checks might eventually become a permanent feature, making it more inconvenient for Brits to enter France. Charles warned that all UK passport holders are likely to be affected by the increased checks, with those traveling by car or coach from Italy, Luxembourg, or Belgium facing the greatest disruptions. Additionally, passengers using the Eurostar service could also experience longer waiting times during passport checks.

France’s decision to reinstate these border controls is part of an effort to combat rising threats from terrorism and irregular migration. In a notification to the European Commission, France stated that the measure was necessary to strengthen internal security amid the heightened risk of terrorist activity and unauthorized migration attempts.

These border controls will apply to all six of France’s Schengen neighboring countries: Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. This means that all non-EU citizens, including UK travelers, crossing into France from any of these nations will face additional checks.

France’s decision comes in the wake of the EU’s recent postponement of its new border management system, the Entry/Exit System (EES). The EES was originally scheduled to launch on November 10, 2024, but its implementation was delayed after several member states indicated that they were not prepared for the system’s rollout. While the EU has suggested that the system may be introduced gradually, no specific timeline has been provided for its implementation.

Until the EES is operational, UK travelers should anticipate the ongoing border checks and the accompanying delays when entering France. 

By fLEXI tEAM