An IT failure affecting French border control systems has caused significant disruption for tens of thousands of Christmas travellers at the Port of Dover today, Saturday 20 December 2025, triggering long queues, slowing ferry departures and compounding what was already forecast to be the busiest holiday getaway period on record across the United Kingdom.

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IT Breakdown Hits French Border Controls at Peak Getaway Moment

The Port of Dover confirmed that technology issues on the French side of the border began before the morning peak and continued into the early afternoon, affecting the processing of car passengers heading for cross-Channel ferries.

Officials said the fault, linked to French border control IT systems, has led to slower checks at the juxtaposed controls in Dover, where French officers carry out entry checks before passengers board ferries.

Queues of around 60 minutes have formed in the port’s internal buffer zone and on approach roads, with traffic management measures activated to keep vehicles moving where possible.

Ferry companies have reported heavy congestion approaching the terminal, but relatively smooth operations once travellers have cleared the border bottleneck and reached the check-in plaza.

Port chief executive Doug Bannister said the organisation was working closely with French border authorities and technology providers to resolve the outage and minimise disruption to passengers. He acknowledged that the timing of the failure, coinciding with record seasonal traffic, had made the impact particularly acute, despite contingency planning.

Record Christmas Traffic Magnifies Delays at Dover

The IT breakdown has struck at a time when traffic volumes were already expected to be exceptionally high, turning what might otherwise have been a manageable slowdown into a wider transport challenge. The Port of Dover estimates that nearly 30,000 cars will pass through its terminals over the festive period, with outbound flows peaking between 6am and 1pm from Friday to Sunday.

Nationwide, motoring organisations have forecast a record Christmas on the roads, with the RAC estimating about 37.5 million leisure journeys by car between Wednesday and Christmas Eve. Today has been billed by some analysts as the key “getaway day” before Christmas, with millions of people heading for family visits, winter sun and ski holidays, or European city breaks.

Traffic is reported to be particularly heavy on key approaches to Dover, including the A20 and A2, and on major motorways around London and the southeast, where separate congestion and weather-related delays are adding to journey times. Travel experts say the combination of peak seasonal demand and an unexpected IT fault has left little spare capacity in the system to absorb disruption.

Port Authorities Urge Passengers to Time Arrivals Carefully

To prevent further gridlock at the terminal and in the town of Dover itself, port officials have reiterated guidance for passengers not to arrive more than two hours before their scheduled ferry departure.

Arriving excessively early, they warn, risks overloading holding areas and spilling queues back onto local roads, worsening delays for everyone and making it harder to manage traffic safely.

Port of Dover Travel, the organisation that provides live updates for travellers, has stressed that staff are working to keep vehicles flowing into the buffer zone and through French controls as quickly as the IT constraints allow. Passengers are being asked to remain patient, follow instructions from traffic marshals and take advantage of rest and refreshment facilities while they wait.

Ferry operators including P&O Ferries are advising customers to allow additional time to reach the port in view of wider congestion across the road network, but not to significantly advance their arrival window at check-in.

Companies have reassured passengers that those who miss their booked sailing due to the delays at border control will be transferred to the next available crossing at no extra cost, subject to space.

Local Infrastructure Stretched as Queues Spill Toward Town

The surge in traffic has placed intense pressure on Dover’s local infrastructure, which has long struggled to cope during periods of disruption at the port. Residents have reported heavy congestion on routes near the harbour, including difficulties for buses and local services trying to reach the Eastern Docks.

Stagecoach, a major local bus operator, has warned that some services cannot currently reach the port due to tailbacks and diversions, affecting both travellers and local commuters. Officials at the Port of Dover have asked motorists heading for ferries to remain on major trunk routes such as the A20 and A2 rather than cutting through residential streets in search of quicker alternatives.

Community leaders in Dover have previously expressed concern that even short-lived incidents can cause a rapid build-up of traffic, blocking access for emergency services and disrupting everyday life. Today’s IT-linked delays are serving as a fresh reminder of the fragility of local infrastructure when cross-Channel operations are strained during major holiday peaks.

Travellers Describe A Frustrating Start to Christmas Journeys

On social media, some passengers have described the situation at the Port of Dover as chaotic, with cars at a standstill for extended periods and families worried about missing long-planned Christmas crossings. One traveller wrote of being stuck for an hour without moving, calling it the worst possible start to a festive holiday with young children in the car.

Other travellers have reported that once vehicles finally move off the main approach roads and into the buffer zone, staff on the ground are doing what they can to guide drivers efficiently into lanes and onto ferries. Several passengers have said check-in itself is operating smoothly once the border control stage is cleared, suggesting the IT bottleneck is confined to French border operations rather than the wider port systems.

Despite the frustration, some holidaymakers have acknowledged that staff from the port, ferry operators and border agencies appear to be working under considerable pressure to keep services running. Operators have encouraged passengers to stay stocked with snacks, water and entertainment for children, particularly for those facing extended waits in their vehicles in cold and unsettled winter weather.

Wider UK Holiday Travel Under Pressure From Weather and Road Congestion

The Dover disruption is unfolding against a backdrop of broader Christmas getaway pressures across the UK. The AA and RAC have advised drivers to plan journeys carefully, check traffic and weather updates, and build in additional time, warning that patience could be “the best present” many travellers give themselves this year.

Key motorways including sections of the M25, routes to Heathrow Airport and main roads serving major shopping centres and regional hubs are experiencing heavy flows, as last-minute shoppers share the network with departing holidaymakers. National Highways has said it has removed or paused as many sets of roadworks as is safely possible in an effort to ease congestion.

Forecasters have also highlighted the potential for spells of heavy rain and poor visibility in some regions, which could slow journeys further and increase the risk of accidents. Drivers heading to Dover are being urged to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, to keep fuel tanks well stocked and to be prepared for possible diversions and stop-start conditions.

Technical Questions Remain Over Border IT Resilience

The precise cause of the French border control IT failure in Dover has not yet been fully detailed by authorities, but the incident is already raising questions about the resilience of critical cross-border systems during known peak periods. In recent years, ports, airports and rail hubs have become increasingly dependent on integrated digital platforms to handle security checks, passport data and customs information.

Industry analysts note that even short-lived failures in such systems can have outsized effects when passenger volumes are high and where physical space for queuing is limited, as at Dover. While operators typically have contingency plans in place, there are practical limits to how quickly manual processes can be implemented at scale, particularly for international border checks that must meet strict security and legal standards.

The disruption comes amid a broader shift toward more sophisticated digital border regimes across Europe, including new entry and exit systems for third-country nationals that have been the subject of intense planning and debate. Travel bodies have consistently warned that, without sufficient resilience and capacity, such systems risk amplifying delays at chokepoints like Dover during peak travel windows.

What Travellers Can Do If They Are Affected

For those due to travel through Dover today or in the coming days, the core advice from transport experts is to stay informed, stay flexible and avoid making sudden changes that could worsen congestion. Passengers are encouraged to monitor live updates from their ferry operator and from official port channels, and to follow any revised check-in instructions carefully.

Those still some distance from Dover and facing significant delays on the strategic road network may wish to consider adjusted departure times where possible, particularly if their booking permits some flexibility. However, pushing arrival too early can be counterproductive if it leads to further crowding in the port’s limited pre-check-in areas.

Where journeys involve onward travel on the continent, such as timed rail connections or long-distance driving, travellers may need to build in extra overnight stops or alternative arrangements in case of missed ferries. Travel insurers typically expect policyholders to take reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of disruption, but may offer some cover where delays are outside the traveller’s control and lead to additional accommodation or transport costs, depending on policy terms.

FAQ

Q1. What exactly has gone wrong at the Port of Dover today?
French border control systems at Dover have been affected by an IT failure, which has slowed the processing of passengers and vehicles heading for ferries to France. As a result, queues of up to around an hour have built up in the port’s buffer zone and on approach roads, causing delays to many Christmas travellers.

Q2. How long are the current delays for ferry passengers?
Port authorities and ferry operators are reporting waits of about 60 minutes for vehicles passing through the French border controls, although actual delays can vary depending on the time of day, overall traffic levels and how quickly the IT issues are stabilised.

Q3. Are ferries still running, or have services been cancelled?
Ferry services are continuing to run, and operators say check-in and boarding are working relatively smoothly once passengers clear the border bottleneck. Some departures may be delayed while ships wait for late-arriving vehicles, but widespread cancellations have not been reported so far.

Q4. What should I do if I am travelling through Dover later today?
Travellers are advised to allow extra time for their journey, follow main routes such as the A20 and A2, and aim to arrive at the port no more than about two hours before their scheduled sailing. You should monitor updates from your ferry operator and the Port of Dover, and be prepared for slower-moving queues near the terminal.

Q5. If I miss my booked ferry because of the delays, will I lose my trip?
Ferry companies have said that passengers who miss their scheduled crossing due to the delays at border control will be placed on the next available sailing, subject to space. You may have to wait longer at the port, but you should not have to buy a completely new ticket solely because of the disruption.

Q6. Is it worth arriving much earlier than advised to make sure I get on a ferry?
Port officials strongly discourage arriving excessively early, as this can cause additional congestion in holding areas and on local roads. Sticking to the guidance of arriving up to two hours before departure helps the port manage flows more safely and efficiently for everyone.

Q7. How is the disruption affecting local residents and services in Dover?
The build-up of traffic around the port has affected local roads, with some bus services unable to reach the Eastern Docks and residents reporting heavy congestion in parts of the town. Authorities are asking port-bound traffic to remain on major roads and to avoid rat-running through residential streets.

Q8. Are there wider travel problems in the UK today beyond Dover?
Yes. This weekend is one of the busiest Christmas getaway periods on record, with tens of millions of car journeys forecast nationwide. Major routes, especially around London and other big cities, are busy, and unsettled winter weather could add to delays, so all road users are being urged to plan ahead and allow extra time.

Q9. Could similar IT issues happen again over the festive period?
While border agencies and technology providers work to fix today’s fault and prevent a repeat, any complex digital system can experience problems, especially under heavy load. The hope is that lessons from this incident will strengthen resilience, but travellers over the coming days should still factor in potential bottlenecks at busy ports and borders.

Q10. What practical steps can I take to make a long wait at Dover more bearable?
Drivers are encouraged to keep vehicles well fuelled, pack water, snacks and warm clothing, and bring entertainment or comfort items, especially for children. Keeping phone batteries charged, following instructions from staff and remaining patient can all help reduce stress while you wait to be processed and boarded.