EU Approves Drive-Through Biometric Trial at Channel Tunnel
Travelers could register fingerprints and facial images without leaving their cars during a planned two-year trial.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Europe
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The European Commission and French authorities approved a two-year drive-through biometric trial at the Channel Tunnel, covering the EU Entry/Exit System. Getlink has installed drive-through kiosks at Folkestone and Calais for the trial.
Why it matters
The EU Entry/Exit System requires non-EU citizens, including British passport holders, to register biometric data when entering and leaving the Schengen area, which can add time at border crossings. Long queues at the Folkestone approach have been a concern since the system was first planned.
The trial is set to run for two years, and nine of the 27 EU member states, including France, have not fully deployed the Entry/Exit System because of technical problems. The kiosks' connection to the French system is not yet functioning.
The players
Getlink
Getlink is the company that operates the Channel Tunnel and installed the drive-through biometric kiosks at Folkestone and Calais.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation and overseeing its implementation across member states.
The details
Under the trial, travelers using the Channel Tunnel can give fingerprints and facial images without leaving their cars. Each kiosk sits under an eagle-eye camera monitored by police, similar to airport e-gates, so officers do not need to stand at every lane.
Timeline
The EU Entry/Exit System was due to be running across the EU by Sept. 9.
The trial approval was reported in November 2026.
Travel Outlook
The trial tests whether the EU Entry/Exit System regulation can be carried out at busy crossings without stationing officers at every lane. Its outcome will shape how border checks for non-EU travelers are handled across the bloc.
Travelers crossing the Channel by tunnel may encounter biometric registration at drive-through kiosks if the trial is in operation during their trip. Allow for possible delays at the Folkestone approach, where queues have been a concern.
The takeaway
Check current border registration requirements before traveling through the Channel Tunnel, since biometric procedures are changing during the trial period.
Further reading
For more on border rules and planning, see Europe travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Insight International.
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