The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) refreshed its France travel advisory on 23 September, adding detailed guidance on the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES). The notice reminds British and other non-EU nationals that automated passport stamping ended in April and that biometric “exit swipes” are now mandatory when leaving the Schengen Area. Although France is currently applying the rules flexibly—especially at Dover juxtaposed controls—the FCDO warns that travellers who overstay the 90/180-day limit will trigger an automatic alert and could face multi-year re-entry bans. The update also clarifies that the forthcoming ETIAS travel authorisation (now delayed to late 2027) is separate from EES registration. Business-travel teams are urged to check that passport chips are readable and that staff crossing the Channel Tunnel by car allow an extra 30-45 minutes for fingerprint and facial-scan queues, particularly during school holidays. The guidance further notes that EES kiosks at CDG and Orly currently accept only EU standard 4-4-2 fingerprint templates, meaning that travellers with hand injuries may be diverted to manual lanes. Finally, the FCDO encourages companies to monitor carrier messaging because airlines remain liable to return travellers refused entry for exceeded allowance periods.
Source: GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice
