Taking the ferry to France means crossing an EU border, so you need the right passport, you’ll go through the new EES fingerprint and photo checks, and there are rules on pets, food and what you can bring home. Here’s everything British travellers need, in one place, with how the border works at each ferry port.
Travel to France checklist
- Passport that meets both date rules (see below), for every traveller, including babies.
- Time for EES at the border, especially at Dover and on your first trip.
- Pet paperwork: microchip, rabies vaccination and an animal health certificate.
- No meat or dairy in your bags or cool box.
- Travel insurance and a GHIC.
- If you’re driving: your licence, V5C, insurance, UK identifier and the kit French law requires. See our driving in France guide.
Taking your car? See driving in France, and what you need to drive in France on our sister site, Driving France.
Passport rules for France
British passports must meet two date rules on the day you travel:
- the date of issue must be less than 10 years before the day you arrive in France; and
- the expiry date must be at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.
Both rules apply, so a passport can be “in date” and still not be accepted. Check the issue date as well as the expiry date, particularly on older passports. If you hold an EU passport, such as an Irish one, travel on it and these rules, the 90/180 limit and EES don’t apply to you.
The 90 in 180 day rule
You can visit France and the rest of the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for holidays, visiting family, business trips or short courses. The 90 days count across every Schengen country, not each one separately, and the 180 days roll: on any day, look back over the previous 180 and add up the days you’ve spent in the area.
Overstaying is taken seriously: the UK government warns it can lead to a ban from Schengen countries for up to 3 years. To stay longer, for example to work or live in France, you need a visa.
EES: the EU’s new border checks
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the EU’s digital border record for non-EU visitors. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully running since 10 April 2026 at every EU border, including the ferry ports.
- The first time you cross, your passport details are recorded and your fingerprints and photo are taken.
- Children under 12 have their photo taken but not their fingerprints.
- There’s nothing to do in advance and it’s free. Ignore any website that offers to “register you for EES” for a fee.
- Your record lasts 3 years, or until your passport expires if that’s sooner. On later trips the check is quicker.
The UK government says checks should take only a few minutes per person, but warns that longer waits are possible.
How EES works at each ferry port
| Where you sail from | Where the French border check happens |
|---|---|
| Dover (to Calais or Dunkirk) | In Dover, before you board. The port has a purpose-built EES processing area at its Western Docks. |
| Eurotunnel LeShuttle, Folkestone | In Folkestone, before you board, with EES pre-registration kiosks in a purpose-built area. See our Eurotunnel guide. |
| Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newhaven, Poole | When you arrive in France, as you leave the ship. |
Coming home from France, the EES exit check happens at the French port before you board. At Dover the French checks are done before you board, so allow extra time to reach the ferry, especially in the school holidays. Your ferry company will tell you if it has any special arrangements for EES.
ETIAS
ETIAS (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a separate scheme from EES. Once it starts, British visitors will need to apply online and pay a fee before travelling to the Schengen area, including France. It hasn’t started yet: the UK government says the EU expects to launch it in the last quarter of 2026, but no exact date has been confirmed. Until it does, you don’t need anything except your passport.
When it launches, apply only through the official EU website. Other sites charge extra for the same thing.
What French border guards can ask for
As well as your passport, border staff can ask you to show:
- a return or onward ticket;
- that you have enough money for your stay;
- proof of accommodation, such as a booking confirmation;
- proof of travel insurance.
Keep your ferry return booking and accommodation details on your phone or printed, so they’re easy to show.
Taking a pet to France
Dogs, cats and ferrets need:
- a microchip;
- a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel;
- an animal health certificate from a vet, issued no more than 10 days before you enter the EU. It’s then valid for 6 months for travel within the EU and back to Great Britain.
Coming home, dogs need tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive back in Great Britain, so book a French vet in advance. Ferry companies have their own rules on kennels and pet-friendly cabins, and check-in for pets is usually earlier: 90 minutes before departure with Brittany Ferries.
Food and cash
- Meat and dairy: you can’t take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU. There are some exceptions, such as powdered baby milk and baby food. Leave the ham sandwiches and cheese at home, or eat them before you arrive.
- Cash: declare cash or travellers’ cheques worth €10,000 or more when you enter or leave the EU.
What you can bring home from France
Coming back into Great Britain, each adult (17 or over) can bring in these amounts without paying UK tax or duty:
| Goods | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Wine (still or sparkling) | 18 litres |
| Beer and cider | 42 litres |
| Spirits and other drinks over 22% | 4 litres, or 9 litres of drinks up to 22% such as port or sherry (you can split this between the two) |
| Tobacco | 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g tobacco, or 200 heated tobacco sticks (or a mix in proportion) |
| Other goods, such as gifts and perfume | Up to £390 in value |
18 litres of wine is 24 standard 75 cl bottles. Under 17s have no alcohol or tobacco allowance. Anything over these limits must be declared at UK customs.
Jersey and Guernsey
- UK to the Channel Islands is a domestic journey, so you don’t need a passport, but Brittany Ferries (Condor Ferries) asks everyone aged 16 and over to carry photo ID, such as a passport (including one that expired up to 2 years ago), a driving licence or a CitizenCard. Digital copies aren’t accepted.
- From the islands to France (for example Jersey to St Malo or Guernsey to St Malo), you need a valid passport and the same rules and EES checks apply as from England.
- Brittany Ferries notes that its Guernsey to Portsmouth sailing via Cherbourg leaves the Common Travel Area, so UK re-entry rules apply on that sailing even if you stay on board.
Health cover
Get a free GHIC (UK Global Health Insurance Card) from the NHS before you go. It gives you state healthcare in France on the same terms as French residents, but it isn’t a replacement for travel insurance, which can also cover things like cancellations and getting you home.
Rules can change, especially with ETIAS due to start, so check GOV.UK’s France travel advice before you go. For the road, see our driving in France guide, and compare every ferry route to France.
Travel Rules for France from the UK FAQs
Do I need a passport to go to France by ferry?
Yes. British citizens need a passport issued less than 10 years before the day you arrive and valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. A driving licence or other ID isn't enough.
How long can I stay in France without a visa?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counting all your time in Schengen countries. Overstaying can lead to a ban from Schengen countries for up to 3 years.
What is EES and what do I have to do?
The EU's Entry/Exit System records your fingerprints and photo when you cross into the Schengen area. It's been fully running since 10 April 2026. You don't need to do anything in advance and it's free. Children under 12 have only their photo taken. Your record lasts 3 years, or until your passport expires if sooner.
Where do EES checks happen for ferry passengers?
At Dover, the French border checks, including EES, happen before you leave the UK, and the Port of Dover has a dedicated EES processing area at its Western Docks. On other routes, such as Portsmouth to Caen or Newhaven to Dieppe, the checks happen when you arrive in France.
Do I need ETIAS for France?
Not yet. The UK government says the EU expects to start ETIAS in the last quarter of 2026. When it starts, British visitors will need to apply online before travelling.
Can I take food to France?
You can't take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU, though there are exceptions, such as powdered baby milk and baby food.
How much wine can I bring back from France?
Up to 18 litres of still or sparkling wine and 42 litres of beer or cider without paying UK tax or duty, plus either 4 litres of spirits over 22% or 9 litres of drinks up to 22% (such as port or sherry), or a mix of the two. You must be 17 or over.
Do I need a passport for Jersey or Guernsey?
Not to sail between the UK and the Channel Islands, but Brittany Ferries (Condor Ferries) asks everyone aged 16 and over to carry photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. You do need a passport to sail from the islands to France.