Border queues could be two hours post-Brexit

Passenger queues could last up to one to two hours at Dover or Eurotunnel in January 2021, according to the worst-case scenario set out by the government.

At the end of the Brexit transition period, freedom of movement will end for people travelling between the UK and the EU. Passports with at least six months validity will be required for travel to the EU and all passports will be checked crossing the UK−EU border.

The Border and Protocol Delivery Group (BPDG) has recognised that passengers may not be prepared for changes to controls on the border post-Brexit. BPDG believes there is a chance these changes could disrupt passenger flows and cause queues to form.

A National Audit Office (NAO) report on the progress of the Government and departments in implementing the changes required to manage the border after the end of the transition period said: “However, the same modelling indicates that in a worst-case scenario, as the year progresses, with an increase in the number of passengers travelling in the summer months, the queues and delays could become much longer.”

It is important to note that this is worst-case scenario modelling, so queues may not be as extensive in reality.

• The NAO’s report, ‘The UK border: preparedness for the end of the transition period’, is accessible here.