Eurotunnel’s LeShuttle service is now processing passengers under the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) at the Folkestone terminal, introducing biometric registration for eligible travelers using the cross-Channel route. According to LeShuttle guidance, non-EU nationals traveling under the scheme for the first time must complete facial image capture and, for travelers aged 12 and over, fingerprint registration before boarding.
The registration process requires passengers to scan their passport at the terminal, verify that the document data displayed on screen is correct and then complete biometric capture. LeShuttle says children under 12 are not required to provide fingerprints. Once registered, the biometric record remains valid for three years, meaning travelers do not need to repeat the enrollment for each crossing provided they continue using the same passport.
The rollout reflects the broader deployment of the EU’s Entry/Exit System, which replaces passport stamping with a digital record of border crossings that includes biometric identifiers. The system records facial images and fingerprints for short-stay visitors from outside the EU and stores the data alongside travel-document details to track entry and exit events.
European transport operators and border authorities have been preparing for the system’s operational launch across multiple travel environments. The travel industry has been seeking operational flexibility as biometric border checks are introduced, while governments continue investing in supporting infrastructure such as France’s biometric border systems for the Interior Ministry.
LeShuttle’s guidance indicates the registration process is now part of normal passenger processing for travelers subject to EES rules. The Channel Tunnel route therefore joins airports, ferry ports and other border crossing points where biometric enrollment is becoming part of routine entry procedures under the EU system.
Sources: LeShuttle
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
