Port of Dover set to re-open to accompanied traffic cleared to travel following negative COVID test

The Port of Dover is set to re-open (2300hrs GMT) to traffic heading to France following an agreement between the UK and French authorities, but only for customers who have had a COVID test with a negative result.

Freight traffic

No freight vehicle drivers should attempt to travel directly to the Port until they have a valid COVID test.  All freight drivers in Kent requiring a test must head to Manston to prepare for a lateral-flow COVID test unless already queueing on the M20, in which case drivers and any passengers will be tested in situ.

Passenger traffic

Passenger traffic including French nationals, EU citizens, those with French residency and those carrying out essential trips must procure a COVID test (PCR or lateral-flow) and achieve a valid negative result less than 72 hours before attempting to travel to and from the Port.

Do not travel to the Port without having undertaken the COVID test with a subsequent negative result as you will not be permitted to enter the Port.  Please have your email or text message certificate issued by the testing facility ready for inspection.

We thank our customers and our local community for their patience during this period of disruption caused by border restrictions in France related to COVID-19.  We will be working with our ferry operators and partner agencies to clear the backlog as quickly as possible.

For more information on ferry sailings, please contact your ferry operator:

P&O Ferries – https://www.poferries.com/en/help

DFDS  – https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/customer-service/contact 

You can also check the latest information on the Port of Dover website www.doverport.co.uk or on Twitter @PoD_travelnews.

ENDS