Travel industry warns of summer chaos as France prepares full biometric border checks
French e-gate upgrade stalls: Britons and Americans living in France stuck in manual lanes
Europe-wide flight disruption sees 135 delays at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle alone
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EU gives France leeway to pause biometric border checks, easing EES roll-out pressure
Brussels will let France and other Schengen states pause EES biometric enrolment for up to 90 days after 10 April, with an optional 60-day extension, to prevent summer bottlenecks. The move means border processing at French airports, ports and Eurotunnel sites will oscillate between manual stamping and kiosk use until at least September, giving companies more time to prepare travellers.
PARAFE e-gate glitch keeps UK & US residents in manual queues until summer
Technical upgrades to PARAFE e-gates are running late, meaning Britons covered by the Brexit deal and US residents must continue using staffed passport booths at French airports. The workaround is unlikely before summer, lengthening border-crossing times for assignees and frequent travellers.
€20 ETIAS fee confirmed as EU gears up for visa-waiver launch
The EU has set the ETIAS travel-authorisation fee at €20, replacing earlier estimates of €7. From late 2026, visa-exempt visitors to France must hold an approved ETIAS before departure, adding a new compliance step and minor extra cost for business-travel budgets.
Eurostar warns of rolling delays through Paris Gare du Nord on 4 February
Operational issues at Paris Gare du Nord and a separate incident near Schiphol caused extensive Eurostar delays on 4 February, disrupting cross-border business travel. Firms are advised to build extra time into itineraries and monitor live alerts.
France approves €2 customs levy on low-value imports, raising costs for expats’ e-commerce shipments
As part of its 2026 Budget, France will add a €2 charge to all low-value parcels from non-EU countries. The micro-tariff will nudge up the cost of online shopping for expatriates and could influence relocation allowances.