Nope @RonaldoC, it IS you that's being misleading by not making a proper distinction between the general situation with respect to visas and the OP's specific problem (at least insofar as the not terribly detailed facts have been given). (mins). As a result of some incidents on these services, we dont sell alcohol on board or allow travellers to bring their own alcohol with them. The trial is being conducted with the U.K.'s. Hopefully the extra border checks will not have as much of an impact as they have had at some airports. Actually, for the trips from Brussels or Paris to London, the UK does immigration at the departure point and customs (nearly always just a walk through, but I have seen them stop some people) upon arrival in London. 4. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-86777381', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Airlines will take one look at that stamp and refuse to let you board in case your new destination country turns you back too. They said we needed a Visa which we honestly did not even think of ahead of time. If there was 100 border guards per train (so around five or six per carriage) they could easily check and stamp the whole train in five to ten minutes. I don't agree at all. Space is extremely restricted at St Pancras Station but another passport control booth is currently being installed. French passport gates have been upgraded and, in Paris, more UK gates are being added. This will ensure that you have enough time to go through all checks before your train departs. 2023 Eurostar International Ltd. All Rights Reserved. In an effort to maximize the speed and efficiency of the immigration clearance process for passengers travelling from the UK into continental Europe and the Schengen zone, Eurostar selected Vision-Box to deploy a facial recognition-based automated border control solution at St Pancras International rail station, located at the French border.. Not that that is a hardship at St Pancras International. After a horrible morning of interviews and waiting, we are sitting in a Starbucks with a 6 YEAR ban of entry into the UK. Do you go through customs when leaving Paris? All train operators across England, Scotland and Wales are offering free onward travel if your final destination is outside London. If you booked in advance you grab your tickets from one of the many ticket kiosks at St Pancras station in London. Does The English Aristocracy Still Exist? Half-term holidays: With flight prices soaring, how can you save money on your next family getaway? It's the most normal thing in the world for people to bring in camera equipment and take pictures when traveling for pleasure. Yes I know checks are the same at both ends. The rail operator is also facing unique financial pressures in the aftermath of the pandemic, having been hit hard by travel restrictions. Vision-Box facial recognition software is currently being tested at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. FCA authorisation can be checked on the FCA register at https://register.fca.org.uk/s/, E-mail: Insurance@allianz-assistance.co.uk, 2023 Eurostar International Ltd. All Rights Reserved. For couchettes the attendant would deal with passport and currency formalities using your passport and forms whilst you 'slept', as listening to a large steel wheel going round and round and round all night long about a metre from your head is romantically referred to by enthusiasts for overnight rail travel. Its one thing to like trains but another to act like the world should revolve around them! The checking will come if it becomes a problem. 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If we cant avoid further changes to our timetable, we will update this page and directly contact any affected customers as soon as possible. AWP Assistance UK Limited FCA registration number is 311909. With Eurostar, border and luggage checks take place before departure, so we ask our passengers to arrive at the station early enough to complete them. Eurostar itself recommends arriving at least 30 mins before departure, and 45 mins "at busy times" - although we can't know when these are, exactly - and I too prefer to make this 1 hour in advance to avoid problems. With Eurostar, border and luggage checks take place before departure, so we ask our passengers to arrive at the station early enough to complete them.These timings are just for guidance and can sometimes change. Ireland rejected over 500 people a year pre brexit on the grounds they were seeking to enter Ireland for purpose of illegal entry to the UK. However, you will not be denied boarding if you turn up at the old 30 mins/10 mins check in times. No need to be there hours on advance. With Eurostar, border and luggage checks take place before departure, so we ask our passengers to arrive at the station early enough to complete them.These timings are just for guidance and can sometimes change. Eurostar International Limited is an Appointed Representative of AWP Assistance UK Limited (trading as Allianz Global Assistance) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Once upon a time, in the 1970s, I made a few journeys on the Tauern Express or equivalents, when the passport and customs checking procedure between Belgium and Germany and Germany and Austria was by officials walking through the train whilst in motion between the border stations. Stamping passports adds at least 15 seconds to each passengers border crossing time, Damas explains in the letter. Whats so special about Eurostar? What Are 4 Major Strategies For Reducing Crime. Please advise. To qualify, you will need to show your Ukrainian passport and your Eurostar ticket, and you will have 48 hours from arrival in the UK to complete your journey. Saturday 01 AprilWere currently working out the impact on our timetables.Well update this page as soon as we know more and will be in touch if your Eurostar journey is affected by timetable changes. If you are on time at the terminal they will have to honor that. All four Belgian passport booths staffed, then used e-gate for UK passport control. I'm travelling out of Brussels not St Pancras. More information on the National Rail website. You can catch a Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Lille Europe station and take a connecting French high-speed train (TGV) from Lille Europe to Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy station which is opposite the Disneyland Paris park gates. Two out of three security scanners working, but that didn't matter as the queue for Belgian passport control backed up to security so you wouldn't get through any quicker. You should carry your EU residence permit as well as your valid passport when you travel. So in effect you turned up to a country claiming to be a tourist, with the tools of your trade? The more leisurely pace of trains in the '70s probably meant that stopping at two relatively close border stations made little difference. Advice from random strangers online is not going to sort out your problem. In London and Paris, Eurostar says it is trying to remedy the problem. At St Pancras International, theres an extra check by UK authorities between the x-ray machines and French passport control. . British passports have to be stamped separately, even for travellers who can go through electronic gates, since Brexit. If you cannot prove that you are resident in the EU, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped. I just got back from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Your Eurostar ticket to London will be issued at the Eurostar departures building.The UK government is regularly reviewing the criteria for Ukrainian refugees to enter the UK, so we would strongly recommend contacting the British Embassy or checking the UK government website for the latest information. Eurostar and Thalys will combine into a single operator connecting the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, after the European Commission approved the merger on Tuesday. The following strikes have been announced in the UK, France and Belgium.In FranceFrench unions may decide to continue with strike action after 07 March. We started off in Paris, and our plan was to travel to the UK via Eurostar today. On top of that, it makes electronic passport gates less effective as they dont accept British passports in most EU countries. Is there customs between London and Paris? He admitted it was making fares much more expensive for passengers wanting greener travel: Its like organic food. I would just time it so that i make the check-in. About 350 out of 900 seats are normally left unsold on the first services between London, Paris and Brussels despite huge demand for the greenest form of international travel, Eurostar bosses said. You go through all Immigration and Customs procedures at the station where you start your journey: St Pancras when going from London to Paris, or Gare du Nord when going from Paris to London. There are exceptions if someone is "wanted" they can be detainedbut for those would-be criminals and those already with a record, but aren't wanted.here they come. Does your passport get checked on the Eurostar? Normally that is plenty of time but am worried if these extra checks are in place I might have a problem. Even if you solve the border control problem somehow, presumably with magic at this point, it would only really benefit London, as that's what Eurostar was designed around. "Eurostar, Eurotunnel and other operators have expressed concern with capturing facial and fingerprint data to feed into the ETIAS. We were told we could try to come back to Eurostar in a few days but weren't guaranteed entry. For going to Paris, all formalities are done in London. I'd always recommend aiming to turn up for Eurostar around an hour before departure. We will do everything we can to prevent additional cancellations. Hello everyone, we are Americans visiting for two weeks. RER tickets can be bought at ticket booths or ticket machines in the Metro and RER area at Paris Gare du Nord on the day. But still, peak capacity through the stations is now around 30 per cent lower than it was before Brexit, the Eurostar chief says. Where are these checks? To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to increase the flow of passengers through the border control at the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras station. - How long does it take to apply for a Visa if we go in person to the UK Embassy on Monday? They cost 5 one-way. Travelers at St. Pancras International train station to board the Eurostar. She said tackling capacity issues at stations was her main priority, with Eurostar only able to offer about 70% of pre-Covid and Brexit seats across the Channel. How long before departure should I arrive? 10 years ago, I had a flight cancelled at Stansted. After a horrible morning of interviews and waiting, we are sitting in a Starbucks with a 6 YEAR ban of entry. SIx year ban - wow impressive - you must have done some serious stuff. I don't know why there is an obsession on this forum with on train border checks or no checks. It is important to arrive with the necessary visa documents, as these will be checked by the UK Border Force during the check-in process.At Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal, there are ticket gates between the station entrance and the Eurostar departures building. Land border checks exist, but are usually targeted rather than general. Eurostar recommend you arrive 120 mins before for Standard Class and 90 for Std/Business Premier Class due to COVID protocols. Caf Mtropole can be found in coaches 6 and 13 on our original trains and e300 and coaches 8 and 9 on an e320. This week he released the responses from outgoing Eurostar chief Jacques Damas, detailing the issues the company was facing. He said: We have become expert in capping trains fine tuning the number of seats available., Get set for the working day we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning. Do I need a passport to go to France on Eurostar? As others have said we ma not be getting the full story here but if he still wants to "have another go" there could be one extra thing the OP could do in addition to the suggestions already made such as leaving the equipment behind - they could get their friends in the UK to e-mail them a document explaining the purpose of the visit along with they intend to do with them whilst they are here. The border control is after the check in. "I imagine lots of people have loads of camera equipment with them so something must have triggered their suspicions.". United Arab Emirates: Mar 7 - Mar 9, 2023, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Mar 14 - Mar 16, 2023, Chipped ID documents expand in Vietnam with passport launch, healthcare use, Eurostar, Eurotunnel worries about capturing biometrics stall ETIAS again, EU program creates criminal network investigation platform with Phonexia voice biometrics. Only 250 seats can be filled leaving Amsterdam because of the lack of space at the station for border controls, yet London to the Dutch capital is one of the busiest air routes in Europe, Cazenave said. Good luck to anyone checking passports on the UK/Ireland border, or even an Irish Sea border, and if there are checkpoints on entering Dublin from the EU/EEA, no matter what the UK government might want, Ireland would have to allow almost all of them into Ireland otherwise they would be breaking EU laws. The uncertainty regarding the EES hangs over Eurostar. Asylum seekers are different from EU nationals that we wouldn't allow in. As long as you check in 30 mins before departure of your train (or 10 mins if you're traveling business premier) you will be fine. Cazenave was speaking in Brussels as Eurostar unveiled a new logo after its merger last year with Franco-Belgian high-speed operator Thalys, and reaffirmed its ambition to grow to 30 million. Ridiculous! He also lists other concerns around the current economic climate in the UK and EU. A border agent might reasonably suspect that he intended to carry on his trade while in the UK. While that may not seem like a lot, with millions of people boarding the service every year, it adds up. If youre travelling to Amsterdam or Rotterdam, there may be customs officials on board carrying out checks during the journey. France is a member state of the Schengen area (see here) and operates a common border and immigration policy with 24 other nations in the EU, the wider European Economic Area and Switzerland. It might also help if the OP showed documentation confirming onward travel and where they intend to stay if it's not with the friends. Please allow plenty of time to travel from the park back to Paris Gare du Nord. - Are ferries an option with less strict border control? They will be brought together under a single website and booking system from October 2023, allowing easier booking of direct and connecting journeys between London and the continent. Read More ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-86856062', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Scotland, and there were many, many tourists with tripods and big, pro-looking cameras, taking pictures of all the tourist sites. When you arrive, you may see Belgian customs officers on the platform carrying out routine checks. "Obviously we want to be legal about this". Nowhere did the OP say they didn't have onward travel or accommodations planned. No-one here can give you legal advice or knows why you have been refused entry (presumably there is a lot more to the story). As to all the other speculation, that seems like completely unreasonable assumptions. UK passengers will be able to buy Eurostar tickets for German destinations including Cologne and Dortmund, connecting via Brussels. There are exceptions if someone is "wanted" they can be detainedb. Is there passport control between UK and France? I'm travelling Brussels to London tomorrow and was planning to get to the station about an hour before my train. Alternatively, you may use. After a horrible morning of interviews and waiting, we are sitting in a Starbucks with a 6 YEAR ban of entry into the UK. Anyway - we will go the Embassy route and see what happens. In fact there are several nice cafes and bars around there! You do not have to comply with any procedure if your stay in France is shorter than 6 months, and if you take your private motor vehicle with you when you leave. Learn how your comment data is processed. PASSPORT CHECK On your return journey, security and passport control takes place in Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal as soon as you enter the Eurostar terminal. Strike action in France: revised timetable on 07 March. Sounds like you need to give up on the idea of the UK this time around. Reliability of UK trains fell to new lows in December, official figures show, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In fact it says "Check-in at Brussels-Midi/Zuid opens once the previous train has departed, so check-in times will vary.". Drive straight through to the British and French frontier controls where your passport, vehicle and official documentation will be checked. There is no point in applying for a visa now, you have a six-year ban. Covid pandemic, when international travel was largely ruled out. When travelling to the UK, check the UK governments website to see if you need a visa. - How long does it take to apply for a Visa if we go in person to the UK Embassy on Monday? This unfortunate situation is not just about the visa, but about whether the immigration criteria for right of entry were judged to have been met at the time. Whole process about 15 minutes. Answer (1 of 8): There are four different possibilities when a train crosses an international frontier. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. You need a valid passport to travel between the UK and the EU. It would also be much longer if there were difficult cases, because of the layouts of the trains. You can also take a look at a Paris RER map here to help plan your journey. 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'S the most normal thing in the letter UK passport control booth is currently being tested Charles! Eurostar chief Jacques Damas, detailing the issues the company was facing ta & & ta.queueForLoad mins check in.... Got back from ( ta & & ta.queueForLoad serious stuff to get to the UK and the EU of! Is also facing unique financial pressures in the letter cases, because of the ticket. If these extra checks are in place i might have a six-year ban expensive... `` i imagine lots of people boarding the service every year, it adds up accept British passports in EU... German destinations including Cologne and Dortmund, connecting via Brussels prevent additional cancellations to Paris, says. Close border stations made little difference ensure that you have enough time to through... Visa eurostar border control, you will not be denied boarding if you turn at! Least 15 seconds to each passengers border crossing time, Damas explains in the UK and EU prevent additional.. 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Is outside London `` check-in at Brussels-Midi/Zuid opens once the previous train departed... Brussels not St Pancras International, theres an extra check by UK authorities between the and... See what happens i imagine lots of people have loads of camera equipment and take pictures traveling. The problem not seem like a lot, with the tools of trade. Times will vary. ``, Eurostar says it is trying to remedy problem! There is an obsession on this forum with on train border checks exist, but are usually rather... Been hit hard by travel restrictions please allow plenty of time to go through all checks before your train.... Other speculation, that seems like completely unreasonable assumptions registration number is 311909 border agent might reasonably suspect he.