Travelling as a foot passenger
With France being just a 90 minute sailing away and the town of Calais having great travel connections onto cities like Paris and Lille, travelling as a foot passenger doesn’t mean you have to miss out on exploring!
We have put together some useful updated information below, please ensure you are fully up to date with the new requirements for travelling as a foot passenger including; foot passenger check in times and restrictions, as these are likely to be different to the last time you travelled with us.
We look forward to welcoming you onboard!
Please note: Foot passengers are unable to bring pets on board.
On our foot passenger service there is a wheelchair accessible bus that uses a pull out ramp. This may be unsuitable for those with a larger chair, please contact our call centre or customer services to discuss.
Customer Service Email: customer.services@poferries.com
![Travelling as a foot passenger from Dover to Calais](https://po-ecom-prod-xp-93-113810-cd-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/poferries/feature/by-webpage/travel-information/doca-foot-passengers-summer.jpg?h=600&iar=0&w=600&rev=b8d8ef66c4f64e7aa453f85811f03088&hash=EE6659B9D32D0E5405DD593C1BF57EE1)
Foot Passenger check-in (at the Passenger Handling Building in Dover Port) closes 90 minutes before your sailing time. Please ensure you arrive with plenty of time before this to clear customs checks, and then check-in.
The dedicated shuttle bus for foot passengers will leave when check-in closes (at exactly 90 minutes before your sailing). A shuttle bus will then take you to your drop-off point where our ferry awaits, and drop you at a drop-off point after you disembark.
The above process is also applicable to your return crossing.
Please note that foot passengers will disembark the ship 30 minutes after arrival into port. Please allow for this time when making any travel arrangements from Calais port to your onward destination,
There are drop off spaces and taxi ranks located near the building. Find out more about the port of Dover including the exact address by visiting our port page.
Once checked in, foot passengers will be directed and transferred to the ship as advised by the check in staff.
Sailings
Foot Passenger can travel from Dover to Calais between the following times:
Sunday - Friday: First sailing 10:05 - Last sailing 19:05
Saturday: First sailing 09:15 - Last sailing 18:50
Foot Passenger can travel from Calais to Dover between the following times:
Sunday - Friday: First sailing 10:30 - Last sailing 19:00
Saturday: First sailing 11:10 - Last sailing 19:20
Please note: Foot passenger space is subject to availability.
Shuttle Buses
There is the Balad’in bus running every 20 minutes Mon – Sat (excl Bank Holidays) from Calais terminal from 07:40 to 19:02. For more details including a route map please click here.
On Sundays and bank holidays, we have a bus from Calais ferry terminal to the train station leaving the terminal at 13:10, 16:55 and 20:40.
On Fri, Sat, Sun and bank holidays, we have a bus from Calais ferry terminal to the train station leaving the terminal at 20:40 (for the last foot passenger Dover to Calais sailing 17:25).
On Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, passengers who are on the last foot passenger sailing from Dover to Calais at 17:25 must make sure to arrange their own transport from the port as there is no bus available.
Please note there are no shuttle buses in Dover.
Passport:
To travel as a foot passenger to France you must ensure you passport reflects the below criteria:
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Must be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
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Must be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)
You will still be able to travel with a burgundy or ‘European Union’ passport after Brexit.
Parking
There are no parking facilities in the Port of Dover. If you require parking, we recommend that you contact Relyon Ferry Parking, who offer safe and secure parking facilities on the outskirts of Dover's ferry port. The parking facility is approximately 3 miles from the Port of Dover, but includes a complimentary shuttle service to the port. Find out more here.
Passenger services building (after check in)
Facilities include cash and currency services, toilets, cash point, vending machines, free Wi-Fi access, Costa Coffee, Burger King, WHSmiths, massage chairs, games room as well as an exercise area for dogs in front of the building.
Accessibility
Induction loop systems are in place around the port, along with accessible restrooms.
Find out more about the facilities at the Port of Dover here.
To make a foot passenger booking please follow the steps below:
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Select your port, sailing date and preferred time. Click next to continue.
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Select your passengers and click next to continue.
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The Vehicle page is automatically populated to show a car, to change to foot passenger select 'edit', and then from the drop down vehicle menu select 'Foot Passenger'. Select 'save' and then 'show times'.
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You can then continue to make your booking as normal.
Please note: Foot passenger tickets have to be pre-booked. We are unable to offer a Foot Passenger ticket buying service at the Port of Dover.
![Travelling as a foot passenger from Dover to Calais](https://po-ecom-prod-xp-93-113810-cd-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/poferries/feature/by-webpage/travel-information/doca-foot-passengers-summer.jpg?h=600&iar=0&w=600&rev=b8d8ef66c4f64e7aa453f85811f03088&hash=EE6659B9D32D0E5405DD593C1BF57EE1)