On the way home you sail from the ferry terminal in the port of Calais, 285 avenue du Mérite Maritime. All three operators check in at the same booths, and both the French and the British border control take place here, before you board. Allow time for that, and in Dover you simply drive off the ship and out of the port.
Address and how to get there
| Address | 285 avenue du Mérite Maritime, CS 90283, 62105 Calais Cedex, France |
| GPS | 50.9732 N, 1.8774 E |
| Port phone | +33 3 21 46 29 00 |
| Operators | P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries |
By car: the port is reached directly from the A16 along the coast (from Boulogne or Dunkirk and Belgium) and from the A26 (from Paris and Reims). Follow the signs for the port and the ferry terminal. Without a car: Calais Ville station is under 10 minutes away by taxi, and the free Baladin shuttle bus runs between the town centre, the station and the ferry terminal from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 7pm (not on French public holidays).
Questions about your booking go to your operator, not the port: P&O Ferries, DFDS or Irish Ferries. More about the port is on the official Port Boulogne Calais website ↗.
Leaving from Calais: check-in and border control
1. Check-in
The road into the port takes you straight to the check-in booths, which all three operators share. Have your booking reference and every passport ready. Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure for cars and 90 minutes for foot passengers; in summer, at Easter and around Christmas the port advises foot passengers to come two hours early. There is a small shop and toilets near the booths if the queue is long. After check-in you get a boarding card with your lane number.
2. French and British border control
First you pass the French border police, who record that you leave the Schengen area; for UK travellers this exit is now registered in the EU’s Entry/Exit System. A little further on is the British border control, where UK Border Force checks your passport and, if you are not British or Irish, your UK ETA. You stay in the car and hand all passports through the open window. After that, UK security staff may pick out vehicles for a search.
3. To your lane and on board
Follow the operator names on the road and the numbered signs to your lane. Depending on the berth of your ship this can be quite a drive through the port. While you wait you can walk to the terminal buildings for toilets, food or the duty free shop. Boarding is announced, so stay close to your car once it gets near departure time.
Please note: the check-in times on this page are an indication to help you estimate how much time to allow for your journey. Always follow the official information from the operator you travel with or the company you booked with.
Facilities at the terminal
The passenger terminal has a duty free shop with the Calais Coffee Shop on the first floor, open every day from 8.30am to 8.30pm for sandwiches, pastries and hot drinks. What we found during our own crossings:
- ℹ️ Info point
- 🛒 Duty free shop
- ☕ Coffee shop
- 💶 ATM
- 🚻 Toilets
- 🥤 Vending machines
Parking at Calais port
In front of the ferry terminal there is free parking for dropping off and for short stays, with charging points for electric cars. The port has no medium or long-stay car park, so you cannot leave your car here for days while you cross on foot. Our page on parking at Dover and Calais explains the options on both sides.
Customs: what you can bring back to the UK
Since Brexit, the shops on board and in the port sell duty free again, but everything you bring into Great Britain counts towards the same personal allowances, wherever you bought it. Within these limits you pay no tax or duty, as long as the goods are for your own use or a gift:
| Goods | Allowance per adult |
|---|---|
| Beer and cider | 42 litres |
| Wine, still or sparkling | 18 litres |
| Spirits over 22% | 4 litres, or 9 litres of fortified wine such as port or sherry (you can split the two) |
| Tobacco | 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco (you can split these) |
| Other goods | Up to £390 in total |
Travellers under 17 have no allowance for alcohol or tobacco. You cannot pool allowances: each adult can only bring in their own share. Above an allowance you must declare the goods and pay on the whole category, not just the extra. Check the latest rules on GOV.UK ↗ before a big shopping trip.
Arriving in Dover
On the Calais to Dover ferry you reach the port of Dover after about an hour and a half. Because both border checks are already done, you drive off the ship and straight out of the port onto the A20 or the A2. Back on the left, with speed signs in miles per hour again.
Questions about Calais ferry port
What is the address of Calais ferry port for my satnav?
285 avenue du Mérite Maritime, 62105 Calais. If your satnav does not find it, use the GPS coordinates 50.9732 N, 1.8774 E, or follow the port signs from the A16 or A26.
Where do I go through UK passport control on the way home?
In Calais, just after the French border control and before you reach your lane. That is why there is no passport check when you arrive in Dover.
How early should I arrive at the port of Calais?
Check-in closes 60 minutes before departure for cars and 90 minutes for foot passengers. At busy times the two border checks add time, so plan to be there earlier in the holidays. Our sailing updates show any delays on the day.
Can I get to the Calais ferry terminal without a car?
Yes. Take a taxi from Calais Ville station, or the free Baladin shuttle from the town centre or the station (Monday to Saturday). Only P&O Ferries takes foot passengers; see our foot passenger page.
Still need a crossing home?
Compare the sailings of P&O Ferries, DFDS and Irish Ferries from Calais to Dover in one overview.