Next day appointment

Visa rules for a school trip to France

By Admin December 20, 2018

you are going for a school trip? France school trip visa has some specific rules and guidelines depending on the category of the student whether they come from the EU, British category, or non-EU, non-British category.Know about the requirements that even the visa is required for kids or not.

France school trip visa requirements for non-EU/ non-British students-

French consulate states that a visa is not required for students going on a trip to France whether they are non-EU or non-British nationals. Nothing much is required if you are planning for a school trip to France even if you are a non-EU or British national. Let’s check the School trip guidance through the French consulate

France school trip visa, consulate guidelines-

According to Article 6(2), students who are nationals of a third country and traveling in the context of any school trip as a member of school then the travelers are exempted from the charges and requirements of a visa for France. Some basic requirements are there that non-EU nationals need to meet to travel visa-free to France.

Check the guidelines below regarding visa-free entry for school trips to France.

  • Be at a general education school if comes under the category of non-EU pupil in the UK.
  • Be on an organized school trip made with their school.
  • Get accompanied by a teacher from the school during the school trips to France as a non-EU national.
  • Make sure you have your valid passport.
  • A valid resident permit in the UK is required.

While crossing the border with ease, better to stay with the accompanied teachers provided by the school. You need to make the official list of the student with the teachers assigned to them.

Check some important notes regarding the France school trip visa below-

  • Students from further education colleges or universities / Accompanying teachers / Youth organizations are not eligible;
  • Children cannot travel on their parent’s passport they must have their passport.
  • Also please know that this does not guarantee complete entry to France.
  • Entry of people somewhere depends on border police on the day of travel.

Rules have been changed now a bit after Brexit law for France School trip visas. Check how Brexit will impact your school trip to France. Below are some updated guidelines

New visa rules UK for school trips

  • Make sure of your passport issue and expiry date.
  • Students and teachers will need a valid EHIC card. If not then you have to apply for a new GHIC card for travel.
  • Make sure the school trip has proper travel insurance with adequate medical coverage.
  • Check your mobile phone provider’s roaming charges for France.
  • It is well expected that everyone in your group will need to apply for a digital ETIAS pass to enter France in 2024.
  • Make sure you allow extra time to ports at the EU entry and exit system.

Need for a new passport-

Before the impletion of Brexit law, one can travel to EU countries right to the point it is expiring, but now for school trips from the UK, you first need to check the passport issue and expiry date rules of the EU country they are visiting. British passport holders visiting France needs to follow 2 basic rules-

  • Your passport must be less than 10 years old as per the date of your school trip. Check the issue date of the passport.
  • The passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the day your group leaves. For this check the expiry date of the passport.

Impact of EU Entry/exit system on a school trip to France-

The EU Entry/exit system rules will be operational in 2024 when there will be self-service passport booths at the ports and borders. All UK travelers 12 years above age will get their fingerprints collected at the EU border for the first time. This may cause some delays at the ports and border crossing.

Important papers for a school trip to France

Proof of return tickets and accommodation is required to show when you arrive. Also, you need to show enough finance available for your stay. Nothing much is required for your school trip to France whether you are an EU or non-EU national.

Don’t get worried about the school trip plans for France especially when you are a non-EU national. Only an updated passport is required for the student else the school will manage the required details itself.