The United Kingdom (UK) has confirmed that the agreement regarding French school trips to the country will remain.
Students participating in educational trips to the UK will be exempt from the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme.
The ETA scheme will launch in April for all non-visa travelers, including French and European nationals.
This exemption means French school groups can still visit without needing extra approval.
However, the ETA exemption is only temporary while the British Government is working on a long-term solution.
The UK ETA scheme
The UK’s ETA scheme will require travelers from visa-exempt countries to apply online for a digital travel permit before visiting the UK.
From 5 March 2025, European nationals must submit their ETA applications, required for all travelers to the UK from 2 April 2025.
The ETA scheme aims to streamline travel and enhance border security by allowing UK authorities to pre-screen travelers.
However, its implementation raised concerns among European educators, particularly in France.
This is due to the additional administrative requirements it imposes on students for school trips to the UK.
French school trip exemption
To address this issue, the UK temporarily exempts those traveling on French school trips from needing an ETA.
Lord Hanson of Flint explained this by answering a question submitted to Parliament by the Home Office.
“The government has considered the implications of the scheme on French school groups visiting the UK,” he wrote.
“[It] has agreed that children aged 18 and under traveling as part of a French school group will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed,” Lord Hanson said.
The exemption only applies to kids aged 18 and under who are enrolled in a French educational institution authorized by the French Ministry of Education.
They must be traveling to the UK as part of a group of at least five, which their school or institution organized.
Children from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland can use their national identity (ID) cards.
Non-EU children will still be required to travel on their passports but no longer need a visitor visa.
They will not need the extra ETA approval if they travel on a school trip.
However, teachers or other adults responsible for the school group trip must have an official form that lists everyone in the group.
French schools can download this form from the UK Government’s website.
Why the ETA exemption matters to French school trips
The introduction of the ETA initially sparked concern among French educators and the travel sector.
Many feared the new requirement might again discourage schools from organizing trips to the UK.
Valérie Boned, president of Les Entreprises du Voyage, a French travel industry group, wrote to the UK Home Secretary to clear the matter.
Her letter highlighted the strain the new ETA scheme could place on planning French school trips to the UK.
Boned also mentioned the real possibility that French schools might cancel trips due to increased logistical burdens.
French school trips to the UK have long been a popular form of educational and cultural exchange.
It offers French students valuable exposure to the English language and British history.
Brexit and COVID-19 have led to a sharp decline, with nearly no French school trips to the UK.
Before Brexit, French schools organized around 10,000 trips to the UK annually, contributing £100 million to the economy.
After Brexit, stricter travel rules made it harder for teachers to plan these trips, leading to a significant decline.
However, industry data showed a 30 percent increase in school trips to the UK following the French school trip agreement in December 2023.
While still below pre-Brexit levels, the exemption is a relief for French schools and travel companies that organize these educational trips.
It allows them to continue planning educational trips to the UK without the added burden of securing ETAs for each student.
Encouraging educational visits across the channel
This exemption helps young people experience British culture, strengthening ties between the UK and France.
It highlights the UK’s interest in supporting educational and cultural exchanges with its European neighbors.
For French educators and students, it is a welcome sign that cross-Channel trips will continue and provide learning benefits.
Both governments aim to ensure these valuable educational experiences remain accessible for future generations.
The goal is to create a permanent travel plan that meets security standards and is practical for large student groups.