UK and France To Simplify School Travel Rules in 2024

Anticipated enhancements in school and group travel between the United Kingdom and France are on the horizon as both countries are committed to removing certain post-Brexit barriers.

The UK’s new border restrictions for EU travellers which accept only those with a passport have been a major deterrent for many school groups.

The British government is taking steps to streamline travel regulations for French school trips in an effort to revitalise educational exchanges with European Union members, which have significantly declined since the UK's exit from the EU.

In the next few months, the government intends to begin allowing children on school trips from France to use their national identity cards. Furthermore, as reported by the Financial Times last week, insiders from the UK administration have confirmed that there will be a removal of the visa requirement for non-EU citizens travelling to the UK with fellow students.

This means that non-EU children residing in France will only be required to hold their valid passports provided that they are travelling as part of an official school trip.

While the eased travel rules will initially start applying to French students on school trips, the measure could be extended to include other EU Member States if this new policy proves to be successful.

The decision by the UK government aligns with the earlier commitment made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and President Emmanuel Macron of France to ease travel restrictions for school groups earlier this year.

The anticipated regulatory changes are poised for official introduction in the coming months, and changes will need to be made to existing legislation. However, the government has yet to confirm the move.

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