UK: French school groups temporarily exempt from ETA

Children from French schools will be temporarily exempt from the ETA and will be able to continue using their national identity card for school trips to the UK.

From April 2, 2025, European travelers exempt from visa requirements will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. This formality will have to be completed online before departure, and will require a valid passport.

Since the announcement of this expansion of the ETA system to visitors from the Old Continent, French schools and professionals specializing in school travel have been awaiting guidance from the British authorities on the facilities currently granted to children in French schools.

Since December 28, 2023, European children in French schools have been exempt from the passport requirement for school trips to the UK, and can cross the Channel simply by presenting a national identity card.

For non-European students attending school in France, a passport is still required, but not a UK visa.

Recently questioned about the government’s plans to modify the current system for welcoming French school groups visiting the United Kingdom without passports due to the extension of the ETA, the Home Office yesterday provided an initial response.

Temporary exemption from ETA “until a group solution is developed”

The Minister of State at the Home Office, David Hanson, recalled yesterday that the UK “permit the use of national identity cards for French schoolchildren (aged 18 and under) travelling on organised trips and waive UK visa requirements for their classmates who are visa nationals.”

The Lord Hanson of Flint adds that “their responsible adults must be in possession of a fully completed and authenticated form listing the participants in the trip. French schools can access the form online from gov.uk.”

In anticipation of the ETA system opening up to EU citizens in April 2025, the Minister of State at the Home Office explains that “the Government has considered the implications of the scheme on French school groups visiting the UK, and has agreed that children aged 18 and under travelling as part of a French school group will be temporarily exempted from the ETA requirement until a group solution is developed.”

“This will allow EU, EEA and Swiss children to continue to use their identity cards on organised French school trips to the UK,” says David Hanson.

Extension of the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system

From April 2, 2025, all short-stay visa-exempt travelers will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK.

The ETA application can be submitted from the official website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta or via the “UK ETA” mobile app available from the App Store and Google Play Store.

The ETA is valid for 2 years, and allows multiple trips to the UK for tourism, business or to visit family and friends. Travelers in transit through the UK will also require an approved ETA. The maximum length of stay is 180 days per entry.

The price of the ETA is set at £10, or around €13 (including online banking fees).

Here are the dates of implementation of the ETA system: