Germany and the UK launch simplified travel rules for school groups

Since Brexit, organising school trips between the UK and Germany has often involved navigating a maze of extra paperwork, particularly for pupils with international or multi-national backgrounds.

But new arrangements introduced on August 1st under the UK-Germany Friendship Treaty, also known as the Kensington Treaty, are expected to make life easier for many schools.

The treaty, signed in July 2025 and now in force, aims to strengthen cooperation and expand educational and cultural exchanges between young people in Britain and Germany.

At the heart of the changes is the return of a group travel system that allows some pupils who would previously have needed individual visas, to travel as part of an organised school trip instead.

For German school groups visiting the UK:

Under the new arrangements, pupils travelling from Germany to the UK as part of an eligible school group will not need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country.

In addition, pupils who are EU, EEA or Swiss citizens can now travel using a national identity card instead of a passport, although UK government guidance notes that carrying a passport may make border checks quicker.

The rules are different for dual citizens. Pupils who hold British or Irish citizenship alongside another nationality must prove that citizenship with a valid British or Irish passport, or another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement.

So pupils that are both British and German cannot simply travel on a German identity card under the scheme.

The scheme applies to groups of five or more pupils aged 19 or under from recognised German schools.

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And for UK school groups heading to Germany:

The changes work in both directions. From the same date, schools in the UK bringing pupils to Germany can also benefit from a simplified process.

The biggest impact will be felt by pupils who are not British, EU, EEA or Swiss nationals. Previously, many of these children would have needed to apply individually for a Schengen visa before travelling.

Under the new rules, eligible pupils may be able to travel without an individual visa if they are included on a certified List of Travellers. This is an official document completed by the school which lists the pupils and teachers travelling as part of the group.

To qualify, pupils must travel with the group, be accompanied by one or more teachers and not leave the group for extended periods or travel independently.

In addition, they must hold a valid UK residence permit where required by the scheme.

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