Lords European Affairs committee welcome Home Office move on school groups visiting the UK from France
Wednesday 13 December 2023
The House of Lords European Affairs Committee has welcomed the Government’s move to ease travel document requirements for school groups visiting the UK from France as part changes to Immigration Rules announced by Home Secretary James Cleverly last week.
Lord Ricketts, European Affairs Committee said:
“Our Committee has long campaigned for progress in reducing the post-brexit barriers to mobility for young people and particularly for students across different educational levels. It was a theme that run through our Future UK-EU Relationship report published in April.
“ It is therefore welcome news that the Home Office is finally amending the rules to allow children aged 18 and under, studying at a school in France, to visit the UK on an organised educational trip without the usual passport or visa requirements.
“This applies not just to French children, but to all EU, other EEA and Swiss children studying in France will be able to travel on their national identity card. The Committee welcomes this promising start, but we now urge the Government to get this extended to children studying in all EU states for the benefit of both sides.”
