French schoolchildren will once again be able to go on a school trip to the United Kingdom with a simple identity card

With the effective entry into force of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, the passport became compulsory.

Since Brexit, language stays across the Channel have become an obstacle course. To remedy this, the United Kingdom relaxed, on Thursday December 28, the formalities at its border for school trips from France. French schoolchildren attending school in France will thus be able to come to the country with a simple identity card as part of an organized trip, according to provisions coming into force on Thursday.

With the effective entry into force of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, the passport had become compulsory and, for certain students of non-European nationalities, a visa currently costing 115 pounds (more than 130 euros) was also essential, even if they resided in the EU. For the latter, the passport will remain necessary, but not the visa, if they are educated in France. The adults responsible for the group must also have a form listing the participants in the trip.

Only France is concerned

After the collapse in the number of school trips after Brexit came into force, the sector organization Beta UK was concerned about an annual shortfall of several billion pounds for the sector. Quoted by AFP, its director, Emma English, was delighted to“a positive step forward”, but urged the British government to ensure that this relaxation “be extended to our European neighbors”.

It comes after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged, in March, “to facilitate travel for school groups UK”. “These changes are much more than a victory,” greeted Edward Hisbergues, director of PG Trips, a specialist in school travel. “The United Kingdom gives all teachers an image of a welcoming country, which loves France”he concludes.