UK Minister Confirms Temporary Exemption for French School Groups From ETA Requirement

UK Minister Confirms Temporary Exemption for French School Groups From ETA Requirement

Key Takeaways  

1. The UK Minister of State for the Home Office confirmed that French school groups will be temporarily exempt from the ETA requirement.  
2. The exemption will remain in place until a solution for these travellers is developed.  
3. French school groups are currently allowed entry to the UK under special facilitation rules.

David Hanson, the UK Minister of State for the Home Office, has announced that French school groups of children under 18 will be temporarily exempt from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) requirement.  

In response to a query from Lord German, Minister Hanson clarified that French school groups will be allowed to travel to the UK under the existing facilitated entry rules until a long-term solution is devised. 

The decision to provide this temporary exemption was made after considering the implications of the ETA scheme. The UK government is working on a solution that will maintain the facilitated entry process for these groups.  

Minister Hanson emphasized that the temporary exemption would allow children aged 18 and under, traveling as part of a French school group, to continue using their identity cards for UK entry.  

Under the scheme introduced in December 2023, French pupils under 18 can go on school trips to the UK with just their IDs, while their non-EU classmates are not required to obtain a visa.  

All EU Citizens Will Need an ETA Starting April 2025  
Beginning in April 2025, all EU citizens who do not need a visa or permission to work, live, or study in the UK will be required to apply for an ETA.  

EU citizens will be able to apply for the ETA starting March 5, 2025, and the requirement will be enforced from April 2, 2025. The ETA will cost €11 for all applicants, including children and infants.  

This measure is part of the UK government’s effort to enhance security checks and prevent misuse of the immigration system by requiring the ETA for citizens of visa-exempt countries.

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