Travelling to Germany Just Got Easier for UK School Groups

Why is this good news?

One of the biggest challenges schools have faced since Brexit has been ensuring every student has the correct documentation to travel.

While many pupils can already travel to Germany using their passport alone, some international students have traditionally needed to apply for a Schengen visa before departure. Depending on nationality, this could involve additional paperwork, appointments, lengthy processing times and costly fees.

Under the new arrangements, eligible pupils may now be able to travel as part of their school group using a certified List of Travellers, removing the need for individual visa applications in many cases.

Although certain documentation is still required, the overall process is designed to be considerably more straightforward for schools.

Who does the new scheme apply to?

The new arrangements apply to organised school trips from the UK where pupils travel together under the supervision of one or more teachers.

Students fall into one of three categories:

• EU, EEA and Swiss nationals, who continue to travel under existing arrangements.
• Visa-exempt nationalities, including British passport holders, who also continue to travel as normal.
• Certain other nationalities, who may now benefit from the simplified school group process rather than applying individually for a visa.

What does this mean for schools?

For many schools, particularly those with students from a wide range of backgrounds, this change offers several benefits:

• Reduced administration for eligible pupils.
• Fewer individual visa applications.
• Greater confidence when planning educational visits.
• A simpler documentation process for qualifying school groups.

While every student will still need a valid travel document, the new process should make preparing for a Germany tour more straightforward than before.

How Rayburn Tours can help

Entry requirements can sometimes seem complicated, particularly where groups include students with different nationalities.

While we can’t advise on individual visa eligibility or immigration matters, we can help you understand the documentation requirements for your tour and direct you to the appropriate official guidance where needed.

As always, we’re committed to making your journey as smooth as possible, so you can focus on what really matters: providing your students with an unforgettable educational experience.