Visit the UK as part of a German school trip
The Germany-UK school trip travel information form allows you to bring a group of pupils from a school in Germany to the UK.
The Germany-UK school trip travel information form allows you to bring a group of 5 or more pupils aged 19 and under from a school in Germany to the UK.
Your school must be registered with your relevant local municipal or competent authority for you to use this form.
Everyone who is travelling as part of the group must be included in the form. Confirm who is travelling and check they have the correct documents before you fill it in.
It is free to enter the UK with this form and pupils will not need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
Documents the pupils need
Each pupil must have certain documents, depending on their nationality.
Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein
Each pupil must have:
- an authorisation to leave the country (AST) as set out by the Bundespolizei on their website, signed by their parent or guardian
- a copy of their parent or guardian’s identity document
- a passport or national identity card
If they have a passport, they should bring it. It will make it faster to cross the UK border.
If they do not have a passport, they can bring their national identity card instead.
Nationals of other countries
Each pupil must have:
- an authorisation to leave the country (AST) as set out by the Bundespolizei on their website, signed by their parent or guardian
- a copy of their parent or guardian’s identity document
- a valid national passport or a valid refugee travel document issued by the Federal Republic of Germany (Reisepässe und gemäß der Genfer Flüchtlingskonvention ausgestellte Reisedokumente)
Dual citizens
If the pupil is a dual citizen with British or Irish citizenship, they can travel and prove their citizenship using:
- a valid British passport
- a valid Irish passport
- another valid passport containing a certificate of entitlement
Find out more about travelling to the UK as a dual citizen.
Documents the adults need
Depending on their nationality, each adult (accompanying teachers or responsible adults, not including pupils aged 18-19) will either:
- have to apply for a Standard Visitor visa
- have to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which allows you to visit the UK without a visa
- be able to visit the UK without a visa or an ETA
Check if you need a visa or ETA to visit the UK.
All adults must bring their passport.
Filling in the form
The head teacher of your school must fill in the form.
If there are not enough rows in the form for the number of pupils or adults that are travelling, fill in another copy of the form.
They must send it to the German municipal or other competent authority at least 15 days before departure, along with:
- the pupils’ authorisations to leave the country, signed by their parents or guardians
- the copies of the parents’ identity documents
The municipal or other competent authority will check and validate the documents and send them back to the head teacher.
Bringing the form to the UK
Bring 2 copies of the form with you. You will need to show them to a Border Force officer at the UK border.
The Border Force officer will check it is correct and that everyone in the group has the correct documents.
They will keep one of the copies of the form.
Updates to this page
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Updated to add the application form and additional information to support the UK-Germany school trip travel arrangements which came into force on 1 August 2026.
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Updated page to say that the UK-Germany school trip travel information form and relevant guidance will be published on 1 August 2026.
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First published.