Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will assess the potential merits of allowing under-18s travelling as part of an organised trip lasting less than two weeks to enter the UK without visas.

Citizens of some countries are required to obtain a visa before travelling to the UK. This list is set out in the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-visa-national-list

The visa requirement is based on nationality rather than the purpose of travel or age of the applicant.

The UK’s immigration system is global and applies to all regardless of nationality. All those visiting the UK, including on school visits or exchanges, are assessed against the same immigration rules which area available at:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor .

There are no plans to change our approach to under 18s travelling as part of an organised group.