Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the impact on the number of European school parties visiting the UK of changes to travel document requirements which mean that a full passport is now required for each student.

As with all other nationalities, we no longer accept national identity cards as a valid travel document from EU, EEA and Swiss visitors to the UK.

An impact assessment was undertaken of this change and almost a year’s notice was provided for this change to allow people and groups to plan ahead and obtain passports where they do not already have them before they travel. Officials also worked with key stakeholders, including carriers and others in the travel industry, to ensure the successful implementation of the change on 1 October 2021.

The experience at the UK border since 1 October 2021 has been positive, with EU, EEA and Swiss nationals recognising the need to switch to using their passports for travel to the UK. By using a biometric passport most EU nationals, aged 12 or over, making a short visit can also use e-gates, where available, for a quicker and easier arrival experience, especially if travelling as part of a large group.