Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will reconsider the change in rules that require EU children on school exchanges to have a passport, rather than being allowed to enter the UK as a group with their ID cards and a List of Travellers collective passport.

As part of the changes to the Immigration Rules in September 2021, we no longer accept national identity cards as a valid travel document from EU, EEA and Swiss visitors to the UK.

Almost a year’s notice was provided for this change to allow groups to plan ahead and obtain passports where they do not already have them before they travel.

The experience at the UK Border since the change has been positive, with EU, EEA and Swiss nationals making the switch to using their passport for travel. Using a passport also means most EU nationals making a short visit can also use e-gates where available for a quicker and easier arrival experience.

There are no plans to change our approach.