Travelling as part of a School Tour

If you are a non-EU or EEA school pupil who is resident in an EU or EEA Member State and wish to travel to another EU or EEA Member State as part of a group school excursion, you may be exempt from the requirement to be in possession of a visa.

This exemption arises from the implementation of the European Council Decision (94/795/JHA) on a joint action adopted by the Council on the basis of Article K.3(2)(b) of the Treaty on European Union concerning travel facilities for school pupils from non-EU Member Countries resident in a member state. Please note that an upper age limit does not apply, provided the pupil is part of a school group.

If the school is based outside of Ireland and the pupil is travelling to Ireland, please contact the relevant Immigration Authority of that EU member state to authorise the trip before travelling to Ireland. This authorisation can then be presented to the Irish Immigration Officer on arrival to Ireland.

Any such queries should be directed to the Immigration Authority of the relevant EU Member state. The Irish Immigration Service cannot assist with such queries.

In order for schools based in Ireland to avail of this exemption, the head of the school (typically the school principal) must complete and submit an application form and submit it via the Customer Service Portal. All such applications can only be submitted by the school.

Instruction on how to categorise and submit such a request can be found here: Submitting Registration or Renewal Queries

The completed Visa Waiver form must be provided as a scanned .pdf file. A picture will not suffice.

In order to process the request, the following documents will be required to be provided:

1. A completed application form (in editable .pdf format) completed and stamped by the school principal’s office.
2. A scan/picture of the relevant applicant’s (student) passport.
3. A copy of the teacher’s passport and work ID that will be accompanying them during travel.
4. A letter, on official headed paper from the school stating that the applicant(s) is travelling as part of a school trip.