From 3 April the Port of Dover will introduce a pilot scheme intended to accelerate and simplify border procedures for school groups travelling from the UK to France.
As of then, school groups that submit passenger information to their ferry carrier at least 72 hours in advance could benefit from faster processing at the French frontier in Dover. It comes as the Easter period approaches, with French border authorities at Dover having struggled with coach volumes at peak periods in previous years.
To qualify, schools will provide proof of their status such as a screenshot of their registration on the relevant national school database.
It is understood that not all ferry operators at Dover will participate from the start, but those that are taking part will contact schools with details of what they will need to do. The Port of Dover has also encouraged schools to contact their ferry operator directly.
The initiative has been developed in collaboration between the UK and French governments and ferry operators. An additional benefit of the pilot is that children who are ‘visa nationals’ in the UK will be eligible for visa-free travel when on a school trip to France.
Port of Dover Chief Executive Doug Banister says: “This pilot is a significant step forward in making school travel between the UK and France more seamless and accessible.
“By streamlining border processes and enabling visa-free travel for eligible students, we are reducing significant administration time, which in turn ensures a smoother, more efficient experience for school groups and potentially reduces queue times for additional tourist and freight traffic.
“The Port of Dover is proud to play a central role in this progressive initiative, which not only strengthens our cross-channel connectivity but also supports educational and cultural exchange opportunities for young people.”
The UK Coach Operators Association has welcomed the school groups pilot at Dover. Says Managing Director Peter Bradley: “Any scheme that has the potential to improve the efficiency of the border process and benefit both school parties and the wider travelling public is much appreciated.
“We look forward to hearing feedback from the pilot scheme.”
