Passport for School Trip

[madmick]

Hi. My daughter is going on a one day trip to Belgium with her school to visit the battlefields. Do I need to buy a passport for her or does any other type of identification suffice? She is 14. Thankyou for your help.

[factor-fiction]

Have you tried asking the school. I recall my children going without passports but that was when the kids were still on our passport. But the rules may have changed or your school may have its own approach.

[cassa333]

I know children need them for France

[LoftyLottie]

Children under 18 can go on school trips without a passport as long as the school arranges a group passport which will include the names of the children travelling. This has to be arranged at least four weeks ahead of the travel and is only possible if there are more than a certain number in the group. If children hold their own passport then they will not be included on the group passport.

Check wiith the school.

[pink-kittens]

There has to be at least 5 people on a group passport

http://www.ips.gov.uk/passport/collective-who. asp

[Ice.Maiden]

Yes, the school usually arranges a group passport on trips like this. It's safer that way as well, should someone mislay one. The consent form should mention this somewhere, but have a word with whoever's running the trip.

[hippyhoppy]

I would have thought she needs a passport and an EHIC (sp) card? My daughter's just been to Paris and we had to hand these documents in weeks ago! You need photographic documents to got to flipping Belfast!! so to go abroad a passport must be required, surely...

[Ice.Maiden]

I think LoftyLottie and pink-kittens are right hun. My eldest son was offered the chance of a similar school trip, and a group passport was provided. I didn't need to query it though, as we were going away at the same time, so he never went.

[LoftyLottie]

Hippy Hoppy. I am absolutely sure I am right, having worked in School Administration. However, in your daughter's case the school might have decided they didn't want to go down the group passport route or there were not enough in the group. It's up to the School really.

[jack daniels]

also look into applying for this insurance - it's free & my son applied for it when he went to France.
Valid for EU countries

http://www.know-insurance.co.uk/travel/info_ad vice/ehic.htm

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travelinsuranc e/e111.asp