The Port of Dover, in collaboration with UK and French authorities and ferry operators, has enhanced its border processing pilot for school groups traveling from Dover to Calais. Launched on 3 April 2025, the initiative aims to accelerate border procedures and reduce administrative burdens for educational trips.

Key updates include:

• Advance Passenger Information Submission: Schools can now submit passenger details to ferry operators at least 72 hours before departure. This pre-submission allows for faster processing at French border control points in Dover.
• Visa-Free Travel for Visa Nationals: Students under 18 who are visa nationals residing in the UK can travel to France without a visa when part of a school trip. This change facilitates greater inclusivity for students from diverse backgrounds.
• Simplified Documentation Process: Schools are required to provide evidence of their educational status, such as registration on national school databases. Passenger information must be submitted in a specific format provided by ferry operators to ensure compatibility with French border systems.

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive at the Port of Dover said, “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, ensuring a smoother, more efficient experience for school groups and potentially reducing queue times for additional tourist and freight traffic.”

Schools and travel operators are encouraged to contact their ferry providers to confirm participation in the pilot and to obtain the necessary documentation templates.

For more information and detailed guidance, please visit: Dover to Calais school trips – GOV.UK

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port.
• As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers.
• Dover is an award-winning cruise port, delivering world-class travel and visitor experiences to over 20 different cruise lines each year. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a new marina which is at the centre of the revived waterfront, plus opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.