Germany’s Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) updated its United Kingdom travel advisory on 15 July 2026 to emphasise that, with immediate effect, German school groups must follow the same Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) rules as all other travellers. The clarification comes after months of uncertainty about whether the post-Brexit ETA scheme would replicate the former “List of Travellers” visa waiver used by EU school parties. Under the Home Office policy, passport holders of ETA-eligible nationalities—including Germany—must apply online or via a dedicated app at least three days before departure. Pupils who hold third-country passports that are normally visa-required for the UK must still secure a standard visit visa until their nationality is added to the phased ETA roll-out. Each ETA costs £10 and is valid for multiple entries over a two-year period, or until passport expiry. For German educators the change means additional lead-time and budget for class excursions to London, Edinburgh or Belfast. Tour operators report that some autumn 2026 trips have already been re-routed to Ireland, where Schengen-area pupils can still enter on a collective visa waiver. Corporations running graduate programmes with UK modules should likewise ensure that German-resident trainees—particularly dual nationals—complete ETA registration before travel. The advisory also reminds business travellers that British border officers may request proof of onward travel and sufficient funds; failure to pre-register ETA data could result in airline boarding denial. The Auswärtiges Amt recommends travellers store a digital copy of the ETA approval email and enrol in its ELEFAND crisis-registration portal for the duration of their stay.
