Travel Assistance for Students; Requesting a Group List

The Student Roster is a form that simplifies school trips with a multinational class. It applies to school trips within the European Union as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway (European Economic Area).

Student Group List as a Visa Substitute

Students who are third-country nationals residing in Germany—and who would normally be required to obtain a visa for the destination country—may, as an exception, enter the country without a visa using this list. The student roster, for example, allows students to participate in a school trip even if their asylum proceedings have not yet been concluded.

If the teacher presents the student roster at the border, the border control authorities of the member states must allow the listed students to enter and exit the country even without a visa. When crossing the border, the students simply present their passport or national ID card.

Student Roster as a Substitute for a Passport

If a student does not have a passport or another valid travel document, the EU form is also recognized as a substitute for a passport when crossing the border, provided that the list

• includes a photo of the student and
• has been certified and approved by the locally competent immigration office.

With this approval, the immigration office confirms that all students listed reside in Germany and are authorized to return.

The student roster contains the following information:

• names, dates of birth, and addresses of the students,
• the destination and duration of the class trip,
• if applicable, photos of students who do not have a passport.

It is advisable to inquire about the specific procedures for your case before traveling. To do so, contact the embassy of the destination country and the local Foreigners’ Registration Office.

One or more participants in the trip are

• students at a general or vocational school in Germany and
• a third-country national (i.e., not a citizen of Germany, the European Union, or the European Economic Area) residing in Germany.

When used as a visa substitute:

• The student requires a visa. You can find out which countries of origin require a visa—and thus also a group list of students as a substitute for a visa—on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

When used as a substitute for a passport:

• The student does not have a passport or any other valid travel document.

You must submit a written request for the list of students:

• Contact your local immigration office. Upon request, they will provide you with the form titled “List of Travelers for School Trips Within the European Union.”
• Fill out the form completely.
• Have it signed and stamped by the school administration.
• The list is then valid and, together with the students’ passports, serves as a visa substitute.

If you wish to issue the list solely as a visa substitute, you do not need to visit the Foreigners’ Registration Office again.

If you also wish to issue the list as a passport substitute:

• Also attach a photo of the student in question to the list.
• Send the fully completed, signed, and stamped list to your local Foreigners’ Registration Office.
• The Foreigners’ Registration Office will review the list. If it is approved, they will affix a seal to the list. This serves as confirmation that all students listed reside in Germany and are authorized to return.
• You will then receive the approved list back.

For school trips to the United Kingdom, please follow the guidelines issued by the BMI. You can find the link to these guidelines under "Related Links." 

• Validity of the consolidated list: depending on the duration of the field trip as indicated, up to 3 months

Please contact your local immigration office to inquire about the processing time.

• Adults: EUR 12.00 per passenger 
• Minors: EUR 6.00 per passenger