School outings or trips to middle and high school
Verified 17 February 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Your child's college or high school organizes exits and school trips for a specific educational purpose. Unlike travel, outings do not include overnight stays. Under what conditions can your child participate? Coaching, documents to be provided, financial participation, insurance: these are the rules to follow.
School outing
Exits may be optional or mandatory. They do not include overnight stays.
The exit project must be authorized by the board of directors and the head of the school.
It must comply with the establishment project.
Its pedagogical and educational objectives must be precise.
In particular, the draft output must include the following information:
- General characteristics of the trip (location, duration, group composition, etc.)
- Material organization (mode of travel, itinerary, accommodation...))
- Financing methods
- Measures to avoid risks (insurance, medical assistance, instructions in case of serious event, contact details).
Please note
You must be informed of the material and financial organization conditions of your child's school leaving.
Composition of the group of pupils
In principle, the outing concerns an entire class, accompanied by one or more teachers.
Students who do not participate are welcomed into the school and follow a program of adapted activities.
Accompanying persons
Escorts must supervise school outings. However, their presence is not mandatory for optional outings of high school students.
The head of the school determines the number of escorts needed for the school outing.
These chaperones can be school staff or volunteers, including parents of students. Their costs related to the outing are covered by the school.
The exit, optional or mandatory, does not include no overnight stay. It is therefore organized over a day or half a day.
Depending on the route, transportation can be done by bus, public transportation or on foot.
Bus transport is provided by a professional driver.
The administrative documents to be provided depend on where the school trip takes place:
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Release in France
You must allow your minor child to participate in the school outing by completing the following document template:
Application for authorization of a minor pupil to participate in an optional school trip or outing
The agreement of a single parent or person responsible for parental authority is sufficient. However, if the school is informed of a disagreement between the parents, the authorization of the 2 parents is necessary.
Outing abroad
Your child must have the following documents:
- Proof of identity (passport or national identity card)
- Original of authorization to leave the territory of the minor child, whether French or foreigner
- Photocopy of the ID of the parent who signed the exit authorization
- Authorization of the minor child to participate in the school outing.
You must allow your minor child to participate in the school outing by completing the following document template:
Application for authorization of a minor pupil to participate in an optional school trip or outing
You must also complete the part authorizing the exit from the territory.
The agreement of a single parent or person responsible for parental authority is sufficient. However, if the school is informed of a disagreement between the parents and the child is subject to an exit ban, the agreement of the two parents is necessary.
It is also advisable that your child has a european health insurance card.
An optional school leave may be financed by various means (State or local government aid, own funds of the establishment...).)
If the output is mandatory, it is free of charge.
If it is optional, it may be fee-paying. The amount must be reasonable. The board of directors of the institution shall determine the amount of the participation.
In a Local Public Educational Institution (LPE), you can use holiday vouchers to pay for optional outputs.
FYI
If you are having difficulty paying for school leave, you can apply for financial assistance from the secretariat of the school you are attending.
Who shall I contact
The rules are different depending on whether the output is mandatory or optional :
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Compulsory school leave
The insurance is not required. However, it is recommended to protect your child from harm let him talk to himself and cause to others (civil liability).
Optional school outing
Your child must be insured. The insurance must protect him from damage let him talk to himself and cause to others (civil liability).
Please note
The head teacher can take out a collective contract of civil liability insurance for the pupils participating in the outing.
School trip
The trips are optional and are not included in the class schedule.
The travel project must be authorized by the board of directors and the head of the school.
It must comply with the establishment project.
Its pedagogical and educational objectives must be precise.
The travel plan shall include the following information:
- General characteristics of the trip (location, duration, group composition, etc.)
- Material organization (mode of travel, itinerary, accommodation...))
- Financing methods.
Please note
You must be informed of the material and financial conditions of organization of your child's trip. In particular, an information meeting should be organized.
Composition of the group of pupils
The trip usually involves an entire class, accompanied by one or more teachers.
Students who do not participate are welcomed into the school and follow a program of adapted activities.
Accompanying persons
Accompanying persons must supervise school trips.
The head of the school determines the number of escorts needed for the school outing.
These chaperones can be school staff or volunteers, including parents of students. Their costs related to the outing are covered by the school.
In principle, the duration of a school trip does not exceed 5 days.
It comprises at least one overnight stay.
Depending on the route, transportation can be done by bus, public transportation or on foot.
Bus transport is provided by a professional driver.
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Travel in France
You must allow your minor child to take part in the school trip by completing the following document template:
Application for authorization of a minor pupil to participate in an optional school trip or outing
The agreement of one parent is enough. However, if the school is informed of a disagreement between the parents, the authorization of the 2 parents is necessary.
Travel abroad
The documents to be provided are different depending on whether your child is a minor or an adult:
Minor child
The documents vary depending on whether the minor child is a French or foreign national:
French
Your child must have the following documents:
- Proof of identity (passport or national identity card)
- Original of authorization to leave the territory of the minor child
- Photocopy of the ID of the parent who signed the exit authorization
- Authorization of the minor child to participate in the school outing.
You must allow your minor child to participate in the school outing by completing the following document template:
Application for authorization of a minor pupil to participate in an optional school trip or outing
You must also complete the part authorizing the exit from the territory.
The agreement of a single parent or person responsible for parental authority is sufficient. However, if the school is informed of a disagreement between the parents and the child is subject to an exit ban, the agreement of the two parents is necessary.
It is also advisable that your child has a european health insurance card.
Depending on the country of destination, other documents may be requested. Ask the embassy or consulate of the country in France.
Who shall I contact
Foreigner
- Proof of identity (passport or national identity card)
- Original of authorization to leave the territory of the minor child
- Photocopy of the ID of the parent who signed the exit authorization
- Movement document for minor foreigners (DCEM)
- Authorization of the minor child to participate in the school outing.
You must allow your minor child to participate in the school outing by completing the following document template:
Application for authorization of a minor pupil to participate in an optional school trip or outing
You must also complete the part authorizing the exit from the territory.
The agreement of a single parent or person responsible for parental authority is sufficient. However, if the school is informed of a disagreement between the parents and the child is subject to an exit ban, the agreement of the two parents is necessary.
It is also advisable that your child has a european health insurance card.
Depending on the country of destination, other documents may be requested. Ask the embassy or consulate of the country in France.
Who shall I contact
Major child
Each student must have a identity document (passport or national identity card).
Depending on the country of destination, other documents may be requested. Ask the embassy or consulate of the country in France.
Who shall I contact
A school trip can be financed by various means (State or local government aid, own funds of the school...).)
The trip can be paid. The amount must be reasonable. The board of directors of the institution shall determine the amount of the participation.
In a Local Public Educational Institution (LPE), you can use holiday vouchers to pay for optional outputs.
FYI
if you are having difficulty paying for the school leave, you can apply for financial assistance from the secretariat of the school you are attending.
Who shall I contact
If the head of the school cancels the trip, you can request reimbursement of the expenses incurred.
Your child must be insured. The insurance must protect him from damage let him talk to himself and cause to others (civil liability).
Please note
The head teacher may take out a collective contract of liability insurance for pupils taking part in the trip.
FAQ
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