On this page
A short trip with a school group; school/parent/pupil responsibilities, school letters with a name list, preparation for minors, and the fee exemption.
GERMANY · SCHOOL TRIPS
Germany school trip visa: school, parent and pupil together.
Travelling to Germany on a short school-group trip is a Schengen application within the visit framework; the visa fee is waived for pupils and accompanying teachers. This guide separates the responsibilities of the school, the parent and the pupil, and sets out the preparation for minors.
Prepared for schools, parents and pupils planning a short trip to Germany with a school group from Türkiye. Each pupil files their own application.
GERMANY / DEUTSCHLAND
Fee-free, but document and responsibility preparation matters.
Short answer
A school trip is a short-stay visit application. Under Article 16(4)(b) of the Visa Code no visa fee is charged for pupils and the teachers accompanying them; however, an application is still filed and each pupil submits their own file. The core of the preparation is the letters — with a full list of participants and the programme — from the partner school in Germany and the school in Türkiye, notarised parental consent for minors, and proof of parental funds. This page should not be confused with university study or an Erasmus application.
- Visa type
- Short-stay visit (Schengen C)
- Fee
- Pupils and accompanying teachers: free
- Application
- Each pupil files their own
- School letters
- Name list + programme (from both schools)
- Minors
- Notarised parental consent
- Appointment
- 'Warteliste Kultur' (iDATA)
Which trip is this page for?
The focus is a short group trip organised by a school; university study is a separate category.
Not on this page
University study (long-stay, national visa and the Auslandsportal) and Erasmus mobility are on separate pages; this page does not repeat them.
Three areas of responsibility
The school organisation (letters, programme, name list), the parent (consent and funding) and the pupil (personal documents) are each prepared separately.
Group application steps
Prepare the school letters and programme
The partner school in Germany issues a detailed letter with a full name list of the invited pupils and teachers and the programme. The school in Türkiye also prepares its letter with a name list and the programme.
A separate file for each pupil
Each pupil files their own application; even as a group, the documents are individual. Complete the VIDEX form.
Complete the documents for minors
For pupils under 18, notarised travel consent from both parents (or proof of sole custody) is required.
Show parental funds
Documents showing the parent's sufficient means are added; accommodation and travel proof are prepared.
Appointment and application
Register via 'Warteliste Kultur'. Accompanying teachers provide the documents from the business-travel page.
Documents specific to a school trip
The following are specific to the school-trip scenario; for the common documents see the required-documents page.
school
- German partner school letterA detailed letter with a full name list of the invited pupils and accompanying teachers and the programme.
- Turkish school letterA letter with a full name list of the pupils and teachers and the programme.
minors
- Parental consentFor under-18s, notarised travel permission from both parents or proof of sole custody.
funding
- Proof of parental meansDocuments showing the parent's sufficient means.
common
- Passport, photo, insurance, civil registryPassport; biometric photo; travel health insurance; e-Devlet civil-registry extract; accommodation and travel proof.
Accompanying teachers provide business/work-travel documents. Document lists can be updated by the official sources.
Fees and charges
On a school trip, no visa fee is charged for pupils and accompanying teachers.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visa fee (pupils and accompanying teachers) | Free | Fee-exempt under Article 16(4)(b) of the Visa Code. |
| iDATA service fee | EUR 39.92 | An application-centre service fee may still apply; check the current situation. |
The fee exemption concerns the visa fee itself; application-centre service fees are separate. For a full fee breakdown see the visa fees page.
Points to watch on a school trip
- Do not confuse it with university studyA short school trip and long-term university study (national visa) are different categories; this page is only for a short group trip.
- Verify the rules for minorsVerify every condition relating to under-18 pupils (form of consent, accompaniment) from the official source; conditions can change.
- Each pupil applies separatelyEven with a group organisation, the documents are individual and each pupil submits their own file.
School trip questions
Is the school trip visa fee-paying?
No visa fee is charged for pupils and the teachers accompanying them (Article 16(4)(b) of the Visa Code). An application is still filed; application-centre service fees should be assessed separately.
Is a single application enough for the group?
No. Each pupil files their own application and submits personal documents; the school letters and programme are shared supporting documents.
What is needed for a pupil under 18?
Notarised travel consent from both parents (or proof of sole custody), parental funding and the school letters are required.
Is this also for university study?
No. Long-term university study falls under the national (D) visa category and is handled via the Auslandsportal; this page is only for a short school trip.
Sources and verification
The official pages below were checked on 3 November 2026.
- School trip visa — German missions in Türkiye General information on Schengen visas Schengen visa FAQ
Elite Leader Consultancy · last official check: November 3, 2026
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