What identification documents and formalities are required to go on a language study trip?

To travel abroad, young participants who are French citizens must carry the following identification documents:

For the United Kingdom (England, Scotland)

  • A valid passport, valid at least until the end of your stay. As of October 1, 2021, a national ID card is no longer sufficient for travel to the United Kingdom.
  • Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) – required starting in April 2025; apply on the official website of the UK government
  • The European Health Insurance Card (available on the ameli.fr website)
  • For more information, please visit our dedicated page by clicking here

For Europe (Ireland, Malta, Greece, Germany, Spain)

  • A passport or national ID card that is valid at least until the end of your stay.
  • The European Health Insurance Card (available on the ameli.fr website)

For the U.S., Canada, and Australia

For France

  • For English language study programs in France, you do not need to present identification at the meeting point.
  • Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate or Carte Vitale: To ensure that any medical expenses are covered by Social Security, you must provide your child with a Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate, available through your www.ameli.fr account (for children under 16), or their Carte Vitale (for those 16 and older)
  • A photocopy of the young participant's immunization record

Plus, for all countries (except English language programs in France)

Any minor residing in France who is traveling abroad must carry an Authorization to Leave the Country (A.S.T.).

Any participant who is under 18 years of age at the time of departure and who normally resides in France (whether French or foreign) must have the following documents, in addition to the documents listed above:

  1. The original copy of the Authorization to Leave the Country (AST) form – Cerfa No. 15646*01 –duly completed and signed by one of the parents with parental authority. Download the form here.
  2. A legible photocopy of the ID document of the parent signing the AST form (please be sure to review the instructions provided on the Cerfa form mentioned above).
  3. A photocopy of the family register, required ONLY if the name on the photocopy of the ID document of the parent signing the AST differs from that of the minor.

⚠️ Without these documents, your child will not be able to leave France

For young people who are not French citizens:

  1. Depending on the destination country, a visa may be required in addition to the formalities mentioned above.
  1. Please note: It may take a long time to obtain identity documents and/or visas.
  2. All of the information above is current as of December 12, 2025. For this reason, we ask parents to visit the websites www.service-public.frand www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageursto stay informed about the current requirements for their child’s stay, as these are subject to change.

All of the documents listed above (including the authorization form for leaving the country and a photocopy of the parent’s ID) must be presented to the LEC coordinator on the day of departure at the meeting point in hard copy; under no circumstances should they be sent to LEC by mail or email prior to the departure date.

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