Estonia drops visa requirement for children of third countries' citizenship on school excursions 
09.04.2008
TALLINN, Apr 09, BNS - The Estonian parliament on Wednesday passed with 68 votes in favor an amendment as a result of which children residing in the European Union but holding third countries' citizenship are not required to obtain visas to go on school excursions to Estonia.
The basis for the amendment is a decision of the Council of the European Union which provides that at border crossing the teacher must present the list of the children drawn up by the school, providing proof of identity and showing the aim of their presence or passage through the country. The children must have valid identity papers on crossing the border.
The amendment to the Aliens' Act gives the Education and Science Ministry the authority to establish the form of the schoolchildren's list.
The ministry said the amendment would improve schoolchildren's travel opportunities within the community and thus create a better basis for the integration of third countries' citizens. The procedure will also simplify visits to other countries of schoolchildren of third countries' citizenship officially residing in Estonia.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8810, sise@bns.ee
 
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