Important update to Portugal entry requirements

Portugal has updated its entry requirements for travellers, including children and young people.

Children under 17 travelling to Portugal on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK e.g. as part of an educational visit, can now enter the country with "a signed and dated letter of authorisation to travel from the person with parental responsibility, together with a copy of that parent or guardian’s passport". The letter must be signed by the person with parental responsibility and dated.

This removes the previous requirement in the FCDO's Travel Advice to provide a notarised letter of consent (by a notary or solicitor).

See FCDO guidance for full details Entry requirements - Portugal travel advice. If you are travelling with non-UK passport-holders, ensure you check their specific entry requirements Consulate General of Portugal in London.

Approvals Tip: How to complete and check a Provider form

Select a suitable provider and boost the chances of getting your visit approved quickly with some simple checks before submission.

Incomplete provider information is a frequent reason for your visits to be returned to you in EVOLVE. If your provider doesn't have an LOtC Quality Badge make sure you've included a provider form and all fields are complete. In this short video, our Educational Visits Adviser, Angela explains the key areas to check and what you need to ask of your providers before submitting your visit to us for approval.

New allergy guidance for schools will "transform allergy safety in schools…and on educational visits".

Government Minister for Education, Baroness Jacqui Smith this week announced that the Government will introduce new statutory allergy guidance for schools in England, which will “make clear that pupils with allergy must be fully included in the life of the school with arrangements to support them on external trips and visits”. (watch on Parliamentlive.tv approx 21:05-21:10)

The guidance, which is due to be issued ahead of September 2026, will require schools to:

• have a dedicated allergy policy

• have a named governor and senior leader who manages allergy safety arrangements

• create an individual Healthcare Plan for every child whose allergies require active management by the school

• provide whole-school allergy training.

The guidance will also make clear that schools are expected to purchase spare adrenaline devices.

The Allergy Team is running a free webinar for schools on the new guidance and how to prepare. 4 March 2026. Register here

Join the EEF - Outward Bound research project

Could adventure learning help re-engage your Year 9 pupils?

A major Education Endowment Foundation-funded study is putting adventure learning to the test, examining whether a five-day residential with The Outward Bound Trust can help re-engage Year 9 pupils at risk of disengagement. Led by the University of York, the trial will involve 1,584 pupils from 66 secondary schools across England. Schools interested in taking part can register their interest now.

Everything you need to know about the research and how to apply is on the EEF website.

Recharge and get back to nature at an immersive teacher retreat at The Bioasis.

• When? 15-17 May 2026

• Where? A secret location in the South West of England.

When you organise educational visits, you spend a lot of time enabling others to experience learning beyond the classroom, managing safety, responsibility and learning, often with little opportunity to pause and reflect. That’s why EVOLVE Advice is working with The Bioasis to offer a subsidised teacher retreat immersed in nature.

This is not a conference or a training course. It is time and space to reflect, restore your energy and return with renewed confidence and perspective. You’ll be hosted by The Bioasis team, and joined by EVOLVE Advice Educational Visits Advisers who’ll be on hand to answer questions and provide guidance if you need it.

More free advice webinars on demand

We’ve released the next in our series of free advice webinars.

Choose from one-hour webinars and 20 minute flash focus sessions led by our advisers and special guests on topics including: how to scrutinise visits; good practice in risk assessment; how to run a self-led adventurous visit; adding forest school principles to your outdoor learning provision; and many more.

*Don’t miss: 25 February 2026 at 11am - Allergy Q&A webinar with The Allergy Team* - understand how to manage allergies on educational visits plus this is a great opportunity to find out more about the new statutory guidance (see above).

>>REGISTER FOR FREE WEBINARS. >>Watch previous webinars on demand.

Subscribe to these specialist magazines for more educational visits advice and inspiration. The EVC Magazine by EVOLVE Advice and School Travel Organiser Magazine by Yandell Publishing.