Travel Documentation
In order to be able to study abroad, students need several key pieces of documentation.
Passports
A passport is required for international travel. We encourage all students to start the process of obtaining or renewing their passport as soon as possible. Both the Center for Global Education and our program partners will require passport copies, so it is important to have a current passport on hand in order to facilitate study abroad application.
Students can apply for a passport at the post office. Please note that not every post office offers this service. Be sure to check your selected post office location ahead of time to ensure passport applications are accepted.
Passports should be valid for the entire length of the time abroad in addition to 6 months after the expected return date. You will want to check the processing speeds for passports at the time of your application, but typically, it can take up to 10 weeks or more to receive a new passport. Many countries will deny entry if a passport is set to expire within 6 months of your expected return date.
Having a passport available in a timely manner is particularly important because it is required for another necessary piece of documentation: the visa.
Visas
A student visa will be required for most study abroad programs that exceed 90 days. Some countries require students to get their visas ahead of their semester or academic year abroad, and other countries allow for students to obtain a visa upon arrival.
It is critical that students speak with their program to learn more about the visa requirements and process for their study abroad location. Please note that the CGE staff does not advise on visas or the application for visas. Countries have their own unique visa requirements and change those frequently. Our partner program providers will be the best resource for visas as they have trained staff who are knowledgeable about the current rules and necessary documentation for a specific location.
As mentioned above, students will need a passport in order to get a student visa. When applying for a visa ahead of time, students will most likely need to surrender their passport as part of their visa application. The visa is inserted directly into the passport. Furthermore, visas cannot be obtained until 90 days prior to arrival in country. The processing time between appointment and receipt of visas generally will need as much of that window of time as possible. Consulates are processing a large number of visa applications, and the appointment system is much more of a challenge to navigate than that used to get a passport. Program providers may offer the option to participate in a batch visa appointment. This is when they schedule a visa appointment for a large group of students, review and collect each student’s individual visa application, and bring all applications to the respective consulate on your behalf. We cannot guarantee that this will be an option for all locations or programs. However, if it is a service a program provider does extend at any point, we strongly encourage all students to take advantage of this. For students who do not, it may be difficult to reserve an appointment in time for the start of their study abroad program.
For all reasons stated, the Center for Global Education advises all students not to engage in any international travel in the months leading up to their study abroad experience as such travel will complicate, delay, or even compromise a student’s visa application process. This is especially true for fall semester study abroad students who may wish to travel internationally during the summer before they study abroad. Please plan accordingly.
Obtaining a student visa is the responsibility of each student. While we are more than happy to assist with general questions and to direct students to resources for further support, the Center for Global Education does not have any control over visa appointment availability and visa processing speed. Consulates are overseen by foreign governments, and we do not have connections or a way of bypassing the process.
