For travel and study abroad, you will need a passport issued by the country of your citizenship. Your passport should be valid for the period you are abroad and six months after the date of departure from the country in which you are studying. If you already have a passport, be sure to verify that it is not due to expire!
In order to apply for entry into another country, you must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past your return date (and some countries require up to 18 months validity). If you do not currently have a passport with this validity, you should apply for a new passport immediately. See the State Department's website for more details.
Regular passport processing times are typically 4-6 weeks. Expedited passport services are available for an additional fee. General expedited services take 2-3 weeks door-to-door.
Most students need to have their passports 3-6 months prior to departure in order to apply for student visas.
You can renew your passport by mail if you:
To apply for a passport by mail you will need to:
You will need to apply in person if …
To apply for a passport in person you will need to:
Acceptance facilities may include many Federal, state and probate courts, post offices, some public libraries and a number of county and municipal offices. There are also 13 regional passport agencies, which serve customers who are traveling within 2 weeks (14 days), or who need foreign visas for travel. Appointments are required in such cases. To find your nearest local acceptance facility visit the U.S State Department Travel website’s search page.
For more detailed information about visas and U.S. passports please visit the U.S. State Department Travel website.
Non-U.S. Citizens should inquire with the consulate or embassy of their country of origin for information on renewing or applying for a passport.
A student visa is a government-issued immigration document granted by a consulate general or embassy, which allows you to legally study in a specific country for a specific date range. Typically, a visa is an endorsed sticker or stamp placed on the inside pages of your passport. Your student visa is as important as your passport; without it you will not be able to study abroad, if required by your program.
Every country has their own process, requirements, and fees for applying for a visa. Some countries may require you to travel to an in-person appointment at a consulate or embassy in select U.S. cities. A list of visa requirements listed alphabetically by country can also be found at the U.S. State Department Students Abroad website.
Being granted a visa is a privilege, not a right. A consular office may deny your visa application, so it is best to adhere to their requirements and apply as early as possible.
Obtaining a visa is your responsibility. It is important that you know what is required of you before attempting to enter a country. Failing to obtain a visa (or the correct visa) could result in a denial of entry into a country, and even criminal charges.
It is your responsibility to research the entry requirements and complete the visa application for citizens of your home country traveling to your study abroad country.
Be sure to contact the UW Office of International Students & Scholars to ensure you understand any INS requirements and that you do not jeopardize your residency status by participating in a program abroad.
Be aware that it may take non-U.S. citizens longer to obtain a visa, so research this information early on in your planning.
Please be aware that the visa application process for some countries may require students to surrender their passport for several weeks or months prior to the start of the education abroad program. This may impact students' independent travel plans (including travel over breaks or departing early in advance of the program). Visa requirements should be researched and considered by all applicants prior to planning independent travel. All students are required to be in possession of the proper visa documentation in order to participate on their program.