All students are required to obtain a passport in order to participate in any study abroad program.  A US passport obtained after an individual's sixteenth birthday is valid for 10 years.  Information on obtaining a US passport is available from the US Department of State.  As it sometimes takes as much as two months to get a passport, do not wait until the last minute to apply for your passport!

A visa is a special stamp placed in your passport that gives you permission to reside in a foreign country.  Visa requirements vary tremendously, depending upon the length of time you will be in your host country and where you will study.  In general students studying for a semester will need a visa, while those going for a shorter period will not.  Check with your program provider, international institution or the Study Abroad Office if you are unsure if you  need a visa for your host country.   As visas can take as long as three months to obtain, do not wait until the last minute to ask!

Students who are not US citizens should consult their home country's consulate to determine the process for updating their passports.