Visas are granted by governments to permit foreign nationals to enter and then reside in their countries for fixed periods of time. The visa can be on a piece of paper or a stamp in your passport. It is important to determine as early as possible what the visa requirements are for your travels and how and when to apply.

Whether or not a visa is required to study abroad depends on several factors, including the destination country’s entry and residency requirements, the passport you hold, the length of your stay, and the activities you’ll be undertaking.

Your program will provide guidance on deadlines, important documents and other visa requirements. Be sure to follow their instructions carefully, and don't put it off to the last minute!  Some student visas are relatively easy to obtain, while others take months to prepare for. 

In certain countries, student visas are not required to undertake short-term study. Some common examples for U.S. passport holders include:

• United Kingdom (ETA)
  U.S. passport holders do not need a visa to study in the UK for less than 6 months, but must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).  Students on ETA are not able to undertake any paid or unpaid employment.  Student visas are only required for U.S. passport holders if an academic program is longer than 6 months or if a student is undertaking a credit-bearing internship.
• Ireland (IRP)
  U.S. passport holders studying abroad do not need a visa to enter Ireland, but will need to take steps after they arrive to remain in Ireland for more than 90 days.   Eligible visitors must schedule an appointment to register in-person with the ISD in Dublin in order to receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP). 

If you are an international student, check the website of your host country's embassy to see if students of your nationality require a visa to study in that country. Your program is the best source of information regarding the visa process for your specific program. 

When booking your travel, remember that in some cases, travel documents may be required to disembark a plane in a country even if you are not leaving the airport (transit visa, ETA, ETIAS, etc).  Be mindful of this when planning your itinerary.

** If you are participating in semester/year study abroad, and have questions about what visa-related expenses can be covered by Swarthmore, review "Reimbursable Expenses" on the Study Abroad Finances page. 

Be aware that to apply for a visa you may need to be without your passport for the full period during which your visa materials are being processed by the relevant embassy or consulate. Visa application processes can take many forms: some e-visas are processed entirely online, some by mail, while others require in-person interviews and/or hand delivery of materials. You should make travel plans carefully with the timeline for securing your visa in mind.

Failure to fill in all forms completely and submit all required supporting documents is very likely to result in a a visa rejection or visa delay. Be extremely careful when filling out visa documents. Be sure to sign all appropriate documents. We suggest that you have another person review your documents before submitting them to the appropriate consulate or embassy.

Only some countries and visa types will include these requirements. If you are required to obtain fingerprints or a police or FBI background check as part of the application for the visa, you can consult with Public Safety for assistance.

A "notary public" is an official that can certify documents as official and original. There are several options for notary services close to campus, including:

• Agency by the Mall (on Baltimore Pike)
• The Media Notary (will come meet you at your chosen location)
• The UPS Store (in the Olde Sproul Shopping Village).

To obtain a visa, you will often you will be required to provide other important documents, such as proof of insurance, official acceptance/invitation letters, letters from an in-country host, medical documents, proof of financial support, and documentation of the address where you plan to reside. If covered by CISI insurance, you can print out an insurance letter when you log into their website.

You may need a Direct Airside Transit Visa (DATV) if you’ll be changing flights without going through immigration control. If you are planning to transit through certain countries, make sure to check if you are required to obtain any type of airport transit visa well in advance based on your country of citizenship. Before you depart the United States, it is crucial to check the relevant website of the embassy for each country that you are traveling through. This type of visa typically requires a processing fee and may take weeks to process. Travel agencies and Swarthmore College are not responsible for transit visas.