Passports
All travel outside of the U.S. requires a passport. The passport is your official document identifying you as a citizen of the United States or home country.If you do not currently have a passport you must apply for one as soon as possible! View this checklist to make sure you have all the correct documents before your appointment!
Check out our guide on applying for a passport.
If you already have a passport, be sure to check the expiration date. Many countries have passport validity rules or visa specifications that require your passport to be valid for up to six months after you plan on being back in the United States.
The processing time for a passport application can take four to six weeks, so plan ahead.
For U.S. Citizens
To obtain a passport application and for more detailed information on how to apply or renew your passport, visit the U.S. State Department website.
For Non-U.S. Citizens
To obtain or renew your passport, please check with your local embassy or consulate. Please verify that your passport is valid for up to six months after you plan on being back in the United States.
Important Passport Reminders
Your passport is the most important document you have when outside of the United States. Know where it is at all times. When you receive your passport, make several copies of the photo and signature pages and keep the copies separate from your baggage. We advise that you also leave a copy with your parents, another family member at home, or digitally stored and password protected. In most host countries (with few exceptions), it is not necessary to carry your passport with you. In fact, you are strongly advised to leave it in a locked and secure place at your domicile, e.g., apartment, dorm, hotel room, or hostel unless otherwise instructed by on-site program staff.
Obtaining a Second Passport
Students applying to semester or academic year programs who are considering traveling internationally prior to their program start date may want to consider applying for a second passport. In most cases, the consulate will ask that you surrender your passport for the duration of the visa processing period and return it to you with the visa enclosed, often via mail. If for example you plan on taking a family vacation outside the U.S. during the summer before fall semester study abroad, you may want to consider applying for a second passport so that you can travel on one passport while surrendering another to the consulate in order to obtain your visa. This is particularly relevant for students applying to programs in countries with extended, in-person visa processes (most notably Spain, Italy, and France) who plan on traveling prior to their semester abroad. Remember that each passport has a unique number assigned to it, so be sure you are being consistent with the passport number used on visa application documents and the actual passport you hand over to the consulate for processing. If you accidentally mix up the two passport numbers, it could cause unnecessary delays. Similar to your first passport, the processing time for a second passport application can take four to six weeks, so plan ahead. Find more information about applying for a second U.S. passport by visiting the U.S. State Department website.
Visas
Many governments require a visa for entry into their country. A visa, which is a stamp or attachment in your passport, allows you to stay in that specific country for a certain amount of time. Visas are issued by a consulate or embassy of that country. Each country has its own immigration and visa policies. Please make sure you have fulfilled all of the requirements necessary before your departure. Each country has different rules, and it is your responsibility to know and understand these rules.
It is your responsibility to research how to apply for your visa, understand the requirements, make travel arrangements to apply for your visa (if necessary), and make sure you do so in a timely manner so you have your visa in hand before you need to leave for your term abroad.
Your study abroad program, host university and/or the embassy of your host country will have up-to-date instructions available about immigration requirements. You should also contact the consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling or visit the embassy or consulate’s website for more information. Plan early, some visas applications can take up to three or four months to process!
You must have a valid passport with a sufficient number of pages to apply for a student visa. If you do not have a passport or it is expiring, please apply for one immediately. You are required to upload a copy of your valid passport as part of your application for study abroad.
In most cases, your passport must remain at the consulate while you are applying for your student visa. It is important that you plan independent travels (family trips, birthright, etc.) around your visa appointment/processing.
Visa Applications and Verification of Enrollment Letter (Visa Letters)
Our office does not advise on the visa application process. Each country has different requirements, please reference their consulate websites for more information. However, most visa applications require a Verification of Enrollment Letter from Tulane University to verify that you are one of our full-time students and are earning credits towards your graduation. This letter will be included in your visa application. Check the consulate's website for complete information on requirements for visa applications. Compelete and submit the letter request form and we will write your letter.
For a list of foreign entry requirements and consular contact numbers visit the U.S. State Department website and review your host country’s fact sheet. Alternatively, verify the visa requirements with the embassy or consulate of the country to which you are traveling.
New EU entry requirement starting in 2026
This information is applicable to students going to the EU who are not required to apply for a long-term (student, or national) visa. Those may be summer study abroad students, or students whose host countries do not require a special visa upon entry to the country.
The rules of travel to Europe are changing. Starting from 2026, travelers from countries that did not need a visa to enter the European Union, will now be required to have a travel authorization to enter most European countries. Therefore, most Tulane students planning to attend a short-term study abroad program in Europe must apply for ETIAS travel authorization.
ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals traveling to any of the European countries listed on this web site. ETIAS is linked to your passport and is valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport before the end of the three-year period, you will need a new ETIAS travel authorization.
Travelers with a valid ETIAS travel authorization can enter the countries linked above as often as they want for short-term stays (normally up to 90 days in any 180-day period). ETIAS does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
You can fill out the application form using either the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application. Your ETIAS application may take up to 30 days to be processed. You should apply well in advance of your travel. Read more about what you need to apply and payment exemption.
For Non-U.S. Citizens
Please verify the visa requirements with the embassy or consulate of the country to which you are traveling. In addition, if you are in the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, please also make sure that your F-1 visa is not expired or will expire by the time you wish to return to the U.S. Consult with the Tulane Office of International Students and Scholars for additional guidance.
Important Visa Reminders
Due to the number of programs we work with, and the variety of immigration requirements around the world, the Tulane Office of Study Abroad is unable to assist students with visa arrangements. Your study abroad program, host university and/or the embassy of your host country will have up-to-date instructions available about immigration requirements. You are responsible for seeking out this information and fulfilling these requirements in a timely manner. Failure to attend carefully and in a timely manner to visa requirements may make it impossible for you to study abroad. The NTC Office of Study Abroad cannot advocate on your behalf to the State Department or immigration authorities to accelerate or change visa/passport processes.
