Visa Information
What is a visa?
A visa is a passport stamp or document that authorizes the passport holder to enter a country for a specific purpose and particular period of time. Every country has different visa policies and arrangements with every other country. Different types of visas are available for different purposes; common types include tourist visas, student visas, or business visas. Different visas last for different durations of time. Visas are issued through the embassy or consulate of the appropriate host country. The process is extensive and can take up to eight weeks (or more) to receive your visa. To avoid early expiration, the consulate will issue your visa no more than 90 days prior to your program's departure.
Do I need a visa?
If you are a US Passport Holder, you can locate your program and term on the table below to determine if you will need a visa. If you are not a US Passport Holder, you may be subject to different visa requirements. Please find more information at the bottom of this page.
Visas Required Before Arrival for U.S. Passport Holders*
Academic Year2025-2026 |
Fall Only 2025 |
Spring Only 2026 |
Summer 2025 |
|
Buenos Aires |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
Florence |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
Heidelberg |
NO |
NO |
NO |
NO |
Switzerland |
YES |
YES |
YES |
NO |
London |
YES |
NO** (UK ETA required) |
NO** (UK ETA required) |
NO** (UK ETA required) |
Milan Spring |
N/A |
N/A |
NO*** |
N/A |
Faculty Led |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Japan - NO Fiji - NO Madrid - NO Kenya - YES London Legatum - YES SURJ - YES |
For programs in which students must obtain visas, all students are required to attend mandatory visa workshops. Click your program below for detailed visa instructions and workshop information.
*Visas may also be required for the Educational Field Trip or International Study Tour. The IP abroad staff will either give you instructions if you need to obtain this visa before arrival or they will assist you in obtaining the visa after arrival at your program.
**Students who do not have a UK visa must have an Electronic Travel Authorization to enter the UK. See below for details and instructions.
***Though not required for US Passport Holders, students will need to consider that
US citizens can use the Schengen Tourist visa for 90 out of 180 days. Those who participate
in the Milan Spring 2026 program can only be in Europe without a visa in Summer 2026
for 55 days, which may impact students’ participation in summer 2026 EU-based programs
(Florence, Heidelberg, Switzerland), or personal travel in the EU. Please contact
the IP office if you have concerns.
How much does the visa cost?
Visa costs vary significantly depending on where you are studying. To determine how much to expect to pay for your visa, please visit our Finances Page. Under "Estimated Program Costs," find your program. Visa expenses, as well as any estimated costs associated with the process (shipping, etc.), should be on the cost breakdown.
UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
As of January 2025, any person entering the United Kingdom who does not need or already have a visa must apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Who needs a UK ETA?: Any student traveling to the London program who does not have a visa. This will include US passport holders in the Fall, Spring, and Summer (non-internship) terms, and any non-US passport holder for those terms who does not require a visa. We also encourage any student enrolled in an EU program (Switzerland, Heidelberg, Florence) to apply for the UK ETA, in case of travel to the UK on a weekend or travel break.
How do I apply for the UK ETA?: Visit gov.uk for detailed instructions to apply. All you need is a copy of your passport information page, a clear photo of your face, and a debit or credit card to pay the £16 fee.
How long does it take to process?: It will take 1-3 business days to process, and you will recieve your results to your email. Once approved, there are no documents you need to show to enter the UK. When your passport is scanned, the ETA will automatically show up.
How long is it valid?: Your UK ETA will be valid for two years from the date of approval, and you can enter the UK multiple times during that period.
Visa Requirements by Program
Helpful Links
International Students
Students who are NOT traveling on a U.S. passport will be subject to different visa requirements. It is ultimately the student's responsibility to research, apply for, and obtain the necessary visas for the country they are studying in, and all countries they plan to travel to, including the country for the educational field trip. However, the IP Office will provide basic guidance, support, and assistance in the process of obtaining the visa for your program.
As early as possible, students should visit the website of the host country foreign embassy or consulate located in the U.S. to obtain information about visa requirements and application timeframes. The foreign embassy or consulate in the U.S. may instruct the student to apply for the visa at the foreign embassy or consulate in the student's home country instead, or in some cases, may allow the student to submit the visa application in the U.S. but obtain the visa at the consular post abroad.
Some students may encounter difficulty because of their immigration status in the U.S. Therefore, as early as possible, students must also obtain information regarding the validity of their U.S. visa and/or status. If the F-1 visa in the student's passport has expired or will expire before the student plans to return to the U.S. after completion of study abroad, immediate consultation with the Office of International Student Services (OISS) is recommended. Students who are in the U.S. in a nonimmigrant status other than F-1 (such as E-2, H-4, L-2, etc.), or who are in pending immigrant status, should obtain counsel from their immigration attorney to ensure their ability to return to the U.S. after completion of study abroad. In any event, international students must always consult the OISS before departing the U.S.
NOTE: International students participating in any International Program in Switzerland may or may not have to travel to the Swiss Consulate in San Francisco, CA to obtain their visa.