A passport is an official document issued by the U.S. Department of State. It certifies the holder's identity and citizenship and entitles them to travel under its protection to and from foreign countries. A passport is required for EVERY student traveling abroad. Each student is responsible for obtaining passport photos and submitting a passport application to the U.S. Department of State. Your passport must be valid for six months after your return to the U.S.
For more information on passports and where you can apply, please see the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov/passport or the U.S. Postal Services: www.usps.com/passport. Allow 6-8 weeks for passport processing.
In Mankato, you can get passport photos at Walgreens or CVS.
A visa is document that is separate from your passport. Visas are granted by a foreign government and are designated specifically for study, tourism, or business (among others). The document will indicate a specific time frame in which the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay in a country.Visas are required by most countries for students staying longer than 90 days and some countries require a visa regardless of the duration of stay. It is up to YOU to do the research and learn whether you will need a student visa and how to apply for one.
If you are going through a third party provider for your study abroad experience, your program provider will give you assistance in applying for a student visa. Please complete all required paperwork in a timely matter. You will be unable to depart the country without prior documentation.
If you are going on an MSU exchange program, click on your country below to see an instructional handout on applying for your student visa. We strongly advise you to print it and carefully read through the entire guide.
