Whether you already have a passport or not, please see below for some important things to consider! Some of the following details are specific to U.S. passports, but the essence of this advice also applies to students planning to travel with non-U.S. passports.
Be sure to check these things to ensure you're ready for study abroad:
Passport processing can take time, so planning ahead is key.
The U.S. Department of State currently recommends that travelers start the application or renewal process at least six months before planned travel. While it is possible to get a passport with less time than this, planning ahead will give you peace of mind and more flexibility in program choice.
If you do not yet have a passport and are hoping to study abroad very soon, please check with a study abroad advisor to discuss the timeline for your preferred program. Some programs require you to have your passport in hand by the application deadline, and you will need your physical passport in order to apply for a visa. We can advise whether a particular program may work for you, whether you will need to select expedited passport service, or whether another program with a later deadline may work better for you.
Routine or normal service to receive a passport is estimated at 4-6 weeks. Expedited service, which costs an additional $60, is estimated at 2-3 weeks. Please note these processing times are estimates, and actual processing time may be longer. Please check the U.S. Department of State website for most up-to-date processing times.
Bottom line: Be sure to give yourself plenty of time, and choose expedited processing if you are cutting it close!
To review how to start applying for your passport and to learn what documents you need, visit the U.S. Department of State Passport Page. Click here to get started!
Continue reading below for frequently asked questions about passports and to learn more about visas.
Yes. Many passport application acceptance facilities have limited hours, so in-person appointments (required for first-time passports, renewals or those who were under 16 for previous passport, or for replacing a lost or stolen passport) can be limited and must be scheduled in advance.
The closest application acceptance facility to Purdue is the Lafayette Post Office. You may also search for other facilities on the U.S. Department of State website, here. You can apply at any facility, it does not have to be within your state of residence.
To cast the widest net, look for appointments available farther from your zipcode. If you are applying close the study abroad application deadline, you may need to travel to obtain an earlier appointment.
For students considering studying abroad anytime soon - we recommend applying for or renewing passports as soon as possible.
Some programs, particularly those that will require you to start applying for a visa soon after acceptance, will require you to have your valid passport by the application deadline. Other programs may just require proof you have applied for it by the deadline. In all cases, it is almost always better to apply early.
Depending on your study abroad location, length of program, and nationality, you may need a visa in addition to your passport to participate in your program.
What is a visa?
A visa is a stamp or sticker placed inside your passport or electronically connected to your passport that gives you official permission to visit another country and is granted by the government of that country. A visa may not be required for all programs, but if you need one, your study abroad advisor will let you know.
Some countries do not require a visa, and others do not require a visa but do require an Electronic Travel Authority, or an ETA. An ETA is not a visa but can still be a requirement to enter a country, so you may hear people refer to it in a similar way. Generally, you do not need both an ETA and a visa – just one is required depending on your length of stay and purpose of visit.
Visa processing times vary and requirements also vary by program, so you'll get more information that is specific to the program you choose after you are accepted to a program.
We know the visa process can be daunting, especially if you’ve never needed to get a visa before – but we’re here to help!
While this page will not cover information for every country, some commonly asked questions, recent visa updates, and other information is included below for your reference.
DISCLAIMERS:
All students traveling to the UK should check to see if they need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the country. Starting in 2025, this is required for many nationalities including US citizens who do not require a visa to enter the UK. More information is available at this link.
The ETA can be applied for online, and costs £16. It is valid for two years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
You may need an ETA even if you are just transiting through the UK on your way to somewhere else, so be sure to check requirements!
Students studying for a full year in the UK or participating in an internship program are subject to different visa requirements, and more information on this will be provided to you by your study abroad advisor.
Whether or not you need a visa to study in a European Union country is dependent on your nationality, length of stay, and purpose of visit. The exact process will vary depending on the country you will be studying in, so please be sure to refer to information provided to you by the study abroad office. In general, for stays of under 90 days US citizens who are not participating in an internship generally do not need a visa. For full-semester, year, or internship programs, you may need a visa. Non-U.S.-citizens may have different visa requirements, depending on their nationality.
More information will be provided to you based on your specific circumstances.
NOTE: Effective in late 2026 even travelers who do not need a visa may need to register and pay for an ETIAS before entering Europe. For more information see “European Union – ETIAS” below.
All travelers entering the EU are subject to the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). This is not a visa, but travelers should be aware of this process when traveling to the EU.
This is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any European country using the system. No advance registration is required, but you will go through this process upon arrival in the EU. Biometric data including fingerprints and a photo will be taken for each traveler.
The EES began in October 2025. European countries using the EES are introducing the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by April 2026.
Some airports may have self-service machines to collect this data before meeting with a passport control officer, and others may have a mobile app used for the same purpose. If these options are not available, your information will be collected by the passport control officer. In all cases, when entering the EU for the first time under the EES you will need to provide your biometric data. Any subsequent entries will verify your biometric data on file.
What does this mean for travelers? Simply put, it means you will be fingerprinted and photographed when entering and exiting the EU as you go through passport control and will no longer receive a physical stamp in your passport. This may cause the entry process to take slightly longer.
Travelers will go through the EES at their first point of entry to the EU. Therefore, if you are flying to Florence and have a layover in Munich, you will go through this process in Munich.
For more information, see: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/what-is-the-ees
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) system is expected to begin in late 2026. This means students traveling to the EU prior to late 2026 should simply refer to the information about the EU Entry/Exit System above as well as any country-specific visa information that has been provided to them by the study abroad office.
This website will be updated with more information once an official start date for ETIAS is released.
What is ETIAS? ETIAS travel authorization is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveler’s passport and is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorization.
ETIAS must be applied for in advance of travel and can be done electronically. You can fill in the application form using either the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application.
Applying for the ETIAS travel authorization is expected to cost €20.
IMPORTANT: Once ETIAS is in place, this authorization will not replace a required national visa for a specific EU country. Students needing a long-stay or student visa for their programs will still be required to get this visa, and will not need ETIAS in addition to the visa. However, students traveling to the EU on programs that do not require a visa will need to get an ETIAS.
For more information, see https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias
Most students traveling to Spain for more than 90 days will require a student visa. Students will receive more information after program acceptance if they need a visa for a program in Spain.
Students should not apply for this visa until they have been accepted into a program and have received supporting documentation necessary for the visa application.
Students will apply in-person through a Spanish Visa Application Center. More general information on the Spanish Student Visa process can be found here.
Most students studying in Spain under 90 days will not need a visa, but starting in late 2026, will need to apply for an ETIAS (see European Union - ETIAS) above for more information.
IMPORTANT: Students applying for a semester or year program in Spain must have a valid passport at the time of the application deadline that is valid for at least ONE YEAR after their program end date. Please check your passport to ensure you meet this requirement before applying; if you do not, please see information above on how to apply or renew your passport.
Most students traveling to Italy for more than 90 days will require a student visa. Students will receive more information after program acceptance if they need a visa for a program in Italy.
Students should not apply for this visa until they have been accepted into a program and have received supporting documentation necessary for the visa application.
However, general information on the Italian Student Visa process can be found here.
Most students studying in Italy under 90 days will not need a visa, but starting in late 2026, will need to apply for an ETIAS (see European Union - ETIAS) above for more information.
Travelers to Australia typically will require a visa, regardless of their length of stay or purpose of visit. However, the type of visa will vary. Students will receive more information on the specific visa type their program requires after acceptance.
Students on short-term programs or who are staying in Australia for under 90 days and hold US citizenship typically just need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). This is obtained through an official app and costs $20 AUD.
Students studying for a semester or year will need a Student Visa, which costs $2000 AUD as of 2025.
For more information on Australian visas click here.
New Zealand requires all visitors to receive a visa or New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), even if you are just stopping through the country on your way to somewhere else.
While students staying for a full semester or longer will need a Student Visa, anyone traveling to New Zealand who does not need a Student Visa will need an NZeTA.
We encourage students to do their research if their flights to their destination go through New Zealand or if they plan to visit New Zealand while abroad, even if they are not completing a program in New Zealand.
For more information on New Zealand visas click here.
Do not assume your student visa, ETA, or other documents allow visa-free travel to countries other than the country you are studying in. Information provided to you by Purdue Study Abroad will focus on your destination country, and we cannot provide visa advice for personal travel.
Always do your research before leaving your host country to ensure that you have the right permission to enter the new country AND to come back to your host country.
Students studying in Europe can especially forget this as travel between two EU countries is more straightforward, or they may travel by bus or train and not think about crossing borders. If you are leaving your host country, do your research first to ensure you have what you need.
This varies greatly depending on the country issuing the visa and what type of visa you are applying for – and can range from a few minutes to a few months. If the one you need is a more complicated process or takes longer, you’ll be notified early in the process to ensure you have enough time. It’s important to always read the information given to you carefully and to ask questions to ensure you understand your specific timeline!
Bottom line: Allow yourself plenty of time!
This will depend on where you are going and what kind of visa you need, some visas are a simple online application that takes ten minutes. Others can take several months and include paperwork, supporting documentation, a visa appointment at a consulate or processing center, or mailing materials to a consulate for processing. The total time it takes to get a visa includes preparing your paperwork, submitting the visa application, processing time for the consulate issuing the visa, and sometimes mailing time – so it’s best to get started once you have the information you need to do so. The study abroad office is here to answer questions and direct you to resources to help you navigate the process!
Most often, someone coming to visit you for a short time as a tourist will not need the same visa you would as a student. Whether or not they will need a visa will depend on their citizenship, where they are going, and how long they plan to stay. For example, a U.S. citizen visiting a student in Europe for a week will not need a visa, but starting in late 2026 they will need an ETIAS. Someone wanting to visit their student for a week or two in the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand would need the appropriate ETA before visiting. Purdue Study Abroad cannot advise on visas for personal travel, but all travelers can check the consulate’s website of the country they plan to visit to help determine if they will need a visa.
PHOTO SERVICES FOR PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATIONS
Purdue Study Abroad can provide passport or visa photos free of charge for students applying for or participating on approved study abroad programs. This service is available during scheduled visa help sessions as well as for walk-ins during regular office hours. Please check our hours before coming by.
Photo Guidelines:
If you are not able to have your photo taken in the Study Abroad Office during business hours, there are other places where you can get a photo taken for a fee. Many businesses that offer photo services such as Walgreens, CVS, WalMart, FedEx, UPS, and more can usually take passport and/or visa photos. Be sure to let them know if it is for a passport or visa, and refer to guidelines for appropriate size and requirements before having your photo taken as this may vary depending on the country.
Some options on or close to campus include the UPS store in the Purdue Memorial Union and CVS on Northwestern Avenue.
NOTARY SERVICES FOR VISA APPLICATIONS
Purdue Study Abroad has two notaries public on staff who can perform notarizations free of charge for visa application documents for students participating on official Purdue Study Abroad programs. This service is available during scheduled visa help sessions as well as for walk-ins during regular office hours.
Please read the instructions below and come prepared with necessary identification and documents.
The notary public cannot provide advice on visa documentation or processing and does not check for completion or correctness of documents; their role is only to witness and certify your signed acknowledgement.
Instructions for Notarizations
Refer to provided instructions or checklists to ensure you have filled out forms correctly. The notary public does not check for completion or correctness of documents; their role is only to witness and certify your signed acknowledgement.
If you are not able to have your documents notarized in the Study Abroad Office during business hours, or a family member needs to have a document notarized for you and cannot travel to our office, you can typically find public notaries in many places and can search online for a notary near you. These services are often offered at local banks, public libraries, The UPS Store, copy shops, and more. It is recommended to call ahead to ensure this service is offered, if there is a fee charged, and if an appointment is necessary.
NOTE: For some visa applications, the notary may need to be licensed in a state within that consulate’s jurisdiction. Check if this applies to your visa application BEFORE getting documents notarized.