Passport & Visa
Passports
A passport is a small booklet issued by the government of the country where you hold citizenship. It typically lists your name, place of birth, and date of birth, and it includes your photograph. A passport is used to verify your identity and nationality, present travel visas, and document international travel.
Passports for US Citizens
Apply for your US passport through the Department of State. The application will require evidence of US citizenship (an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or similar) photo identification, and passport photos. The processing fee is $165 for new passports ($130 for renewals), as of July 2024 (prices subject to change). Passport applications are processed at a selection of United States Post Office locations. website Allow at least 4-6 weeks for routine service and 2-3 weeks for expedited service (for an additional $60; prices are subject to change).Passports for Non-US Citizens
If you are residing within the United States but you are not a US citizen, you can renew your passport at a local embassy or consulate for the country that issued your current passport. Find the closest consulate or embassy for your country of citizenship.
Visas and Other Entry Requirements
Well before your travel date you will need to determine if you are required to obtain a travel "visa" that verifies your permission to travel to your destination(s). Visas are typically issued by a local consulate or embassy and can take several weeks or even months to process. The cost and requirement for a travel visa varies from country to country -- both the country issuing the travel visa and your own citizenship. US citizens may be exempt from visa requirements for some countries where other nationalities are required to obtain a visa, and vice versa. Visas typically endorse only a specific type of travel -- a work visa is different from a tourist visa, for example. Your study abroad program will provide you with information on which type of visa to apply for well in advance of your departure, where a visa is required. In some cases (such as year-long CSU IP programs) you will be requested to obtain one type of visa (e.g., tourist visa) that will be converted to another type of visa (e.g., temporary residency) once you are in-country.
Note that some countries also require that you pay an entry fee or tax upon arrival or departure.