Visas & Passports

Visas

Students will be staying less than the maximum time allowed for Americans to live in Prague without a visa. If asked at the airport about your business, tell the passport check person you are a student visiting Central Europe for educational purposes. 

For non-U.S. citizens, the restrictions are usually more stringent. The Czech Republic is a EU member. However, you must contact the Czech Embassy in the United States or the country you live in and apply for a visa if needed.

U.S. Passport Holders

• U.S. citizens are limited to a 90-day stay within a 6-month period, within the Schengen Region. All Schengen countries are in Europe. However, it should not be confused with the EU (European Union). The Schengen Region and European Union are two different agreements between European countries. 
• The Schengen Region includes Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.    
• Bulgaria, Cypress, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) are not part of the Schengen Region. 

View more information on the Schengen Region and status on the European microstates.

Obtaining a Passport

Any U.S. citizen traveling to Europe must have a valid passport that does not expire within the time period of her or his travel plus six months beyond the date of return to the United States. To obtain a passport more than 14 days prior to departure, you must go to a passport acceptance facility. Bring with you the following materials:

• $110 fee plus $25 fee to be paid to the acceptance facility (or $110 for renewal of passport)
• Two (2) official passport photos
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship (i.e., previous passport, certified birth certificate, etc.)
• Proof of Identity (i.e., driver’s license, previous passport, government I.D., etc.)

Once your application is complete, your passport should be mailed to you within 25 business days. It will be valid for ten (10) years.

If you live in the Boston area and need to obtain a passport within 14 days of departure, visit the passport office in the Thomas P. O’Neill Federal Building at 10 Causeway Street (next to the TD Banknorth Garden), Room 247. For comprehensive information on obtaining U.S. passports and to download the application forms and instructions click here.

Please make arrangements to secure your passport as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute, you will pay an additional $60 fee to expedite your passport application.

Passport Tips

• REMEMBER TO SIGN YOUR PASSPORT. It is not valid until you do.
• You shouldn't go anywhere without your passport, so please keep track of it at all times.
• Store it in the same place every time you travel.
• Your passport is your only legal, official proof of citizenship and will be your most important possession while traveling.
• In the event it is lost or stolen, contact the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate and the local police in the country in which you are traveling.
• Leave a photocopy of your passport with your parents or responsible family member so they can assist you from home, if necessary.
• The U.S. State Department maintains a website specifically for students studying abroad.
• View passport photo instructions.