Passports & Visas

Passports

Passports are required for all ACIS trips traveling abroad except those to Canada, where a passport is only required if you are flying into the country or if you are aged 19 or over. You are responsible for obtaining your own passport, so please don’t delay! Visit your post office or a local office of the federal government for an application form. Note that some countries require that passports be valid for six months after you return to the United States. Please be sure that yours is up-to-date.

For more information about obtaining a passport and processing times, visit www.travel.state.gov

Birth Certificates

Students 18 and younger traveling to Canada by bus need to have either their original birth certificate or a certified copy with them in order to cross the border (if traveling by plane, or if they are 19 or older, they will need a passport). In addition, students should bring a government-issued photo ID (if available) to prove they are the person whose birth certificate they are presenting.

Visas

No visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to western or central Europe, Costa Rica or Mexico. Visas are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Australia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Egypt, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam.* Groups traveling to Australia are responsible for securing their own ETA Tourist Visa. For many of the other destinations, ACIS will assist U.S. passport holders to obtain necessary visas. Your group leader will collect your group’s passports and send them to ACIS for visa application processing approximately 120 days prior to departure. Visas are necessary for participants connecting through these countries, even if they are not the final destination.

*Visas may be required for other destinations. Please contact your group leader for more information.

Important Information for Non-U.S. Citizens

Non-U.S. citizens are responsible for obtaining all documents needed to enter the countries to be visited or connected through, and for reentry into the U.S. Please consult the consular offices of the countries on your itinerary, as well as the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, for complete information. If traveling to Canada on one of our ACIS Visit Canada programs, non-U.S. citizens can consult cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas-all.asp for Canadian visa requirements.

Non-U.S. citizens unable to procure the proper documentation to travel will only receive a refund if they have purchased the Ultimate-Plus or Ultimate Protection Plan and cancel at least four days prior to the trip’s departure. Being denied boarding is not a covered by reason according to the terms of the insurance policy so please make sure your documents are all in order!