Visa Basics

A visa is a document placed in the passport and issued by the host country, granting the holder of the passport permission to enter the country and stay for a specified amount of time for a specified purpose.  Students participating in a semester or year-long program will need a visa.  

The GEO Program Contact and/or the partner institution will provide students with guidance regarding how to apply for a visa.  The visa application cannot be completed until after the student has been accepted into the study abroad program by both Saint Mary's and the partner institution.  

There are multiple financial aspects to consider throughout the visa application process.  The exact costs outlined below will depend upon the specific host country. 

Visa Costs 

When applying for a visa, students should be prepared for the following costs:  

  • The application itself will have a cost; the exact amount is set by the host country.  
  • The visa application will need to be submitted by mail, submitted online, or submitted in person, and there is typically a fee and/or travel costs involved for each of those scenarios. 
  • After the visa is processed by the consulate, it will need to be shipped back to the student or the student will need to pick it up from the consulate (depending on the host country’s process).  The student will need to pay shipping or travel costs. 
  • As part of the application, students typically need to show proof that they have sufficient funds to cover cost-of-living expenses, above and beyond tuition and accommodations.  The application typically requires students to provide bank statements or letters from a bank to show they have a particular amount of money available in their accounts.  (The exact proof and exact amounts depend on the host country.)   For example, a student may be asked to show that they have $800/month available for each month they’ll be in the country.  The student is not required to actually spend that money, but the host country asks for this information to ensure that the student will not become a financial burden.  Often, students are able to have someone (typically parents) sponsor them, meaning that the sponsor can show proof of sufficient funds on behalf of the student.  In other words, the student would have to provide their sponsor’s bank statements etc.  In that situation, the statements may need to be notarized and/or signed by the sponsor.  Again, the specific details depend upon the particular host country.  Please reach out to the GEO Program Contact with any questions.  The Program Contact will also provide the information to students through pre-departure orientations and meetings. 

After Arrival in the Host Country

Some countries require students to validate their visa upon arrival or to obtain a residency card in addition to their visa.  These typically involve a cost as well, specific to the particular host country.  The GEO Program Contact will provide more information about the specific costs through pre-departure orientations and meetings. 

For further questions, please reach out to the Program Contact.