A visa is a document required by many countries, in addition to your passport, that allows you to enter the country for a certain purpose (whether that’s to stay, transit, or exit). Essentially, it is the country's government giving you legal permission to enter their country to travel, study, work, etc.
Please note, it is solely the responsibility of the student to:
- determine the entry, transit, and stay requirements for the country or countries to which they will travel,
- and to apply for any necessary visas, stay permits, or any other immigration requirements of the host nation(s).
It is also the responsibility of the student to:
- verify the correct documentation required to apply for the required visa(s),
- apply for the visa(s) early enough to ensure there is enough processing time,
- and pay any fees associated with obtaining the visa(s).
Kent State University's Office of Global Education is available to provide general guidance regarding student visa requirements and procedures; however, each student who travels abroad is expected to manage their own legal obligations regarding international travel.
It is strongly recommended by the Office of Global Education that you carefully review the appropriate consulate or embassy website for the nation(s) you plan to visit in order to determine current entry/study/exit visa requirements.