Passports & visas
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Please take time to review the information below about passport and visa requirements, as well as more specifics on the documentation non-U.S. citizens may need before their trip.
Passports
A passport is required for all EF Educational Tours. We recommend applying for a passport as soon as you enroll on a tour, as it can take up to 12 weeks to process. U.S. citizens traveling abroad must bring a passport that is valid for at least six months after the tour’s return and has at least three blank pages.
Once you have received your passport, please confirm your passport information to EF by logging in and visiting your “My Tours” page. (This information is required by 110 days before your tour departs.)
Make sure that the first, middle, and last name on your EF account matches your passport letter for letter, including punctuation and spacing. We’ll use this information when purchasing your flights, and airlines may not permit passengers to board if their ticket does not match their passport exactly. Name changes after 110 days prior to departure carry a minimum $200 fee up to the cost of a new ticket.
Group Leaders can log in to their account to keep tabs on travelers’ passport information. In addition, we recommend that all Group Leaders collect a photocopy of each traveler’s passport to verify that it has been signed and to double check that the name on the passport exactly matches the name in our records.
For more information, please visit the U.S. government passport website. You can also live chat with our Traveler Support team here on our site (click on the “EF” icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen) or reach them by phone at 800-665-5364.
Visas
Depending on where you’re traveling or your citizenship, you may need a visa for your tour. Visa applications must be personally completed by the applicant. All travelers are responsible for obtaining their own visas, both for destinations they are visiting and those they are passing through. Depending on the country, you may apply for an electronic visa, a paper visa, or an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). After enrollment, you will have access to the Visa and Entry Requirements tool that is tailored to your itinerary.
Paper or Electronic visa
Some destinations require a paper visa for entry, while others allow for travelers to apply for an eVisa. We recommend using Sherpa or Visa Central for the processing of any visas required by your destination(s).Electronic Travel Authorization
An Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is a a requirement that is becoming more common. The ETA is an online application completed using the specific country’s government website. Please visit the applicable government website directly to submit your application. We recommend using Sherpa to understand if an ETA is required.
European travel requirement notice
Starting on January 8, 2025, travelers of specific nationalities whose tour visits any country in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) or who transit through an airport in the United Kingdom will be required to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Please check your Visa and Entry Requirements Tool and the UK’s website for updates. The European Union is scheduled to require a similar authorization (called ETIAS) in early 2025. Please refer to the European Union's official ETIAS website for more information.
Please note: We don’t recommend beginning the visa application process until your tour itinerary is confirmed, which happens at approximately 70 days before your scheduled departure date.
Please visit travel.state.gov for the most up-to-date requirements.
Requirements for non-U.S. citizens
All travelers are responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and/or travel documents for all locations on their tour. Once the tour itinerary is confirmed, non-U.S. citizens should visit Sherpa, contact Visa Central, or contact the embassies or consulates of all locations they will be visiting or traveling through to verify which documents are required. If proof of insurance coverage is required, travelers who purchased insurance through EF should contact Traveler Support to obtain this documentation. At this time, the Visa and Entry Requirement tool in your online account only shows requirements for those traveling on US Passports.
Please note: Visa requirements may apply even if travelers only have a short layover or a stop at the airport in a particular destination. Travelers should inquire at relevant embassies and/or consulates two weeks before departure to ensure that requirements haven’t changed. For instance, if you are flying to Madrid via Toronto, check with both the Canadian and Spanish embassies.
For a list of embassies and consulates in the United States, visit state.gov.
The embassies and/or consulates of your destinations may require that you submit documentation from EF verifying your travel plans. If so, our Traveler Support team can provide a sample template. Contact them via live chat here on our site (click on the “EF” icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen) or by calling 800-665-5364.