There are several important documents you should not forget about when travelling abroad. You should always carry your identification with you when you cross country borders.
Passport
If you do not have one, apply for your passport immediately in order to save headaches from expediting your passport which is usually more expensive. This process can take up to 6 months if you have never been issued one before. If you already have one, please check the expiration date and ensure that it is valid for your whole stay. Some countries require that your passport be valid for six months beyond your date of entry.
For European students staying within Europe Check the validity of your ID
If you travel within Europe, you only need your National Identity Card or ID. Please check the validity. It is important that your ID is valid for your whole stay.
Visa
Many countries do not require travel visas, however there are some that do. Also, the length of your stay is a very important factor since it means a type of visa or another; some countries require a visa for a longer stay than 30 days. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange all applicable travel permits or visas and to have a valid passport. LanguageBookings.com is not responsible for determining whether or not the student needs a visa. Visa regulations change from time to time, therefore we strongly advise you to contact the consequent Embassy/Consulate in your country for up to date information.
LanguageBookings.com cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, we can supply you with all the documentation you need from your school as part of your application, including a letter of acceptance and a receipt of payment of fees. The application process for a visa is different for every country, but these two documents are required in most situations.
To obtain these documents you need to book your language course and accommodation and pay the required deposit as part of your total fees; once this is done, the school will proceed with your enrolment. You will need to pay the balance of your booking to your chosen School or host. Once the full fees have been paid you will, then, receive your letter of acceptance and a receipt of payment of fees. Now you can ask for a visa with these documents.
Your documents will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you in most cases. If you wish to receive your paperwork by express mail, you will be charged a shipping fee. This fee is determined by the school location and your country of residence. The school profiles on LanguageBookings.com show information regarding express mail fees. To ensure timely and guaranteed delivery of your documents, LanguageBookings.com recommends using express mail.
International Student Identity Card
If you are a student, then you can request the International Student Identity Card. You can get a lot of discounts all over the world with this card. At
Isic you can find more information:
In many cities in the world, there are local student discounts cards available, make sure to ask for instruction on how to get one to your school abroad upon arrival.
International driving permission
If you want to drive a car during your stay, you need an International driving permission. You can find a lot of information on the Internet about it, check International License.
Photocopy of your important documents
It is advisable to make a photocopy of the identification page of your passport, LanguageBookings.com booking confirmation and other important travel documents and carry them separate from your passport on a safe place while abroad. Also leave one photocopy at home with your family. Always have a copy of your travel confirmation details in your carry-on luggage with emergency contact numbers, host family address, hotel info, etc.
Another trick is to scan all your documents and email the copies to yourself. This way, if something is lost or stolen, you can access them easily through internet.
By Diana Martinez Herrero
Where to learn abroad?
