Visa information for all Florence, Madrid and Paris students:

Italy, Spain and France are Schengen Area countries.

Please read the following guidelines carefully to determine whether or not you will require a visa for your time abroad.

Schengen Area general guidelines:

• US Citizens who will be studying/traveling in a Schengen Area country less than 90 days are not required to apply for a student visa. You will be issued a tourist visa upon entry into the country.

• If you enter a Schengen Area country as a tourist, you will be able to stay in that country and any other country in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days during a period of 6 months.

• You cannot stay in any Schengen Area country or combination of Schengen Area countries for more than a total of 90 days during a six month period, even if you leave the Schengen area and return.

• Once you have stayed 90 days in any one or combination of the Schengen Area countries, you cannot visit a Schengen Area country for another three months without a visa.

Examples:

• You study in Florence for 80 days, you then travel to another Schengen area country such as Germany for 14 days: this would be a total of 94 days in the Schengen area within a 6 month period and you would need a visa.

• You study in Florence for 80 days, you then travel to another non-Schengen area country such as the UK for 14 days, and then travel to a Schengen area country such as Spain for 11 days: this would be a total of 91 days in the Schengen area within a 6 month period and you would need a visa.

• You visit a Schengen area country such as Portugal for 15 days before the start of your program, you then study in Florence for 80 days: this would be a total of 95 days in the Schengen area within a 6 month period and you would need a visa.

• You study in Florence for 80 days, you then return to the US for two months, and then return to Europe to travel to a Schengen area country such as Greece for 11 days: this would be a total of 91 days in the Schengen area during a six month period and you would need a visa.

How to get a visa:

Contact your local Italian Consulate for assistance in procuring a visa if necessary. Please note that CAPA is unable to assist with a visa if you desire to stay longer than 90 days. 

If your CAPA program is longer than 90 days, please contact your study abroad advisor or CAPA Program Manager for details.

Schengen Area countries:

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland*, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway*, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

*All these countries except Norway and Iceland are European Union members. The UK is not part of the Schengen area.

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