Murphy Writing of Stockton University

Passports (For US Citizens)

**Passport: It is essential that your passport does not expire until after January 2018 or Border Control may not allow you to enter Spain. Please check and renew it today!**

In the coming weeks and months, we will post information to help you plan your trip safely and economically. The first thing you should do is make sure your passport is in order. The process is easy if you apply early. However, it is a nightmare if you wait to the last minute. Why not check now to see if you need to renew your passport, and if so, do it now?

You can renew your passport by mail if:

•   Your most recent passport is available to submit and it is not damaged;
•   You received the passport within the past 15 years;
•   You were over age 16 when it was issued;
•   You still have the same name, or can legally document your name change.

Go to http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/212241.pdf to download the renewal form, DS-82. Or, if you don’t meet the criteria for renewing by mail, you will have to renew it in person at a passport acceptance facility as described below.

To obtain a passport for the first time or renew it in person, you need to go a passport acceptance facility (Usually a post office) with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship (A certified birth certificate which has a raised seal) and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. Most, but not all post offices can serve you. To find the location nearest you, plug your zip code into the form: http://iafdb.travel.state.gov.

Fees, forms, processing times and everything else you need to know passport-wise can be found here: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html.

Visas and Vaccinations

• No special immunizations or medications are required for travel to Spain.
• As of 3/24/17, US citizens do not need a visa to enter Spain. Earlier this month, it was in the news that US citizens may soon need visas to travel to Europe. However, from our research, this seems unlikely. If it does become effective, we will be in touch to let you know.
• If you are a citizen of a different country, please check if you need a Spanish visa.
• Travel medical insurance is included in the program fee for most participants.*
• Additional travel insurance: We encourage you to buy traditional travel insurance to cover things like lost bags, delayed flights or trip cancellations, but it is not required. Check with a broker such as InsureMyTrip, which is recommended by Consumer Reports.

* Unfortunately, the University’s contract for travel medical insurance group coverage is only able to cover individuals through age 74. If you will be 75 or older at the time of travel, you must purchase individual coverage and provide a copy of the policy for us. Please call 609-626-3594 before you register to discuss the coverage requirements and to allow us to answer your questions.