Passports, Visas, and Travel
Passports
A valid passport is required for you to travel outside of your home country. If you already have one, it must be valid for at least six months beyond your return home after the program has ended. Obtaining a passport is your responsibility.
If you do not have a valid passport, or if you need renew your existing passport, we recommend that you do this as soon as possible. For U.S. citizens, the passport renewal and application process is explained step-by-step on the U.S. Department of State page.* Please read through it carefully, and pay close attention to the processing time. Generally, it takes several weeks to receive or renew a passport.
*This site or any product or service provided by the site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tufts University.
Do I need a visa to travel to France?
A visa is official permission, granted by the authorities of a country, which allows you to enter and remain in that country for period of time. If you are participating in one of the European Center’s summer programs in Talloires, you will travel to France on a tourist visa. Please read below for detailed information.
For U.S. Citizens:
You do not need to apply for a tourist visa to travel to France if you are a U.S. citizen.
Your tourist status is granted automatically as long are your stay is under 90 days.
The rules for entering France actually apply to an entire bloc of 26 European nations known as the Schengen Zone.
If you plan to stay in Europe for a period longer than 90 days, you must obtain a long-stay visa.
For non-U.S. Citizens:
If your passport was issued from a country other than the United States, you may need a visa in order to travel to France.
Please note: you will be applying for a tourist visa because your stay in France/Europe will be shorter than 90 days. Do not apply for a student visa.
The French Consulate of Boston website has information about visa requirements and subsequent steps if a visa is needed to enter France.
If you require a visa, please contact the European Center so that we can provide you with the supporting documentation you will need for your visa application. Visas can take several weeks to be approved, so plan accordingly!
Traveling to Talloires
You are responsible for purchasing your own plane ticket to and from France.
Talloires is best reached by flying into Geneva, Switzerland. The Geneva International Airport is just a one-hour car ride from Talloires. It is also possible to fly into Paris and take the TGV, high-speed train, directly to Annecy. Depending on ticket availability, it may be cheaper to fly into Paris.
All students are required to provide their arrival travel details to the European Center program staff, so that the program staff can arrange for transportation from the Geneva Airport or Annecy train station to the European Center in Talloires.
If you fly into Geneva: A representative from the European Center will meet you at the Geneva airport and guide you to pre-arranged transportation (bus or reserved car) to the European Center.
If you fly into Paris: You can take a train directly from Paris/Charles de Gaulle Airport to Annecy, the small city close to Talloires. This trip takes 3.5-4 hours with one or two train changes along the way. A representative from the European Center will meet you at the Annecy train station and help you transfer to Talloires via pre-arranged bus or car.
Expected Arrival Date: Your program's arrival date will be communicated to you early in the registration process so that you can take advantage of pricing and route options when you purchase your air tickets.
Where do I purchase a flight ticket? There are many websites that offer affordable and reasonably-priced flight tickets for students. A quick Google search will lead you to some of the most common student travel websites. Please feel free to contact us at the European Center if you have questions or would like some help with your travel arrangements!
Should I purchase travel insurance? If you chose to purchase travel insurance, you are free to use any insurance provider. Tufts University and the Tufts Alumni Association often work with Meyer and Associates. You can reach them directly at 800-635-7801 for a personalized quote.