At the time of application, students must have a valid passport, be in the process of obtaining a new passport, or be in the process of renewing a current passport. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, passports must be valid for a minimum of six months after the date of return to the United States.
Begin in Berlin participants are required by Bard Abroad to obtain a German residence visa/long-stay visa for students before departing for their term abroad. Part of the visa process includes an in-person appointment at the German Consulate or German Embassy. For this reason, it is important to schedule your in-person appointment as soon as possible upon acceptance into the program. The visa processing time takes about 4 weeks from the date of your appointment.
Please read the following information on the German Missions in the United States page, which explains the German residence visa/long stay visa process, very carefully:
Residence Visa / Long Stay Visa If you are traveling with a passport from the European Union, European Economic Area, and/or Switzerland, you do not need to apply for a residence visa.
Students are responsible for obtaining the required documentation necessary to enter the country. All students must arrive on campus on the designated start date of the program.
All students should
notify Bard Abroad upon acceptance into the program if they have plans to travel around Europe before or after their program ends. Students must comply with European immigration rules, which have strict limits on how long one can remain in the Schengen area.