Please read the following essential travel considerations as of October 28, 2024, before you register for a Chazen Travel program (GIP or Study Tour) for Spring 2025.
Please note Chazen travels often involve travel to emerging economies, exposing students to cultures and environments often times different than their own. This often means differing levels of infrastructure, efficiency and standards affecting hotel stays, meals, traffic delays and transportation limitations. Please keep this in mind if you sign up for our travel programs — it is important to be considerate and flexible. All international travel involve risk. We do not control the cities and companies we visit. We try our best to plan a safe trip with positive experience.
For general information, please view the following websites and information:
- Pre-departure health information: Columbia Health for information on travel medicine and scheduling appointments for vaccinations or health assessments prior to traveling.
- Health and Wellness Information: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).
- US State Department Travel Information: International Travel and Country Security Reports websites.
- 24/7 Travel and Emergency Information: International SOS is Columbia University's 24/7 emergency assistance provider. If you have any questions or concerns about travel destinations, we encourage students to reach out to International SOS directly at their 24-hour assistance center at +1 (215) 942-8478. We also recommend that students download the International SOS app.
Global Immersion Programs
Ghana
- Visa Information: All visitors are required to secure a visa. To read more about the process and requirements please review the consular section at the Consulate General of Ghana, New York. Passports must be valid for six months after the intended date of departure from the country. Foreign visitors must also hold a return or onward ticket and proof of a Yellow Fever vaccination. The school will provide the backup required.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please note that Ghana requires proof of yellow fever immunization. Please review the CDC Ghana page for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading ISOS' country report on Ghana for full details on safety, security, and travel considerations.
Italy
- Visa Information: A new visa waiver program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), will require citizens of the US amongst others to apply for a visa waiver authorization. This new travel authorization is supposed to launch sometime in 2025 but the exact date is TBD. Please check the official ETIAS Europe website for updates and further information.
- All other nationalities, please contact the Italian Consulate of New York regarding applying for a Schengen visa. Please check soon and start the process quickly; appointments to secure the Schengen area visas can be difficult to secure. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC Italy page for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading ISOS country report on Italy for more information on safety, security, and travel considerations.
Japan
- Visa Information: At present, U.S. citizens and some other nationalities are do not need a visa to travel to Japan. Visa considerations do change frequently so it is best to check with updated travel requirements on the Japan Embassy in the US and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan websites for more information.
- If you are a visa required nationality to travel to Japan, please check with the Consulate General of Japan, New York website for how to apply for a visa. It is recommended that students start the application process early.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC travel: Japan page for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS country report on Japan for more information on safety, security, and travel considerations.
Kenya
- Visa Information: All foreign nationals must have a valid passport for six months from the date of entry, with at least one blank pages and proof of a return or onward ticket. All foreign nationals and business travelers are required to submit an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA), a form of electronic visa authorization in order to travel to Kenya. For additional information on visa requirements and the eTA process, contact the Consulate General of Kenya in New York.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC page for Kenya for vaccine and wellness recommendations. Please note that Kenya is within the yellow fever zone, and therefore the vaccine is recommended. A yellow fever card is required to enter Kenya if you are traveling from other yellow fever areas within Africa.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report for Kenya for more information on safety, security, and travel considerations.
Philippines
- Visa Information: At present, Australian, U.S., Canadian, and European Union citizens and some other nationalities do not need a visa to travel to the Philippines for up to 30 days. Visa considerations do change frequently so it is best to check with updated travel requirements on the Philippines Embassy in the US website for more information.
- If you are a visa required nationality to travel to the Philippines, please check with the Consulate General of Philippines New York website for how to apply for a visa. It is recommended that students start the application process early.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC Travel Philippines page for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report on the Philippines for more information on safety, security, and travel considerations.
Rwanda
- Visa Information: Visas are required for all visitors and can be obtained upon arrival. For more information, please see the Rwandan Embassy in the US website. All visitors can obtain a single entry visa upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, without prior application, after paying the appropriate fee, if applicable. An e-Visa may also be obtained online prior to departure; more information can be found here.
- If you plan on visiting Uganda or Kenya in addition to Rwanda, it might make more sense to obtain the East African visa, but how you apply depends on which country will be your first stop. For more information, see this webpage.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review CDC Rwanda for vaccine and wellness recommendations. The Yellow Fever vaccine is required if you are arriving from a country considered to be in a Yellow Fever zone; please keep this in mind if you're doing any pre-travel in other countries prior to your arrival in Rwanda. Please note there is currently a Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda that is expected to be contained before March; more information can be found here.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report on Rwanda for all safety, security, and travel information.
South Africa
- Visa Information: Citizens of the US and some other nationalities may visit South Africa without a visa at this time. All others should check the South Africa Department of Home Affairs website and the Consulate Generate of South Africa, New York website to check if a visa is needed. Passports must be valid for 30 days past the day of travel and have two blank pages for stamps.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC South Africa page for vaccine and wellness recommendations. Please note that the Yellow Fever vaccine is required for entry to South Africa if you are arriving from a Yellow Fever zone.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report on South Africa for all safety, security, and travel information.
Study Tour Information
Belgium and the Netherlands
- Visa Information: A new visa waiver program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), will require citizens from the US to apply for a visa waiver authorization. This new travel authorization is supposed to launch sometime in 2025, but the exact date is TBD. Please check the official ETIAS Europe website for updates and further information.
- For all other countries, you may be required to apply for a Schengen visa for travel to both Belgium and the Netherlands. For more general information about applying for a Schengen visa, please see the government websites for Belgium and the Netherlands. We recommend that you reach out the Consulate Generals of Belgium and the Netherlands in New York City for visa processing and appointments. Please start the process quickly; appointments to secure the Schengen area visas can be difficult to secure. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC Belgium and the Netherlands pages for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading ISOS' country reports on Belgium and the Netherlands for more information on safety, security, and travel considerations.
United Kingdom and France
- Visa Information for the UK: Citizens of the US will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization (ETA) to enter the United Kingdom from January 8, 2025. For a list of nationalities that qualify to apply for an electronic travel authorization, please see the UK Government website here. You can apply for an ETA online starting from November 27, 2024.
- For all other nationalities, it is best to check with this resource to see if you need a UK visa. You should contact the UK Consulate in New York to apply for a visa.
- Visa Information for France: A new visa waiver program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), will require citizens from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and some European countries to apply for a visa waiver authorization. This new travel authorization is supposed to launch sometime in 2025, but the exact date is TBD. Please check the official ETIAS Europe website for updates and further information.
- All others nationalities, please check with the French Consulate of New York. Please check soon and start the process quickly; appointments to secure the Schengen area visas can be difficult to secure. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please review the CDC pages for France and the United Kingdom for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading ISOS' country report on France and the United Kingdom for full details on safety, security, and travel considerations.
Mexico and Guatemala
- Visa Information for Mexico: Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, most EU member states and many other countries do not require a visa to enter Mexico. For more information on visa required countries for Mexico, please see their Visas webpage.
- Travelers are required to obtain a Tourist Card which is an Entry Immigration Form that details information about your visit to Mexico. This can be filled out on the plane to Mexico, at the airport, or online prior to traveling.
- Visa Information for Guatemala: Citizens from the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico and most European countries, can enter Guatemala without a visa. Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months, have at least one blank page, and you will need proof of onward travel.
- Other nationalities may need to apply for a visa. We recommend viewing the Ministry of External Relations and the Consulate General of Guatemala in New York websites for more information on visa eligibility and how to apply for a visa for Guatemala.
- Health and Wellness Information for Mexico and Guatemala: Please review the CDC page for Mexico and Guatemala for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Specific for travel to Guatemala: A Yellow Fever vaccination is required for travelers arriving from countries with risks for Yellow Fever transmission. Please keep this in mind if you're planning travel to the region before/after the trip.
- Safety and Security Considerations: Please see the International SOS briefs on Mexico and Guatemala for travel and safety and security considerations.
Portugal
- Visa Information: A new visa waiver program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), will require citizens from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and some European countries to apply for a visa waiver authorization. This new travel authorization is supposed to launch sometime in 2025 but the exact date is TBD. Please check the official ETIAS Europe website for updates and further information.
- All other nationalities, please check with the Portugal Consulate General of New York. Visas for Portugal are exclusively processed through VFS Global. Please check soon and start the process quickly; appointments to secure the Schengen area visas can be difficult to secure. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please see the CDC travel page at CDC Portugal for for vaccine and wellness recommendations..
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report on Portugal for all safety, security, and travel information.
South Korea
- Visa Information: Citizens from the United States, Canada, Europe and other nationalities will need to apply for an electronic travel authorization, also known as a K-ETA, to travel to South Korea for trips up to 90 days. For more information on applying for the K-ETA, please see the official K-ETA website.
- For nationalities that do not qualify for the K-ETA, then you will need to apply for a visa through the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please see the CDC travel page at CDC South Korea page for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report on South Korea for all safety, security, and travel information.
Sweden and Denmark
- Visa Information for Sweden and Denmark: A new visa waiver program called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), will require citizens from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and some European countries to apply for a visa waiver authorization. This new travel authorization is supposed to launch sometime in 2025 but the exact date is TBD. Please check the official ETIAS Europe website for updates and further information.
- All other nationalities, please check with the Sweden Consulate General of New York and the Denmark Consulate in New York regarding how to apply for a visa. Please start the process quickly; appointments to secure the Schengen area visas can be difficult to secure. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Health and Wellness Information: Please see the CDC travel pages for Sweden and Denmark for vaccine and wellness recommendations.
- Safety and Security Considerations: We recommend reading the ISOS report on Sweden and Denmark for all safety, security, and travel information.