Applying for Long-term Visa  (for stays in European Schengen states* over 90 days)

The first step is to decide on travel plans:

• Are you traveling before arrival or after departure to Prague? (if YES, you need a visa)
• Where? (if to any of the Schengen states listed, you need a visa)
• Are you a US citizen? (if NO, you may need a short-term visa for 90 days or under)
• Are you traveling with souse? (let us know so we can help you with this)

The semester programs are exactly 90 days long from arrival date to departure date. Summer programs are 45 days long, but you need to count your total days of travel within the Schengen states* and if that exceeds 90 days, you must apply for a Czech (Schengen) visa.

*Schengen states include:
Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden (NOT part of the Schengen states are UK and Ireland)

If you DON'T travel anywhere before or after the semester sessions or travel less than 90 days in the summer, you DON’T need a visa. But if you go over 90 days, read on:

We will guide you through the process, but you will need to follow instructions explicitly and turn everything in by the deadline sent to you by email. You will need to provide the following: (We provide the rest)

1. Your passport (valid for at least 3 months after your return to the US date)

2. A copy of the front + back of a credit card (block out the number of your card, but expose the expiration date) notarized

3. Two passport quality/size photos (not digital photos printed on paper). You can get these done at Kinkos and other places.

4. Money Order made out to the Czech Embassy. We will confirm the cost (approx. $150) a few days before your packet is due. They  will not accept cashier's checks or personal checks; only money orders.

5. We will provide the application form and a sample filled out for you yo follow. DO NOT fill out the application on your own–we have confirmed the correct way to fill it out, so please only fill out according to our instructions!

6. We will provide the Criminal Report Affidavit form. Refer to the provided example. It needs to be notarized.

7. You must buy additional medical insurance through HTH for the additional days of travel beyond the program dates. HTH is approved by the Czech Ministry of Interior so only use this company. Check with Study Abroad for rates and how to purchase.

8. Provide a self-addressed prepaid envelope (Fedex, DHL, or Post Office Overnight, or other) for the Czech Embassy to return your passport once the visa is issued. Use the address where you will be in 3 months after you apply. If you will need your passport before 3 months, make sure you indicate this in a cover letter with your application. You will then need to resend your passport with another pre-paid envelope to receive your visa into the passport.

9. Once you have all materials together, make an appointment with Amanda Williams, Career and Academic Adviser, Student Affairs, College of Design ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), 919-515-8325, to turn it in to her, or mail it in to this address: Amanda Williams, College of Design, Career and Academic Adviser, Brooks Hall 223, Box 7701, NCSU Campus, Raleigh, NC 27695). We will mail all the applications in together by the designated deadline and you should get your visa in time for travel. We allow for approximately  3.5 months for processing, so do not plan trips with less time than 3.5 months after the application is sent.

It's EASY if you follow the instructions CAREFULLY!

Non-US citizen: Please check with the Czech Embassy on visa requirements or write to us.