{"id":45,"date":"2025-04-01T13:34:21","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T17:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/?page_id=45"},"modified":"2026-01-30T10:14:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T15:14:47","slug":"travel-passport","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/abroad\/planning-resources\/travel-passport\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel & Passport Considerations"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s very simple: if you want to study outside the U.S, you MUST have a passport. Processing times<\/a> for a new United States Passport varies and can be as quick as 4 weeks or longer than 10, so we encourage you to apply early. Many countries require that you have a visa in order to study there, and <\/span>you cannot apply for a visa until you have a passport in hand. <\/span><\/b>You will likely need the passport well before your program departs to apply for your visa. <\/span>So, if you are considering studying abroad for next term or beyond and you do not have a valid passport, <\/span>apply now<\/span><\/a>. A passport is always a good thing to have, and they are valid for 10 years.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our office offers the Your Free Pass to a Passport grant<\/a> that covers the full cost of obtaining a first-time adult U.S. passport book or the renewal of a U.S. passport book for those students with demonstrated financial need. For more information, visit our Financial Considerations page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you already have a passport, it will need to be valid for 6 months beyond the end date of your program, so please keep that in mind and determine if you will need to renew your current passport before you plan on studying abroad. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your current passport was issued before you were 16, you will need to renew it in person.<\/span><\/p>\n

For further information and application instructions, visit the <\/span>State Department\u2019s passport website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note that as of October 14, 2025, airlines are required to adjust how they submit passenger data to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This may impact any traveler using a U.S. passport with an \u201cX\u201d gender marker.<\/em><\/p>\n

What We Know: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

CBP is now requiring airlines to submit passenger data that only includes \u201cM\u201d or \u201cF\u201d in the gender field. In compliance with President Trump\u2019s January 20, 2025 Executive Order on gender<\/a>, CBP is updating guidance for The\u00a0Advance Passenger Information System\u00a0(APIS) transmissions to CBP. This means the APIS system, which all airlines use, will no longer accept \u201cX\u201d as a gender marker. <\/em><\/p>\n

If your valid passport has an \u201cX\u201d marker (rather than \u201cM\u201d or \u201cF\u201d), you should still be able to travel. See the Department of State\u2019s sex markers in passports page<\/a> for further guidance. Existing gender marker options (\u201cM\u201d, \u201cF\u201d, or \u201cX\u201d) remain in place and valid due to ongoing litigation and court orders currently blocking full enforcement of the federal policy. <\/em><\/p>\n

While this change should not impede travel, we understand this may be upsetting for some and encourage you to contact your Program Manager<\/a> or site staff if you have questions; you can also reach out to us at abroad@bu.edu<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

What You Can Do When Traveling: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n