Welcome to all those who will be going to Barcelona very soon - we are so excited to meet you!
While you also have the checklist in your Participant Portal, please find below a more detailed checklist of important things to do before you go abroad.
1. Review financing options. Look into things like financial aid and scholarships, and let us know if you have any questions. Make sure you’re saving up and planning a budget for being abroad.
2. Apply for or renew your passport. Your passport must be valid for 6 months AFTER your departure date from Europe.
3. If necessary, apply for a visa. This is especially important if your program is more than 90 days, if you plan on traveling before or after the program, or if you are not a citizen of the USA, Australia, or Canada.
4. Read these sections of the pre-departure orientation:
5. Start learning about Barcelona!
1. Attend the Pre-Departure Webinar. This will make sure you are prepared!
2. Visit your healthcare provider(s). You should make sure that you are up to date on vaccinations (including the COVID vaccine), have a plan for any ongoing medical care, and are able to bring any prescriptions you will need to Barcelona. Your mental well-being while abroad is just as important as your physical well-being, so be proactive and talk to your therapist, psychologist, or doctor at home and let us know of any concerns you have.
3. Read these sections of the pre-departure orientation:
4. Reserve your flights once you have been fully accepted to the program. Make sure to read the "planning your arrival" section first so that you don't miss important information.
5. Submit your flight info. This informs us of when to expect you in Spain. You can submit this info via the participant portal. The deadline to submit this is 4-6 weeks before the start date of the program.
6. Decide what phone plan you want to use while abroad. Download apps like WhatsApp, Skype (with $20 preloaded), and Facebook Messenger so that you can call/text home anytime with no international fees. We suggest asking your immediate family members to have at least one app that will allow you to call/text with them easily from abroad.
7. Check the weather for the time you will be abroad. This will ensure that you're packing appropriately given the specific season that you'll be in Barcelona.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Buy a Spain travel guide and start planning your adventures!
1. Notify your bank(s) and credit card providers of your travel dates. It's important that your banks/providers know when you'll be abroad so that they don't block any of your transactions for being suspicious. Write down any numbers/info you will need to call your companies from abroad or to cancel lost/stolen cards.
2. Request €100 in cash from your bank. It's a good idea to have some cash on hand when you arrive.
3. Make copies of itineraries, insurance info, passport, credit/debit card info, and important documents. Back up these documents in your email/cloud and leave a copy with someone you trust. Remember to bring a printed copy of your insurance card as well.
4. Notify your home country that you will be traveling. Register in STEP if you are a U.S. citizen / Smart Traveller if you are Australian.
5. Pack! Remember to review TSA and airline luggage restrictions. The key is to not overpack. You can find helpful info on what (and what not!) to pack here.
6. Review your arrival info and print this page.