Your child will need to obtain certain documents long before departing for a study abroad destination. The four main documents are:

• Passport
• Visa
• International certificate of vaccinations
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

You'll want to make sure your student begins the process of getting these documents in order as early as possible.

Passports
Passports are distributed by the U.S. Department of State and are good for 10 years. They are the most important documents your child will carry abroad. Your student must complete the application, which can be done online. However, if this is the student's first passport, he or she should apply for it in person. The U.S. Department of State has a website which will help your student find the nearest location to apply.

When applying for a passport, your child will need proof of citizenship and proof of identity. Proof of citizenship can be given in the form of a birth certificate, but if you do not have a birth certificate for your student, a combination of the following documents can be used in place of a birth certificate:

• Letter of no birth record
• Baptismal certificate
• Hospital birth certificate
• Census record
• Early school record
• Family bible record
• Doctor record of postnatal care

The more of these documents your student can present in the absence of a birth certificate, the better. He or she will also need to provide proof of identity in the form of a driver's license, military I.D., etc.

Two identical photographs of your student will need to be taken, each measuring 2-inches-by-2-inches. According to the U.S. Department of State, the average passport fee is $67, with an additional execution fee of $30, bringing the total cost to $97. Many pharmacies, stores and travel agencies provide passport photo services.

Visa
Whether or not your student needs a visa in order to study abroad depends on the country in which he or she plans on studying and how long he or she will be abroad. A visa can either be in the form of a separate document or a simple stamp on a passport, and gives your student permission to enter a country and, in essence, live there for a period of time. The State Department Website can tell you if a visa is necessary for your student's specific destination.

International Certificate of Vaccinations
Some students will have to obtain an international certificate of vaccinations before they depart for their studies abroad. This document can be found at the local Department of Health, a travel agency, doctor's office or passport office. Make sure your child gets all necessary vaccinations. For more information on vaccinations and other health concerns, please [review our article on health and safety - LINK].

International Student Identity Card
The Council on International Education Exchange provides the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), which offers students' discounts worldwide on things like travel fares, restaurants, shops, theaters and hotels. It also carries medical benefits, worldwide assistance and bankruptcy protection.

The ISIC offers basic medical benefits, covering up to $2,000 in medical expenses and up to $5,000 in emergency evacuation fees. Students will also get worldwide assistance in the form of a toll-free, 24/7 emergency number to call for help with lost passports and legal issues, and operators speak 24 languages. The card also offers bankruptcy protection of up to $2,000 if your student's airline goes bankrupt. As a special bonus, students also receive an ISE Global phone card with free talk time and a $5 bonus for the first time they recharge the card.

You and you student will feel more prepared for the study abroad experience once these documents are all in order. Just don't forget to begin to start the process well in advance. Then all your child has to do is worry about which clothes to pack.