Understanding Visas For Your MBA Abroad

The benefits of studying an MBA abroad are plenty. New job opportunities, new experiences, new people – and the chance to expand your educational horizons. The only downside appears to be the challenge of jumping through the bureaucratic hoops required to set up residence in your new country and apply for that all-important visa. 

To clarify the process, we’ve put together this guide to help you. Read on to get a breakdown of the visa situation across six different countries!

USA 

If you’re an incoming international student to a U.S.-based MBA program, you’re looking at one of two visa options. For those of you hopping over for a quick exchange, swapping your usual business school for a U.S. one for a semester or two, you’ll need a J1 visa. For everyone else, the F1 visa is the one for you. 

What is the F1? The F1 visa is the “nonimmigrant graduate student visa.” 

Before you apply

Before you apply for the F1, you’ll need:

• An up-to-date passport (valid for the duration of your degree)
• A confirmed place on a program of study in the US
• An application form called “Form DS-160”
• A headshot photograph
• “Form I-20,” or  the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) student status”

You might also be asked for supporting evidence such as academic transcripts, standardized test scores required by your U.S. school (which you’ll likely have handy from your business school application), a plan for paying your way once in the U.S., and confirmation that you’ll leave once school is finished.

How long does it take?

The visa can be issued up to 120 days in advance of the start date for your course, but you won’t be able to enter the U.S. on your student visa more than 30 days before the start date of your course.

Can you work on the F1 visa?

Once you’ve completed your first full year of study, you can start an internship while on the F1, which will likely fall under the category of Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Sounds great, but worth bearing in mind that completing 12 months or more of full-time CPT (classified as 20 or more hours per week) will eliminate your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT), the year long visa that allows students to remain in the U.S. for 12 months to work after graduation.

United Kingdom

The Student Route, the brand new United Kingdom (UK) student visa, is available to all international incoming students (including EU and EEA nationals, who, pre-Brexit, needed no visa at all) who are planning on staying in the UK for over six months. 

Before you apply 

The Student Route visa has a points based system to test eligibility, on which you’ll need to reach a score of 70. Questioned elements include whether you:

• Have been accepted into an approved institution
• Have been accepted onto a course that meets the requirements
• Have the financial means to support your UK stay
• Are proficient in English 
• Can provide ID 
• Come from one of a specific few countries that will need to provide a tuberculosis test. 

How long does it take?

You can apply for the visa up to six months before your course starts, and you’ll probably receive a decision within three weeks.  

Can you work on the Student Route visa?

This is a little less clear. The short answer is yes, under certain conditions. The long answer depends on the course you are studying, the institution you are joining, and whether you will work in term time or during breaks. As a guideline, it is usually possible on the student visa to work up to 20 hours a week in the term, and full-time in the breaks. Keep in mind that full-time MBA programs discourage working during the academic year, given the rigor of the coursework and activities.

France

Depending on how long you’ll stay in France, there are a few different student visas available to you. If you’re an EU or EEA national, no visa is required at all to study in France. 

Here are potential options:

• Visa de court séjour pour etudes: The ‘Schengen’ short-stay student visa, for those studying in France for less than three months. 
• Etudient concours: On which you can come to France to take an entrance exam at an institute of higher education.
• Visa de long séjour temporaire pour etudes: A temporary long-stay visa, for those studying in France for between three and six months.
• Visa de long séjour etudes: The long-stay visa, for anyone studying more than six months in France. 

The visa de long séjour etudes (VLS) is the most likely option for incoming international MBA students. It lasts the duration of your course and acts as a residence permit while you’re studying. 

Before you apply 

As with the other covered countries, you’ll need to have secured a place in your MBA program at a French business school. An acceptance letter or other form of proof will be needed. Other than that, you’ll need:

• Proof of financial means to support your stay; guarantor letters are accepted here 
• Proof of return ticket out of France or, failing that, a handwritten letter of intent to leave at the end of your study 
• Proof of medical insurance
• Proof of a place to stay
• An up-to-date, valid passport (that lasts at least three months longer than your visa)

How long does it take?

The process takes a little while, with an average turnaround time of two months, so make sure you get applications in nice and far in advance. 

Can you work on the Visa de long séjour etudes?

Yes! As long as you have a valid residence permit (and the visa does act as one) then you can work roughly 60% of full-time employment (specifically, 964 hours a year).

Spain

Just like France, Spain has a couple of visa options based on stay lengths. And, just like France, if you’re coming from an EU or EEA country you won’t need any visa at all – instead, you can simply register with the local authorities and get a residence certificate.

Here are the options:

• Schengen Student Visa: For all those staying less than 3 months.
• Short-Term Student Visa: For students remaining in Spain for 3-6 months.
• Long-Term Student Visa, Type D: For students coming to study in Spain for more than 6 months.

Once again, we’ll look at the long-term student visa, Type D, in a bit more detail here, since it’s the one most applicable if you’re heading to Spain for an MBA. 

Before you apply 

To kick things off for your application, get the following things ready:

• Proof that you have a place on an MBA course at an officially recognized institution
• Confirmation that you have medical insurance
• A medical certificate, confirming you have no diseases that would require quarantine
• A criminal background check that is less than five years old
• Proof that you have somewhere to live 
• Proof that you can financially support yourself while you’re in Spain (or that you have a guarantor that can) 

How long does it take?

There’s a fairly strict bracket on this one. You must not submit the application for your student visa more than four months or less than seven weeks before you intend to travel to Spain; doing so will result in an instant rejection. The recommended sweet spot for submission is two or three months before you travel, giving plenty of time for the visa to be processed. 

Can you work on the Long-Term Student Visa?

As long as it’s not more than 20 hours a week, then yes, go for it. You’ll need a work permit from the Foreign Office, which your employer will organize – except for unpaid internships, for which student IDs suffice.

Good to note:

Unlike France’s long-term study visa, Spain’s Type D visa has no built in residency permit. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a student residence card (TIE or Foreigner Identity Card) within the first 30 days of your stay. It lasts a year, and you can renew it annually for five years (as long as you’re still studying).  Getting one is pretty simple – head to your local Foreigners Office (Oficina de Extranjeros) or a police station. 

Germany

The long-term student visa for MBA students in Germany is called the Visum Zu Studienzwecken. 

Before you apply 

In order to apply for the Visum Zu Studienzwecken, you’ll need to provide the following:

• A valid passport
• Headshot photograph 
• A CV and transcript of prior education
• A letter of admission from your MBA program
• Proof of language proficiency (English or German, depending on the language in which your course will be taught)
• Proof of financial ability to support yourself during your stay 
• Proof that you have registered for health insurance
• In some cases, a criminal background check. 

How long does it take?

Students from Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, and the U.S. can apply for a visa once they have arrived in Germany. Students from the EU and the EEA don’t need a visa. Students from all other countries should submit their applications before they come to Germany, leaving around eight weeks for processing times. 

Another important time milestone – within your first week in Germany, you’ll need to register with the local authorities (Einwohnermeldeamt), with your visa, proof of address and proof of course registration. 

Can you work on the Visum Zu Studienzwecken?

Yes, you can work up to 140 full days or 280 half-days a year without the need for a work permit. You can also work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and as much as you want in the breaks. 

Good to note 

If you know that you want to study in Germany, but are still waiting for confirmation from a school (or making a decision on which school you like best), you can apply for a Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung).

Switzerland

International students coming from the EU or EEA countries will need only to register with the local authorities upon arrival to obtain a student visa, providing proof of enrollment, financial support and health insurance when they do so. 

For international students from any other country, there is once again a short- and long-term visa for studying:

• The C Visa: The short-term visa for courses less than 90 days 
• The D Visa: The long-term visa for those looking to stay for long-term study

Let’s take a look at the D Visa, since that is most likely to be applicable to incoming MBA students. 

Before you apply 

You’ll need to submit all supporting documentation in either French, German or English. This documentation includes:

• A valid passport
• Proof of the means to financially support yourself during your stay in Switzerland
• Proof of health insurance during your stay
• A motivation letter detailing your reasons for coming to Switzerland and the benefit to your career 
• Confirmation that you have been accepted and are enrolled at a recognized Swiss educational institution, and that you have paid your course fees 
• Your CV, and copies of previous educational certificates and diplomas
• A signed letter of intent to leave Switzerland once your studies are complete 
• In some cases, a language test or proof of language proficiency

How long does it take?

Like Spain, there’s a window here. You should schedule the appointment for your visa interview somewhere between six months prior to the start of your studies and 10 weeks before you are set to depart. 

The processing time for visas is eight to 10 weeks. 

Can you work on the D Visa?

While in Switzerland on your long-term study visa, you can work for up to 15 hours a week in term time and full-time during holidays. However, this only applies after you have already lived in Switzerland for six months.