1. Immigration and Visas

Before coming to France

Please be sure that you understand your legal situation.

Note: France is part of the Schengen area.

Your current passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your intended date of departure from France.

The maximum stay allowed under a short stay visa is 90 days.

You DO NOT NEED an entry visa for France if you are a passport holder of one of these countries listed here: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/apply_for_a_visa/docs/visa_lists_en.pdf

Visitors from China, India, and some other countries require a visa issued in advance.

More detailed information can be found in the website of the Migration and Home Affairs of the European Comission: https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/borders-and-visas/visa-policy/apply_for_a_visa_en

Advice: Make two photocopies of your passport identification page and leave a copy with a trusted friend or relative who is not travelling with you. Keep the other copy with you when you travel and leave it in a safe place separate from your passport, which you must carry with you, at all time while abroad.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the participant to ensure that he/she obtains the correct visa to enter in France for her/his participation to the program.

Note: even if you are travelling from a Country inside the Schengen area, your passport will be required to have access to some of the facilities during the professional visits.

Letters of invitation

ISU will provide you with a letter of invitation for your visa application upon request. Please contact Mr. Sébastien Bessat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Important: Early travel planning and visa applications are important. All participants applying for a visa must notify ISU with an official proof of submission of a request duly completed before the 1 May 2019. Participants are invited to keep ISU updated with any results following the request as soon as they are advised.

Going through customs

Do not pack your passport, visa documents, financial documents, visa letter or any other important paperwork in your luggage. You should carry these items with you during your trip as they will be needed when you arrive at your port of entry.

If you are asked about the purpose of your visit, please correctly descibe your situation that is that you are attending a conference event as a participant. ISU will NOT enroll any of the SSP19 participants as student for the purpose of the ISU Space Studies Program 2019. Few days before the beginning of the Program, a letter will be provided by ISU to all confirmed participants for the purpose of describing their situation at the customs.

2. Insurance

Health Insurance is MANDATORY for ALL SSP participants. ISU requires participants to be covered before their arrival to the Space Studies Program site. Health emergency transportation or health care must be covered by your health insurance, including liability damage.

You must subscribe to a insurance before your travel to SSP. Before you arrive at the program, you must complete the on-line registration form that requires you to UPLOAD a health and accident insurance coverage card or certificate.

ISU advise you to purchase temporary health and accident insurance from Assistance Etudiants Globe Partner. Costs of the various coverage possibilities and subscriptions are available on-line. The coverage will only take effect at the date of the subscription.

For more information, please visit: http://www.assistance-etudiants.com/en

The European Health Insurance Card (or EHIC) can be used for the citizens of the European Economic Area (EAA) and Switzerland holding a valid health insurrance in their own respective countries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Health_Insurance_Card
I
mportant: your national health insurance card will be required along with the EHIC which must be requested in your own country ahead of time.

Should you arrive at the registration without proof of health insurance (in ENGLISH), you will be required to purchase a health insurance policy in order to proceed the registration process.

3. What to Bring

Computer related

  • Laptop (required, running either Windows 7, or later, MacOS X 10.8, or later, Linux kernel 2.6, or later)
  • Reinstallation disks, if any. ISU will not provide software licenses for private laptops.
  • A RJ-45 Network Cable.

Please advise us should you are not able to bring a computer to use during the Program.

Clothing / Attire

  • Formal clothes / business attire: there are generally six or seven times when business attire will be required over the course of the session including Final Team Project Presentations and Professional Visits.
  • Your country's traditional attire/dress for Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
  • Traditional and/or national costumes for Cultural Night.
  • Casual clothes for lectures, work, and recreation time.

Note: International Space University's Space Studies Program is a graduate-level professional development program that introduces the participants to some of the world's leading engineers, scientists and managers in the space sector. The manner in which you dress should be appropriate for a professional-level forum of this type, but also takes into account the local climate. 

The SSP features several formal events, including the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, Team Project Presentations, and International Astronaut Panel. Participants are expected to dress in business attire for these events (with the option of your Country's native dress for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies). Business attire will also be appropriate for professional visits and other evening events.

For lectures, workshops, Departmental activities and Team Project work, your may dress more casually, but should still retain a professional appearance. Shorts with collared shirts ("polo shirts"), skirts, neat t-shirts, or your native summer attire are all acceptable examples of casual, professional summer wear.

Information Materials

  • Information package on space activities in your country or region (useful for individual assignments, cultural presentations and team projects, workshops ...).
  • Materials on your professional work for SSP Participants and ISU Alumni Conference (items such as brochures, documentation, electronic presentations, and other promotional material).
  • Materials for cultural night presentations and evenings. These can include music, photos, videos and any other items that are specific to your country and culture.

Note: You will be given the opportunity to participate in the Participant Talk series. Please refer to the SSP Academic Schedule.

Medical/Hygiene Needs

  • SSP Participants should bring their own shampoo and soap or purchase it on site.
  • Personal toiletries one would normally bring on an extended stay.
  • Prescription medications as needed for the entire duration of the session.

Note: If you are following a treatment, please bring sufficient medication.

Other Items

  • Sports equipment, musical instruments.
  • A swimsuit, a swim cap, and a towel. The entrance to the swimming pools is only with a swimsuit and a swim cap for long haired people.
  • Equipment for talent night: juggling gear, martial arts costumes, magic gear
  • Materials to exchange with/offer to other participants (t-shirts, gifts, pins, stickers, gadgets, professional materials, cultural and country materials).
  • You may need to purchase a plug adapter.

4. Check List

Before coming

  • Pay Tuition fee balance
  • Sign SSP Participant Contract
  • Purchase Health and/or Travel Insurance
  • Apply for a visa (if applicable)
  • Make travel arrangements
  • Fill the SSP Logistic Online Form (picture, bio, arrival and departure details,...)

To enter France

  • Passport valid through your entire stay in the Schengen Area
  • Visa (if required)
  • Return travel ticket
  • Address of where you will be staying

To bring to registration

  • Passport and Visa if applicable
  • Proof of insurance
  • Signed SSP Participant contract (if not already sent by mail)