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International Travel Safety Policy

The University of Illinois System will implement the following policies to promote international safety and security.  The policies below differ depending upon who is involved in international travel and what they are doing during the travel period.

Policy for Undergraduate Students on U of I System-related Travel

Undergraduate students participate in a variety of programs that involve travel outside of the United States, ranging from system-sponsored programs and programs offered by external providers to travel for the purpose of conducting research or presenting at an academic conference.  Each university will:

  • Require all students on authorized system-related travel to register their international travel with the university and to enroll in and carry system-approved international insurance or equivalent policies.
  • Establish a mandatory, pre-departure orientation and a mandatory on-site orientation in the host country upon arrival for all students on faculty-led programs.
  • Strongly encourage individual student travelers and students participating in third-party study programs to participate in an on-site orientation.

Policy for Graduate Students on U of I System-related Travel

Graduate students participate in a variety of activities that involve travel outside of the United States, ranging from conducting research to studying abroad on a scholarship program (e.g. Fulbright Program) to presenting at an academic conference.  Each university will:

  • Require all graduate students traveling to conduct research, present at an academic conference, or participate in other research-related activities to register their international travel with the university and to enroll in and carry system-approved international insurance or equivalent policies.

Policy for Faculty and Staff who Accompany Students on U of I System-related Travel

Many international programs, such as study abroad programs and courses with an international component, involve faculty or staff who accompany students on travel outside of the United States. Each university will:

  • Require all faculty and staff traveling with students to register their international travel with the university and to enroll and carry system-approved international insurance or equivalent policies.
  • Require training related to safety, security, and response protocols, including responsibilities for addressing reports of sexual misconduct, for faculty and staff leading any student on system-approved or -authorized programs and activities.

Policy for Faculty, Staff, and System Employees who Travel without Students

Many faculty, staff members, and System Employees travel outside the United States without students for system-related business. Employees traveling internationally on system business to comply with the system and respective university travel policies for registration and insurance enrollment. 

All system employees traveling internationally on system business must enroll in international travel insurance using the applicable university-based travel and coverage website. It is the responsibility of each individual employee to ensure insurance enrollment for their travel. Failure to enroll in international travel insurance may result in non-reimbursement of travel expenses. (International Travel Insurance Enrollment Requirement 11/04/2024)

Employees traveling internationally on system business will be required to provide documentation of insurance enrollment on their Chrome River expense report. This includes, but is not limited to, business trips, conferences, faculty exchanges, faculty-led study abroad programs, teaching, research, service, or sabbaticals. 

International Healthcare Insurance Information

UIUC and System Office: Safety Abroad Enrollment and Fees

UIC: International Travel Safety - Office of Global Engagement, UIC

UIS:  Health, Safety, and Insurance

Following State, Federal, and Host Country Laws Related to International Travel

All University of Illinois System members must follow U.S. and state laws related to international travel, as well as laws applicable in the country or countries being visited, and must consider guidance from government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of State, regarding international travel safety.  Each university is required to follow the Health, Safety, Security and Risk Management ​Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad​, published by the Forum for Education Abroad, Inc.

Review and Coordination of Policies and Practices

International travel safety policies and procedures will be reviewed by each university on a regular basis and updated when deemed necessary.  Safety and security concerns tend to evolve rapidly and must be taken into account during regular reviews and between reviews as needed.  Each university will:

  • Establish procedures to review and assess the safety and security of all existing study abroad programs on a regular basis and to review and assess the safety and security of all new study abroad programs before they begin.
  • Establish and implement emergency response procedures and communication plans.
  • Require the Senior International Officer (SIO) to meet with the SIOs at the two other universities, as a group, at least once each year to confer and review ongoing safety and security concerns and to identify and implement practical solutions.

Full version - International Travel Safety Policy - Currently being reviewed 09/11/2024

Latest revised international travel insurance requirement announcement

09/11/2024