International Travel Policy

Last updated: August 2024

1. Introduction

The goal of this policy is to help ensure the health, safety, and security of members of the Stanford community undertaking university-sponsored international travel. The policy applies to all Stanford University faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral scholars who engage in Stanford-sponsored international travel.

Stanford University is committed to facilitating compliant international research and educational travel. To ensure the safety of the Stanford community, we encourage all faculty, staff and students to engage in thoughtful planning of their travels well in advance of their departure and to fully utilize the resources available to them.

2. Definitions

These definitions apply to terms as they are used in this policy.

Elevated-Risk Destinations: Countries, regions, and/or locations where the "Overall" Crisis24 risk rating is “High” or “Extreme,” or where there is other reliable information regarding significant health or safety risks for either the country, province, or city of intended travel. If the Crisis24 risk rating for a country, province, or city is elevated during the course of travel, Stanford University may recommend or require the evacuation of all travelers from the location.

There are also countries and regions that are subject to U.S. comprehensive sanctions. Stanford expects faculty, students and staff to comply with these restrictions while undertaking Stanford-sponsored travel. Travel that includes research activity in or the shipment or hand-carry of certain Stanford property to locations with U.S. sanctions may require an export license. Stanford-sponsored travel to locations on the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control’s Sanctioned Countries List must be approved by Stanford University’s Export Control Office.

There are also activities and regions that are prohibited due to exclusions under Stanford’s International Travel Assistance Program. For an overview of elevated risks and travel advisories, including Crisis24 ratings, please visit this page.

International Travel: Travel undertaken outside the 50 United States or its territories.

Sponsoring Unit: Any Stanford entity that organizes, approves, or funds an overseas activity.

Stanford-sponsored Travel: As defined in Admin Guide Chapter 5.4.2.

3. Registration of Stanford-sponsored International Travel

Per the Travel Registry Requirement, all Stanford-sponsored travelers are required to register their travel before undertaking any Stanford-sponsored international travel. Information on how to register travel can be found on the International Affairs website and the Stanford Travel website.

4. Travel to Elevated-Risk Destinations

Undergraduate Students: Stanford-sponsored travel to or through Elevated-Risk Destinations is prohibited unless the student’s travel is approved pursuant to Section 5 (below). No University funds or resources may be used, university sponsorship provided, or academic credit awarded, in support of undergraduate travel to these locations.

Faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars: Stanford University strongly recommends against, but does not prohibit, travel to Elevated-Risk Destinations. Travelers who opt to undertake such travel are encouraged to seek advice from Global Risk to develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies.

The final decision about traveling to a destination lies with the individual making the trip. However, the University reserves the right to require the execution of an appropriate release or waiver before permitting such travel.

Travel to countries with ongoing conflicts and/or significant safety concerns that pose a danger to personnel may require additional notification and registration of travel itineraries prior to departure and may result in additional costs to individual travelers and the sponsoring unit. Faculty, staff, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are therefore strongly encouraged to consult with Global Risk well in advance of their travel dates to obtain advice on how to minimize risks to themselves and to their research.

5. Exceptions to Restrictions on Undergraduate Travel to Elevated-Risk Destinations

In rare cases, the University may grant a travel policy exception for undergraduate travel to an Elevated-Risk Destination. Undergraduates who seek an exception must submit a petition demonstrating a detailed knowledge of the risks involved and explaining steps to mitigate these risks. Final approval may require petitioners to take further steps to mitigate risk as conditions of approval.

The process for requesting such an exception is outlined here. It is imperative to begin the process to request a travel policy exception early enough to allow time for review. Any request submitted less than six (6) weeks prior to a travel deadline may not be considered.

Questions?

For general travel-related questions, please contact Stanford’s Global Risk team at globalrisk@stanford.edu, or visit the International Affairs webpages.