All Columbia affiliates are required to comply with the International Travel Planning Policy (ITPP) when conducting Columbia-related International Travel.
Columbia University utilizes the Travel Risk Ratings produced by International SOS (ISOS), Elevated Evacuation Statuses, and CU Travel Restrictions to determine the pre-travel requirements for Columbia affiliates.
For the country list: ISOS Travel Risk Ratings. ISOS Evacuation Status, and CU Travel Restrictions. Please note this list is updated biweekly or as necessary (latest update November 25, 2024). When planning travel, verify your destination's ISOS Travel Risk rating.
ITPP and International Travel Restrictions Travel Requirements
Undergraduate Students must comply with the Undergraduate International Travel Policy which includes a separate process of the ISOS itinerary review.
International Travel Planning Policy Requirements
- Medium-risk locations, have itinerary reviewed by ISOS.
- High-risk locations, have itinerary reviewed by ISOS and complete the appropriate *Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form for dean-level review and approval.
- For individual travelers, travelers must complete the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form - Individual
- For groups of three or more (traveling on the same itinerary) complete the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form - Group or Program and the Participant form**. The Participant form is required for all travelers in the group.
- The Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date.
- Extreme-risk or Evacuation Status of (1) Stand-by, (2) Evacuate: Non-Essential Personnel, or (3) Evacuate: Full Evacuation locations:
- Must have itinerary reviewed by ISOS,
- Complete the appropriate *Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form for review and approval from their dean or unit head and, for Morningside affiliates, from the Provost, and for CUMC affiliates, from the EVP and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine.
- For individual travelers, travelers must complete the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form - Individual
- For groups of three or more (traveling on the same itinerary) complete the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form - Group or Program and the Participant form**. The Participant form is required for all travelers in the group.
- The Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date.
All CU-related international travel is required to be registered in ISOS MyTrips.
*Global Travel will effectuate secure written approvals once the traveler has completed the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form. Please note, the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date.
**The Participant form is required for group travel only.
Procedure for Graduate Students Requesting CU-Related International Travel
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Determine your destination's ISOS Travel Risk Rating, Evacuation Status, and any CU-related Travel Restrictions;
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Follow the below applicable chart depending upon the ISOS Travel Risk Rating and Elevated Evacuation Status:
For Travel to ISOS Medium, High, and/or Extreme Travel Risk; and locations with an Elevated Evacuation Status:
Email [email protected] for more information.
International Travel Planning Policy Requirements
- For travel to Medium, High, and Extreme Risk locations, strongly encouraged to have itinerary reviewed by ISOS.
- For travel to locations with an ISOS Elevated Evacuation Status of (1) Stand-by, (2) Evacuate: Non-Essential Personnel, or (3) Evacuate: Full Evacuation locations:
- Must have itinerary reviewed by ISOS
- Complete the *Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form for review and approval from their dean or unit head and, for Morningside affiliates, from the Provost, and for CUIMC affiliates, from the EVP and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine.
All CU-related international travel is required to be registered in ISOS MyTrips.
*Global Travel will effectuate secure written approvals once the traveler has completed the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form. Please note, the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date.
Additional information
Officers of Instruction, Officers of Research, Officers of the Libraries, Postdoctoral Fellow/Scholars traveling with students must ensure that all student travelers have complied with all pre-departure travel requirements, in addition to completing the pre-departure requirements for their travel.
International Travel Planning Policy Requirements
- Medium-risk locations, have itinerary reviewed by ISOS.
- High-risk locations, have itinerary reviewed by ISOS and complete the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Request Form for dean-level review and approval.
- Extreme-risk locations or locations with Evacuation Status of (1) Stand-by, (2) Evacuate: Non-Essential Personnel, or (3) Evacuate: Full Evacuation
- Must have itinerary reviewed by ISOS
- Complete the *Elevated Travel Risk Approval Request Form for review and approval from their dean or unit head and, for Morningside affiliates, from the Provost, and for CUIMC affiliates, from the EVP and Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine.
All CU-related international travel is required to be registered in ISOS MyTrips.
*Global Travel will effectuate secure written approvals once the traveler has completed the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form. Please note, the Elevated Travel Risk Approval Form must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date.
Columbia travelers must take an active role in addressing administrative, health and safety concerns inherent to international travel. If you are planning a trip abroad, recognize that certain regions require special considerations due to political, cultural, legal or health-related reasons. Your careful review and consideration of the current state of your travel destination(s) is critical to your trip’s success.