Travel Protocols

Students (High-Risk Destinations) 

Students traveling to a country appearing on the High-Risk Country List must complete and submit an Individual Petition for High-Risk Student Travel and obtain approval from the Global Safety & Security Assessment Committee (GSSAC), unless one of the following exceptions applies: 

• The destination is the student’s home country 
• The program is an approved group* or cohort program (examples include Dialogues of Civilization, Semester In, Three Seas, Alternative Spring Break, club/sport travel)

If one of the above exceptions applies, the student must complete an Acknowledgment of Risk for Students instead.

Note: Some travelers will complete their Acknowledgment of Risk as part of a GEO study abroad application or co-op placement.

Students (Non-High-Risk Destinations)

Students participating in travel or off-campus programming in a destination not deemed high-risk must complete an Acknowledgment of Risk for Students. (Be advised that entry may not be possible to all non-high-risk countries, and travel feasibility will vary based on program type, traveler nationality, and other factors.)

Note: Some travelers will complete their Acknowledgment of Risk as part of a GEO study abroad application or co-op placement and do not need to complete the standalone form. N.U.in and Global Scholars participants also do not need to complete an Acknowledgement of Risk.

Group Travel (High-Risk Destinations)

Group trips with student participants to a country appearing on the High-Risk Country List must complete and submit a Group Petition for High-Risk Student Travel and obtain approval from the Global Safety & Security Assessment Committee (GSSAC). 

Only one petition is required for each group trip. Contact MYTRAVELPLANS@northeastern.edu for more information if you are leading a group abroad to a high-risk destination.

Faculty & Staff Travelers

All faculty and staff members conducting university travel, as defined in the Policy on Travel to High-Risk or Sanctioned Destinations must complete an Acknowledgment of Risk for Faculty and Staff Travel, regardless of destination.  

If the trip itinerary includes a destination on the High-Risk Country List, the employee’s direct supervisor must approve the travel in advance. If that destination is also considered “Suspended,” as indicated on the High-Risk Country List, please read below.   

Traveling to Suspended Destinations 

Faculty and staff must obtain approval from the Global Safety & Security Assessment Committee (GSSAC) to travel to a suspended destination (countries designated with “Travel Suspended” on the university’s High-Risk Country List). This approval may be granted under limited exceptions for critical research or essential business purposes. To request an exemption, please email MYTRAVELPLANS@northeastern.edu and be prepared to answer the following questions: 

• Obtain approval from your Dean or VP 

• Articulate a need to travel to a location that is currently a suspended destination 

• Provide an index number to pay for the required insurance rider 

You should begin the above steps as soon as travel is approved, but no later than 30 business days (approximately 6 weeks) prior to your planned departure, to give GSSAC time to consider your travel request and the university time to place the insurance rider.  

Faculty and staff who travel to suspended destinations without GSSAC approval may not qualify for expense reimbursement, or the university’s travel coverage for medical and evacuation costs. 

Employees traveling for strictly personal reasons (including to a high-risk or suspended destination) are exempt from these restrictions and requirements. Any such trip is conducted at the traveler’s own risk. Employees traveling with university devices and/or to a sanctioned destination must still comply with the Policy on Computers and Mobile Devices for Travel to Destinations with Heightened Cybersecurity Risk and the Research Security & Integrity Program guidelines. Please contact MYTRAVELPLANS@northeastern.edu with questions. 

International Students & Scholars

International students and scholars traveling to their home Northeastern campus should review the relevant information from the Office of Global Services (OGS):

• Traveling to Northeastern Campuses  Located in the United States
• Guidelines for Traveling to Northeastern Campuses Located in Canada
• Traveling to Northeastern’s Campus in the UK