International Engagement
International Travel and with Technology
Preparing to Go Abroad
Faculty, staff, and students traveling internationally to conduct or present research or in the context of their job responsibilities or, in the case of students, academic endeavors, are considered to be on University of Michigan Related Travel (UMRT). While a trip might include personal activities outside of the traveler’s job or academic responsibilities, if the primary purpose is work- or academic- related, the trip is UMRT. All UMRT criteria can be found within the International Travel Policy SPG 601.31 and examples of UMRT on the Global Michigan webpage. Faculty, staff, and students on UMRT must adhere to requirements outlined within the policy, including:
- Register your international travel with U-M:
- Travel registration is required for faculty, staff, and students on UMRT and is optional for those traveling for personal reasons.
- Travel registration takes just minutes and allows U-M to quickly and accurately locate and assist U-M travelers abroad in the event of a health, safety, or security crisis.
- Ensure you are covered by GeoBlue, U-M’s Travel Abroad Health Insurance. GeoBlue also includes Political and Natural Disaster Evacuation Insurance. For UMRT:
- Students on international UMRT are required to be enrolled in GeoBlue.
- Faculty and staff on international UMRT are automatically covered under the GeoBlue (Business Plan) and can access an insurance card in the Travel Registry.
Determine Risk Specific to Your Travel Destination(s)
Your travel location may increase risk of wrongful detention, harassment, or intellectual property theft, or trigger export controls. Though these risks may exist in any country, the U.S. government identifies countries of particular concern as described below. Each of these countries are rated a U-M Travel Warning or U-M Travel Restriction as detailed on Global Michigan. A summary of countries with known increased risk include:
- Burma (Myanmar)
- China
- Cuba
- Eritrea
- Iran
- Nicaragua
- North Korea
- Russia
- Syria
- Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic regions)
- Venezuela
Wrongful Detention or Harassment: Within the Department of State Travel Advisories, the State Department identifies 8 countries with a higher risk of wrongful detention, including Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. Though these countries have State Department advisories, instances of harassment, extended questioning at secondary inspection, and detainment occur in other locations as well, such as Egypt, Israel, Turkey, and more. Travelers concerned about wrongful detention should contact the Global Engagement Team at [email protected].
Export Controls: International travel by U-M employees or students may be subject to export control regulations depending on the travel destination and the hardware, software, and/or technical data that is taken. Destinations subject to the most comprehensive U.S. embargos include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Learn more at U-M International Travel and Export Controls. Travelers going to sanctioned countries should contact the UM Export Control Program ([email protected]) to assure travel complies with U.S. regulations.
Travel Safely with Technology and Information to Prevent Theft or Loss
Technology needs and risks can vary by international destination. Personal information and sensitive university data can be at risk during overseas travel. Faculty, staff, and students traveling internationally with technology, and research or clinical data or information, should consult U-M travel resources to reduce the possibility of theft or loss. All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to review U-M resources for traveling with technology prior to departure, including:
Additional technology resources and policies:
Technology for Loan: Request a clean, encrypted U-M laptop for use when traveling internationally and take only the data and information you need. If you are part of MiWorkspace, request computer equipment on loan here. If not part of MiWorkspace, contact your local IT staff for loaner equipment.
Determine Personal Safety Risks Related to Your Research/Activities
- Faculty and students conducting research that is perceived as culturally or politically sensitive by the host government or community may be at risk for harassment, arbitrary arrest, targeted detention, or violence. To identify and mitigate these risks, faculty and students conducting research should follow the U-M Guidelines for Conducting Sensitive Research or Critical Technology Research while Traveling Internationally.
- Review travel safety and security briefings to appropriately identify and mitigate health, safety, and security risks associated with your travel. Resources include:
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- The Overseas Security Advisory Council provides Country Security Reports, daily news, and U.S. consulate alerts and warnings for your destination(s).
- Travel Advisories and Alerts: To gain a better, holistic, understanding of travel risks in your destination(s), view more than one government’s travel warning and alert information. A few to explore may include the United States Department of State, Australian Government Smart Traveler, Canada Country Travel Advice, and the United Kingdom Foreign Travel Advice.
- Crisis24 security briefings: Crisis24 is a U-M provider that facilitates assistance during times of political and natural disasters. Crisis24 also offers an intelligence portal where all U-M faculty, staff, and students can access and download specific briefings by going to the portal, inputting their U-M email and Kerberos password, selecting “Location”, typing the destination country and selecting “Download Brief”.
- Global Road Warrior is an extensive country-by-country resource for culture, customs, history, and even the risk landscape of 174 countries. Country Guides include Human Rights Reports, Law, and Security Briefing sections.
- Request an in-person briefing with a Global Engagement Team travel safety member by emailing [email protected]
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- Student travel to a country with Higher Travel Risk Designation as described in the International Travel Policy requires completion of an Individual Safety Plan. Faculty and staff may complete an Individual Safety Plan for review, though it is not required.
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- To determine if a plan is required for your U-M Related Travel, go to the Country Risk Ratings page, select your destination country, and view the “Eligibility & Requirements” section. You may also refer to the Travel Health Plan / Individual Safety Plan process flowchart.
- U-M’s Travel Health Plan and Safety Plan process is designed to help international travelers identify health and safety risks, including research risks, and develop appropriate mitigation strategies. Plans should be submitted to the International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC) for review at least three weeks before departure, and ideally before making non-refundable purchases towards a trip in the event travel is not approved or must be postponed. Even if an Individual Safety Plan is not required, faculty and staff can complete a plan and request ITOC review.
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- Take care of health and wellbeing needs. Complete the U-M Travel Health Preparation Guide and schedule a travel health consultation at UHS if relevant for your travel, and review health and wellbeing resources offered through Global Michigan, CAPS (including Uwill virtual counseling services), and GeoBlue.
- Review the U-M emergency protocols and download the General Emergency Protocols document, which outlines steps and resources for U-M travelers abroad in need of emergency support from the university.