For the 2022–2023 academic year, the university has lifted all COVID-19 travel restrictions. Effective Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022, faculty and staff traveling internationally may proceed with booking airfare in Concur or through World Travel if they have authorization from their school/college/division. Per the university’s international travel policy, all international travel must be registered with Risk Management’s Global Health, Safety and Security team prior to departure.

All student travelers require approval to travel internationally according with the university’s international travel policy. For individual students, see more information on our Individual Travelers page.

Faculty or staff leading groups abroad should review the processes outlined  on our Information for Group Leaders page. Students participating in a Temple Branded program or through Education Abroad should be in contact with their program leader or administrator.

CAN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS TRAVEL AT THIS TIME?

Registered student organizations (with either Student Activities or their school/college) and any student traveling on Temple-affiliated international travel must follow the international travel policy. Details for international group travel are available on the Information for Group Leaders page.

Please note that approval is required for traveling abroad for Temple-affiliated International travel. Temple does not prohibit personal travel, though any travel during COVID-19 should be carefully considered. 

Individuals wishing to travel internationally for personal reasons that are not Temple-affiliated should consider the wide range of risks, including health risks, financial risks, academic risks, visa and entry restrictions, and the possibility of being stuck in-country for an indefinite period of time because of airport closures or entry/exit restrictions.

Individuals who do choose to travel should follow the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control around returning from travel. Upon their return, individuals may schedule COVID-19 testing appointments with Student Health Services.

Because the COVID-19 pandemic is a well-documented event and is considered a “known risk” by the insurance underwriters, Temple’s international travel medical insurance and International SOS do not cover the cost of a return flight because of a COVID-19 outbreak. Similarly, Temple University will not cover the cost of flight change fees or new return flights for travelers who choose to go abroad during COVID-19. Faculty, staff and students willing to travel during COVID-19 must ensure that they are able to cover the costs of travel if they need to return to their home country earlier than expected. Faculty, staff and students who are not able, or not comfortable with, covering potential travel expenses due to COVID-19 should not travel. These possible expenses include return flights and costs associated with having to stay in-country for an indefinite period of time because of border closures.

Temple’s international travel medical insurance benefits will cover most medical issues, including medically necessary COVID-19 testing and treatment, visiting a hospital or clinic because of illness, and many other medical issues. Temple’s international travel medical insurance also covers evacuations for certain political crises and natural disasters. Temple’s international travel medical insurance does not cover COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic individuals, travel vaccinations or other costs associated with traveling unless listed in the summary of benefits. Details on the international travel medical insurance are available on the International SOS page.

Faculty, staff, students, traveling domestically for Temple-affiliated purposes are required to sign and submit a COVID-19 risk waiver prior to booking travel. The waiver is available here.

Faculty and staff can submit the waiver using the online form available in the same TUportal channel. Students should submit the form to the administrative office that is sponsoring the domestic travel.