

Students traveling abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa are subject to the University of Iowa's International Travel Policy for Students. This policy applies to all students (undergraduate, graduate and professional degree students) traveling outside of the U.S. in a student capacity for University of Iowa related purposes.
University of Iowa students are required to register their university-related travel with International Programs. As part of the registration process, participants will be automatically enrolled in the Regents-mandated International Health Insurance Plan and in most cases billed for it on their U-bill. Students are also asked to provide a copy of their passport during registration.
If you are a student going on a program arranged through the UI Study Abroad office, your travel will be registered for you once you confirm participation in your program. Your study abroad advisor will provide information about additional requirements.
If you are a student traveling abroad individually, and you are not going through the Study Abroad office, the following steps are REQUIRED for registering your travel. This must be done at least 30 days prior to departure.
RECOMMENDED items you can do prior to your travel:
FOR RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN SUBJECTS please refer to the following information:
REQUIRED steps for registering student group travel (i.e. College- or Department-sponsored travel, not organized through Study Abroad), which must be done at least 30 days prior to the group's departure:
ADDITIONAL items for group travel:
If your destination country is under a U.S. Department of State travel advisory with a risk rating of 3 (reconsider travel) or 4 (do not travel), and if you still wish to pursue your travel plans despite the risks indicated in the warning or alert, please contact International Programs at safety-abroad@uiowa.edu to discuss your proposed travel plans. The International Programs Travel Advisory Committee (IPTAC) will need to review your proposed plans. The IPTAC includes representatives from International Programs, Risk Management and General Counsel. Student proposals for travel to any location with a level 4 (do not travel) rating will not be approved. Student proposals for travel to any location with a level 3 (reconsider travel) rating will be considered case-by-case.
To petition to travel to a high-risk destination with a level 3 or 4 rating from the U.S. Department of State, you are expected to:
Without receiving prior approval by the IPTAC, students will not be able to transfer credit, register for study abroad, participate in university-affiliated travel, or use university-based funding for travel to a country under a U.S. DOS travel advisory with a high risk rating of 3 or 4.
In addition, UI International Programs/Study Abroad scholarship funding for high-risk level 3 or 4 destinations will not be released without approval from the IPTAC. If approval for travel is not granted by the IPTAC prior to departure for a destination under a U.S. DOS level 3 or 4 advisory, any UI funding received for international travel will be revoked and UI travel registration and insurance will not be processed for that destination. It is possible to work with the funding organization to adjust travel plans to utilize the funds in a destination not under a U.S. DOS level 3 or 4 advisory.
Should a U.S. Department of State level 3 or 4 travel advisory be issued while a student is already in the subject country, the IPTAC will convene to assess the situation and make appropriate recommendations and decisions based on concerns for the safety and security of student participants. Depending on the situation, the IPTAC may recommend immediate departure and suspension of the program (if applicable).
If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Study Abroad at 1111 UCC or 319-335-0353 (ask for the Health and Safety Officer) or email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.
Updated: February 2018