International Travel

International Travel Requirements

Under the University of Texas System (UTS) Policy 190, all university-sponsored or university-related international travel must be registered with the Financial Services Center, regardless of the source of funding. This requirement applies to faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, clinical fellows, and others traveling on official university business.

The assigned Financial Specialist will enter the trip into the Enterprise Travel Registry (ETR), which notifies the Office of International Services (OIS) for review. Travel to destinations with lower risk levels may proceed through the standard review process. However, additional review may be required when a country or specific region has an elevated travel or health risk.

Travel to destinations with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 3 or 4, or a Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Travel Notice is level 4, requires an International Travel Waiver and Memo. These documents must be submitted to the assigned Financial Specialist, who will upload them to ETR. OIS will then contact the traveler to complete any additional requirements. Once all required documentation has been received, OIS will coordinate review by the International Oversight Committee (IOC). High-risk international travel requests should be submitted at least 30 days before departure.

International Travel Process

Visit the Office of International Services Sharepoint, and select “International Travel Waiver for Faculty, Staff, and Students Travel to Restricted Regions,” for forms and detailed instructions.

Executive Order GA-48

In compliance with Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order EO-GA-48, employees are required to provide information on personal travel to one of the six (6) identified countries designated by the by the U.S. Department of Commerce as foreign adversaries under 15. C.F.R. Section 791.4.  Currently, those countries are as follows:

1. Republic of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region (China)
2. Republic of Cuba (Cuba)
3. Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran)
4. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)
5. Russian Federation (Russia); and
6. Venezuelan politician Nicolás Maduro (Maduro Regime).

Executive Order, GA-48, also requires State employees on personal travel to these countries to do the following:

1. Report your pre-travel form no later than 7 days before departure.
2. No official business may be conducted in the country.
3. Do not take any university assets.
4. Do not access any university systems while in country.
5. Review Personal Device Security briefing prior to travel and adhere to guidance.
6. Enroll in STEP if you are a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident.
7. Submit your post-travel form no later than 10 days from return.

Employees are responsible for timely reporting international travel to their supervisors and for completing a Pre-travel and Post-travel forms.

Pre-travel Form

Post-travel Form

Work-Related Activity within the six foreign adversary countries identified in Executive Order GA-48 is prohibited. “Work-Related Activity” includes conferences, meetings, research, or professional activities connected to an employee’s university responsibilities that advance professional knowledge, expertise, reputation, or responsibilities. This prohibition applies to the activity rather than the purpose of the trip: while in these countries on personal travel, employees may not engage in Work-Related Activity, including conducting University business remotely through University email, VPN, or other University systems.