Travel Waivers

• Per the updated UW International Travel Rules and Restrictions, undergraduate students are permitted to travel to Department of State (DOS) Level 1 or 2 destinations.
• ITRASC reserves the right to make recommendations to the Provost about restricting official UW student travel to Level 1 or 2 destinations based on emergent events or legal developments that create a tangible risk for student travel.
• Travel to destinations with a national or regional Department of State (DOS) Level 3 or 4 advisory requires a travel waiver. Provost approval for this travel is required.

Approval for graduates to Level 3 or 4 areas requires the traveler to demonstrate that the travel is:

• Directly related to their academic output (why this)
  • The travel cannot be out of pure interest or leisure but tied to a specific degree-related requirement
• Necessary to be conducted in that specific, high risk location (why there)
  • The activity should not be something that could be replicated in the US or other lower risk destination
• Must be conducted at this point in time and cannot be deferred to a later date (why now)
  • Includes things like time limited funding or requirement for near-completion of a degree

Additional requirements for Level 4 travel

• In rare cases, when the travel is directly related and required for academic or research requirements, a graduate student may be approved to travel to a Department of State Level 4 country or region.
• Travelers must submit a written endorsement from your committee chair (or equivalent) and Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) with their travel waiver. Please secure these endorsements prior to the application process. You will upload them as part of the application. 
• A department or school may require a higher level of endorsement or additional approval steps for their graduate students. Graduate students must confirm these requirements with their department or school prior to submitting an application.
• If your travel is approved by ITRASC and the Provost, you will be made fully aware of UW policies governing returning travelers (including pre-departure requirements, quarantines, testing, or notification requirements).
• Exceptions and exclusions apply for security insurance coverage to countries under a current U.S. Department of State Level 4 Travel Advisory or with known security or medical events in effect.

For faculty and staff, only travel to Department of State Level 4 areas will require review by ITRASC and the Provost.

UW employees must demonstrate that the travel is

• Directly related to their employment at the University and a required part of their ongoing teaching, research, or other associated work at UW (why this)
• Necessary to be conducted in that specific, high risk location, ideally with proof of an ongoing relationship or study in that area (why there)
• Must be conducted at this point in time and cannot be deferred to a later date (why now)
  • Includes things like time limited funding, research requirements, or writing project completions.

Exceptions and exclusions apply for security insurance coverage to countries under a current U.S. Department of State Level 4 Travel Advisory or with known security or medical events in effect.