Travel Health and Safety Petitions to Elevated Risk Destinations
Travel inherently carries some risk, but certain destinations require extra precautions and preparation to ensure our travelers' health, safety, and security.
Cornell maintains a list of elevated risk destinations, which takes into account risks identified by International SOS (ISOS) and the U.S. Department of State.
Additionally, Cornell may issue guidance, requirements, and restrictions regarding travel to specific destinations, including countries subject to comprehensive U.S. Sanctions.
When traveling to elevated-risk destinations, the Cornell International Travel Registry automatically triggers an International Travel Advisory and Response Team (ITART) petition process. If your travel requires a petition, the travel registry will prompt you to provide detailed information about your travel plans, and justification for traveling to an elevated-risk destination.
Mandatory Travel Registration
All Cornell students, staff, and faculty must register their Cornell-related international travel plans before departure.
Effective November 1, 2024: International travel that is not preregistered will be classified as non-authorized and business-related travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
By adding your itinerary, emergency contact information, and the purpose of your travel, among other things, we can provide you with valuable resources and timely assistance during an incident, crisis, or emergency abroad. Register as soon as you have your travel plans in place.
Petition Process
Who Needs to Petition?
- Cornell students traveling to elevated risk destinations
- Faculty or staff accompanying students to elevated risk destinations
What Information is Required?
- Evidence of risk research and understanding
- Travel purpose and objectives
- Local support network details
- Safety and contingency plans
- Additional details specific to traveler type
When should I petition?
- 4-6 weeks before departure date
- Final approval based on current conditions
- Note: Conditions can change rapidly and may require reassessment of previously approved travel; changes in approval status will be communicated
How do I petition?
- Register your travel in the Cornell International Travel Registry
- System automatically identifies if petition is required
- Complete additional prompts for elevated-risk destinations
- Provide detailed rationale for travel
- Submit supporting documentation
Once Your Travel is Approved
- Approval allows booking within specified contingencies
- ITART may revoke approval at any time due to:
- Changes in health conditions
- Security concerns
- Other risk factors
- Cornell is not responsible for financial losses due to revoked approvals
ITART Considerations
ITART assesses a variety of factors associated with the proposed travel, including your vaccination status. The following presents key factors to consider before submitting a petition. This list should not be considered comprehensive, as every proposed intinerary is unique and additional information may be requested.
Elements considered for ITART approval | |
|---|---|
Travel Considerations | Notes on ITART Evaluation |
International SOS (ISOS) advisories
| ITART's risk assessment combines ISOS travel advisories and U.S. Department of State Advisories. |
Department of State Advisories
| ITART's risk assessment combines ISOS travel advisories and U.S. Department of State Advisories. |
Cornell-Imposed Restrictions/Regulations
| To fulfill its duty of care, Cornell may implement additional travel restrictions and requirements through ITART. |
| Pre-Departure Orientation Completion | Completion of the pre-departure orientation course is required for all students. Course completion is optional for faculty. |
Travel is Registered
| All students, faculty, and staff engaging in international travel on Cornell business must register in the Cornell International Travel Registry. The ITART petition is incorporated into the registry and approved travel can be considered registered. Travel that is not approved will be removed from the travel registry. |
Planned Itinerary
| ITART will consider factors such as transportation, accommodation, and detailed itinerary in its recommendations or decision. |
Traveler Considerations | |
| Risk Awareness and Mitigation Measures | Using the information provided in the petition, ITART will evaluate if the traveler is aware of all risks associated with the specific travel as proposed. ITART will then evaluate the traveler's plan to mitigate those risks. If there is a perceived gap in either of these factors, ITART may require additional research to be done or provide additional resources as appropriate. |
Familiarity with Destination
| ITART will consider the frequency of previous visits, duration of past stays, level of language preparation, understanding of local customs, local support network, and emergency response capability in its recommendations or decision. |
Short-Term Study Abroad and Field Study with Students
Petitions are required for new or current short-term faculty-led programming traveling to elevated risk destinations, and ITART will need to review and approve petitions.