Brown Travel

Travel Guidance, Resources & Policies

This page provides ongoing updates on temporary guidance, resources and support concerning Brown-Related Travel.

3/10/2026 Update from Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk & Resilience

Important Middle East Travel Guidance

The Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk & Resilience is closely monitoring the evolving security situation that began in Iran on Saturday, February 28, and its broader impact across the Middle East. Rapid developments—including widespread airspace closures, shelter-in-place directives and other significant operational disruptions—are affecting multiple countries in the region. In direct consultation with the University’s senior leadership, we are writing to provide travel guidance about affected countries, as well as resources to allow members of the Brown community to monitor updates as they consider travel.

The guidance for all Brown-related travel for faculty, students and staff applies to the following countries:
  • Bahrain
  • Cyprus
  • Egypt
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel, The West Bank, and Gaza
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Syria
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen
This list is current as of the date of this communication, Tuesday, March 10, but is subject to change. Ongoing updates will be available on the Travel Guidance, Resources & Policies page of the Travel@Brown website.

Recommended Travel Guidance

Brown’s Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee (GTRAC), in close consultation with the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk & Resilience, continues to actively assess the situation. Out of an abundance of caution, and in light of the dynamic and uncertain security environment, the University is following GTRAC’s strong recommendation to defer all Brown-related travel to the countries listed above until further notice.
In addition, travelers with upcoming layovers through the region should reconfirm flight status directly with their airline and travel agency and consider alternate routing, as appropriate. Those who booked through Brown’s preferred travel management company, World Travel, should contact their designated agent to discuss rerouting options. Please note that World Travel is unable to modify or rebook itineraries originally purchased through another agency. Travelers who wish to shift their arrangements to World Travel can do so, but would need to purchase a new ticket.
All travelers are reminded to (1) ensure that all international travel, regardless of destination, is registered in TravelSafe, and (2) confirm that their itinerary and emergency contact information are current. Existing registrations can be updated by logging into TravelSafe and selecting the “View/Edit” button next to the trip listed on the “My Travel Plans” page.

U.S. Department of State Guidance and Brown Policy

Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) advises U.S. citizens traveling abroad to these designated countries to exercise increased caution and, in some cases, to avoid travel to or to depart immediately from those countries. Countries designated by the DOS as Level 3 or Level 4 are classified by Brown as High Risk destinations. Students traveling to a High Risk location for Brown-related purposes are required to submit a Safety Plan through the TravelSafe registration process for review by GTRAC in order to receive support from Brown for their travel. 
In addition, Brown maintains war risk exclusions for travel to impacted countries including, but not limited to, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. This means that all students, faculty and staff planning Brown-related travel to these countries must complete a Safety Plan, undergo review by GTRAC, obtain approval from their dean or unit head and secure a required war risk rider prior to departure. Refer to the FAQ page of the Travel@Brown website for more information.
Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to submit an optional Safety Plan if they are traveling to a Brown High Risk destination that is not subject to war risk exclusions—including Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. After they have completed the Safety Plan, travelers can email travel@brown.edu for a consultation.
Several countries listed above are already designated as High Risk or subject to war risk exclusions, and additional countries may be designated into one or both of those categories in the immediate future. As stated above, out of an abundance of caution, the University strongly recommends deferring travel to all above-listed countries—regardless of classification—until further notice. 

Resources

All Brown travelers are encouraged to download the International SOS Assistance App to receive real-time advisories and alerts. Travelers should also review safety and security information in the Brown/International SOS Portal for their destination.
U.S. citizens planning international travel are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates from the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Additional alerts are available via the Department of State’s “Security Updates for U.S. Citizens” WhatsApp channel and on various social media platforms at @TravelGov. Current travel advisories can be found on the U.S. Department of State website and also on the Travel Advisories tab in TravelSafe (accessible with a Brown login). 

Questions 

If you have any questions or would like more information about this updated travel guidance, we encourage you to reach out to the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk & Resilience at travel@brown.edu or 401-863-5166.

09/22/2025 Update from President Christina H. Paxson

Per the 09/22/2025 Update from President Christina H. Paxson, Provost Francis J. Doyle III and EVP for Finance and Administration Sarah Latham;

“The campus-wide freezes on hiring, travel and discretionary spending are no longer in effect. Now that individual units have received approval for their expense reductions, the budgets provided to units are considered their official spending authority for FY26. The cost savings the University realized with the temporary freezes now are being achieved by the permanent 2.5% reductions in expenditures across units. That said, some units may choose to maintain their own measures to moderate spending as they prepare for Fiscal Year 2027 planning.”

Please refer to the Update on FY26 Budget Reduction Planning for the full announcement.

09/04/2025 Update from Provost Francis J. Doyle III and EVP Sarah Latham

New Requirements for Faculty and Staff Travel

Effective for travel taking place on or after October 1, all faculty and staff planning essential Brown-related travel to War Risk Exclusion countries will be required to complete a Safety Plan through the travel registration process in TravelSafe at least four weeks prior to the expected travel date. These Safety Plans will undergo review by the Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee (GTRAC) and must be approved by the traveler’s cognizant dean or unit head prior to travel. The current list of War Risk Exclusion countries indicates those Brown High Risk countries that also have limitations and restrictions to benefits per the War Risk Exclusion clause in Brown’s travel abroad insurance policy. The current list, which travelers can also view on the Brown High Risk Travel web page, includes: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, Israel including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen.
Faculty and staff engaged in Brown-related international travel to other Level 4 countries that are not in the War Risk Exclusion category, and to Level 3 countries, continue to be strongly encouraged to also consider completing an optional Safety Plan.
Note that students are already required to submit a Safety Plan to all Brown High Risk countries through the travel registration process in TravelSafe.

Brown’s Travel Abroad Insurance Coverage and War Risk Riders

Brown’s travel abroad accident and sickness insurance coverage in these locations includes “War Risk Exclusions,” meaning that if a traveler is injured, experiences property loss, or incurs other expenses due to a war-related event, those costs are not covered under the standard policy. Evacuation and repatriation benefits are also excluded in these locations, per the War Risk Exclusion. 
The Safety Plan review process will help individuals on Brown-related travel mitigate risk through comprehensive contingency planning and assist with securing a war risk rider to buy back insurance coverage at the traveler’s cost, when possible. 
  • The cost of a war risk rider typically ranges from $1,000 to $10,000.
  • The exact cost is influenced by factors such as the geopolitical climate, destination, travel duration, and the nature of the traveler’s activities.
Important:
  • Since these specialized insurance costs are not centrally funded by Brown, travelers must factor them into their individual travel budget.
  • Brown-related travel to the Brown High Risk countries listed above will not be approved without a war risk rider.
  • Nationals from countries excluded due to war risk are ineligible for war risk riders when traveling to their home country/country of residence. Approval for such travel will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Safety Plan Submission Process

Safety Plans must be completed as part of the traveler’s registration process in TravelSafe at least four weeks prior to the expected travel date.
  • When one of the above-listed Brown High Risk Travel countries is added to a traveler’s itinerary, they will be prompted to complete the Safety Plan questions.
  • Once a traveler has submitted a travel registration and Safety Plan, it will be routed to GTRAC for review. Final approval of the travel will be made by the traveler’s cognizant dean or unit head.
  • Safety Plans must be submitted for review and approval at least four weeks prior to the traveler’s expected departure date, to allow time for review by GTRAC and the traveler’s cognizant dean or unit head and to obtain a war risk rider, as applicable. No travel arrangements should be made until the Safety Plan has been reviewed and approved by the traveler’s cognizant dean or unit head.
Questions or concerns regarding TravelSafe should be directed to travelsafe@brown.edu.

05/20/2025 Update from Provost Francis J. Doyle III and EVP Sarah Latham

Legal Assistance for Brown-Related International Travel

Brown has partnered with immigration law firm Green and Spiegel to provide legal assistance to employees and students who: 

  • are non-US citizens, and
  • have been approved by their department chair or supervisor for essential, Brown-related international travel.

To learn more, visit Legal Resources for Brown-Related International Travel.

05/16/2025 Update from Provost Francis J. Doyle III and EVP Sarah Latham

Extension of Freeze on Non-Essential Travel

As academic and administrative units across Brown continue to slow spending amid a budget deficit, and with continued uncertainty around potential financial impacts of federal government actions, we have extended the current freeze on non-essential travel through Sept. 1, 2025. As we noted in our March 13, 2025, message, “New measures to ensure financial sustainability,” travel is an area with significant unrestricted expenses across campus. The implementation of this temporary measure has been an important factor in reducing expenditures.  

“Essential travel” is that which is required to meet contractual obligations, necessary for core operations or research, or where no remote alternative is possible. Unit heads should approve only travel that is truly essential, and generally should not approve new non-essential travel unless it is already fully paid and non-refundable.

We know that this freeze has generated many questions from graduate students seeking to travel for conferences and research, and this March 25 message from Dean Thomas A. Lewis outlines examples of essential travel for PhD and MFA students. Master’s degree students should also follow the guidance provided in that letter, or email masters_studentaffairs@brown.edu with questions. 

Pre-Registration Required for Reimbursement for Brown-Related International Travel 

Effective June 1, advance registration in Brown’s TravelSafe system will be required in order for Brown funds to be paid or reimbursed for Brown-Related international travel. Registration in TravelSafe has consistently been required for any international travel by all individuals or groups traveling on Brown-related business or for Brown-related programs, in accordance with Brown’s Travel Policy. Going forward, a confirmation from TravelSafe must be attached to all reimbursement or funding requests. Registration for domestic travel is also strongly encouraged.

Brown provides all students and employees registered with TravelSafe with access to International SOS, a global travel assistance program offering medical, security, and logistical support. Travelers are encouraged to download the ISOS app before their trip.

Heads and managers of academic and administrative units may request “Department Manager” access in TravelSafe to stay informed about travel activity within their unit. This access, which is available through OIT’s Accounts and Passwords process, helps support planning, risk mitigation and policy compliance.

Requirements for Travel to High-Risk Destinations for Brown-Related Business or Programs 

As a reminder, all students traveling to destinations designated as “Brown High Risk Travel” must submit a Safety Plan to be reviewed by the Global Travel Risk Assessment Committee (GTRAC). Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to submit a Safety Plan when traveling to high-risk areas to ensure preparedness and access to support.

Brown defines high-risk travel destinations as those considered by the U.S. Department of State as a Travel Advisory Level 3 or Level 4, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Travel Health Notice Level 2 or Level 3, and/or those deemed as posing a significant health, safety or security risk to the traveler through advisories from International SOS.

For More Information

All Brown community members preparing for brown-related travel are welcome to consult privately with the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk & Resilience for pre-departure planning assistance, whether the travel is international or domestic.

For community members traveling internationally for Brown-related business or Brown-related programs, the University maintains a number of additional resources. Additional information is available on the Policies and Procedures page on the Office of Global Travel Operations, Risk & Resilience website, and the Office of Global Engagement’s Status Inquiry FAQs page.