For members of the campus community, a trip to a foreign country presents unique data security challenges. The nature of international travel requires you to use your device (laptop, tablet or smartphone) in various unfamiliar places that may expose your data and device to malicious people and software. Explore the Information Security Office and Export Control pages for tips on how to protect your devices and data while abroad.
Employees, faculty, and students traveling more than 100 miles from their home campus on official University business or for activities sponsored and supervised by the University are covered 24 hours a day, worldwide, for a variety of perils.
It is the responsibility of the traveler and approving department to ensure the financial and health/safety risks associated with international travel are assessed before authorizing travel.
More information about the UC Travel Insurance Program can be found on the UCOP Travel Risk and Insurance page.
Travel registration is an important risk management tool for university-related travel. If an emergency occurs in your travel destination, this is how your campus Risk Management office will know you are there. Travel registration also enrolls you to receive travel alerts from UC’s security provider, Crisis24. Trip registration is required for all university-related foreign travel, regardless of State Department Travel Advisory Level or travel purpose. Travel booked via Connexxus is automatically registered, or register manually via UCAway.
Use the Crisis 24 Horizon travel intelligence portal to research any location and obtain global travel trips.
Travelers are also urged to enroll in the State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and to make it easier for the US government to locate you in an emergency.
Please refer to the UC Berkeley Travel Protocol for more information.
Confirm that your Emergency Contact Information is correct in UCPath
Share with your family/guardians/friends:
Your arrival instructions and travel itinerary so they can track your flight and know if it is delayed or canceled. Communicate flight changes and confirm your arrival.
Develop a communication plan with your close contacts:
How frequently should they expect to hear from you?
When and how is the best way and time to connect (Zoom, Whatsapp, FaceTime, text, email)?
After arrival, let them know how they can reach a local contact in case they need to reach you urgently.
Field research safety is a top priority at Berkeley. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety and the University of California both offer field research safety resources. EHS also provides resources to help researchers meet the National Science Foundation's safety and inclusivity requirements for off-campus and off-site research.
Review your travel ininerary against the US State Department Travel Advisory website. If your travel will take you into a ‘do not travel’ or “reconsider travel” area and you have not already done so, please contact Berkeley Risk Services (see below) to receive a special travel briefing.
Follow the U.S. State Department guidelines to prepare for unexpected events abroad:
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important safety and security messages and make it easier for the US Government to locate and assist you in an emergency.
Keep the contact details for the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate with you.
See the Traveler’s Checklist for more information.
