International Travel Orientations

  Get a passport: check that your passport will be valid for 6 months after you return

  Determine if you will need a visa: try the Yale Travel Services and CIBT websites

  Schedule a consultation with the Yale Travel Health clinic or your physician 

• Get necessary immunizations

  Plan your work and travel with Yale guidelines in mind:

• Guidelines for traveling on university business and other travel policies and procedures
• Information on conducting research abroad
• Data privacy and protection
• Obtain permits and licenses to conduct field work, deal with antiquities, collect samples, etc.
• Understand import and export restrictions (FYI: If you are traveling abroad, you are engaging in import/export activity)
  • Exporting electronic devices (e.g., cell phones and laptops)
  • Exporting research materials (e.g., chemicals, scientific specimens, research equipment)
• Purchasing Card and Expense Management System requirements
• Obtaining cash for Yale activities abroad
• Managing other financial needs
• Consult the University Tax Office for potential international tax implications
• Guidance on interacting with foreign government officials and following anti-bribery regulations
• Country-specific restrictions (e.g., sanctions and anti-boycotting laws)

  Read the State Department’s Country Specific Information for your destination(s)

• Other resources:  FrontierMEDEX World Watch reports; ASIRT road reports (both require a NetID)

  Register your travel

• Yale (requires a NetID)
• U.S. State Department or your embassy

  Obtain a supply of your medications to last the duration of your trip

• Consult the embassy (or ask your travel health physician) if your medications are legal in your destination (many medications common in the U.S. are illegal in other countries)
• Take a copy of the prescription; keep the medications in their original containers; transport in carry-on

  Consider personal property insurance if taking expensive electronics or other personal belongings

  Make sure you understand how your health insurance coverage works abroad (see 9 Pre-departure Tips, tip 4 for more info) and purchase additional coverage if necessary (HTH Worldwide and FrontierMEDEX are options)

• Take your health insurance card with you:  you may have trouble receiving treatment without it
• Obtain a Yale Health insurance card

  Look into cell phones and other ways to communication from abroad

• Yale Bulldog phone card
• Purchase an inexpensive cell phone and local SIM card when you arrive
• See 9 Planning Tips, tip 6 for more info

  Read helpful safety tips and understand how to prepare yourself for emergencies

  Practice being aware of your surroundings (aka ‘situational awareness’)

  Fill out and print your FrontierMEDEX card; learn how FrontierMEDEX works (it’s NOT insurance)

• Leave a copy of the card with a friend or family, or scan & email it to yourself and others

  Clean out your wallet; take only necessary cards and ID

  Make photocopies of important documents

• Take a copy of each, leave a copy at home, or scan & email to yourself and others

  Passport identification page and visa

  Driver’s license

  Insurance cards

  Credit cards (front and back)

  Flight and other travel itineraries

  Immunizations and prescriptions; other important medical history (e.g., surgeries, severe allergies)

  Notify your bank and credit card companies where and when you’ll be traveling; check with your credit card to make sure your card will work in your destination

  Exchange enough cash to last the first few days in your destination or plan to withdraw cash at an airport ATM or currency exchange kiosk

  Download the Yale VPN client to access online resources

  Make sure your laptop, smartphone, etc. are secure

• Create secure wireless connections
• Remove unnecessary confidential data
• Obtain a reliable physical lock for your laptop (airports are a prime location for laptop theft)