International Travel

Higher-Risk Destinations

All DU undergraduate students interested in traveling to countries or regions with 'high' security ratings and all DU graduate students and faculty/staff interested in traveling to countries or regions with 'extreme' security ratings on the Higher-Risk Destination list must request travel authorization from the International Travel Committee (ITC). The ITC assesses safety and security by reviewing U.S. Department of State, International SOS, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other government's foreign affairs information, as well as a host of other sources.

To request authorization, one must complete the appropriate DU Passport registration at least a month before the intended departure date. The International Travel Risk Analyst will then contact the traveler and facilitate the ITC's review. If approved, the traveler will receive a travel authorization email. If not approved, the traveler would not receive any funding, academic credit, or University support for the travels.

Note: undergraduate travel and travel by groups of students to areas subject to an "extreme" security rating or other regions designated as extremely unsafe for travel by the ITC is not permitted. While the University does not approve of graduate student, faculty, and staff travel to these areas, travel request reviews will be on a case by case basis. Travel may be authorized based on the necessity of travel, level of in-country support, specific location, measures taken to mitigate risks, and other factors.

Considerations for Risk Ratings

A 'border area' is considered to be within 22km (about 14 miles) or the border with the neighboring country
If transiting through a high or extreme destination, you can do so without requesting travel authorization unless you are staying more than 24 hours in the airport or are planning to leave the airport for any amount of time.
Below are definitions of risk ratings:

High Security Risk

Countries or areas with a HIGH security risk have regular periods of political instability and associated problems of poor governance, including high levels of corruption and failed or failing institutions. Protests are frequently violent and may target or disrupt foreigners. There may be a high level of incidental risk to travelers and expatriates from terrorism, militancy or insurgency. Communal, sectarian or racial violence is common and foreigners may be directly targeted. Violent crime rates are typically high and scams targeting foreigners are common and often have police complicity. Infrastructure and internal security and emergency services are poor and there may be regular abuses of due legal process.

Extreme Security Risk

Countries or areas rated with an EXTREME security risk may be in a state of war, failed states or states in which the government has lost control of significant portions of the country. Government control and law and order may be minimal or non-existent. There is a serious threat of violent targeted attacks against travelers and expatriates by terrorists, insurgents, sectarian, criminal or other extremist groups. Government and transport services are typically severely degraded or non-existent.

Extreme Medical Risk

Countries with an EXTREME medical risk rating have almost non-existent or severely overtaxed healthcare systems. This may be due to economic conditions, war and/or lack of governmental stability. Low-quality emergency services and dental care may not be accessible. Quality prescription drugs may not be available. Serious infectious disease such as typhoid, cholera, dengue fever, and malaria may pose a threat. Travelers with moderate or severe illnesses/injuries are likely to require an international evacuation. *Petitions for 'extreme' medical risk are not required; however, travelers must address risk mitigation efforts in their registration.

Security Risk Ratings:

Country	High & Extreme Security Risk Ratings	Extreme Medical Ratings
Afghanistan	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme
Algeria	Extreme - Areas near the eastern and southern borders; Sahara Desert; High - Rest of the country
Angola	High Region - North-east of Cabinda exclave
Armenia	Extreme Region - Border with Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan	High Regions - Armenian border areas and Nagorno-Karabakh
Bangladesh	High Regions: - Chittagong Hill Tracts; Dhaka
Brazil	High Regions - Favelas: Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastian, and Paranoa; areas within 150km of borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay; Recife's Pina Beach
Burkina Faso	Extreme Regions - Oudalan, Soum and Loroum provinces; High - Rest of the country	Extreme
Burundi	High – Entire country	Extreme
Cameroon	Extreme Regions - Extreme north; Bakassi peninsula; Border with Central African Republic
Central African Republic	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme
Chad	High - Entire country
Colombia	Extreme Regions - Arauca, Cauca, Choco, and Norte de Santander Departments; High Regions - Cali and areas affected by guerrilla activity, including border areas Ecuador
Congo	High Region - Pool region
Cote d'Ivoire	High Regions - West (Moyen-Cavally, Dix-Huit Montagnes, north-west of Bas-Sassandra) and north (Bafing, Worodougou, Vallée du Bandama, Zanzan, Savanes, Denguélé)
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Extreme Regions - North Kivu, South Kivu, Tanganyika, and Maniema provinces; Ituri province; Mitwaba, Pweto, Malemba-Nkulu, and Kalemie areas; Kasai, Kasai-Central, and Kasai-Oriental provinces; High - Rest of the country
Dijbouti	High Regions - Borders with Eritrea and Somalia
Ecuador	Extreme Regions - Colombian border areas
Egypt	Extreme - Sinai Peninsula, Western Desert, and Egyptian border areas; High - Rest of the country
El Salvador	High - Entire country
Eritrea	High Regions - Ethiopian, Sudanese, Djiboutian borders	Extreme
Ethiopia	Extreme Regions - Somali Regional State and areas bordering Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan; High - East Hararge region of Oromia, Danakil Depression region
Georgia	Extreme Regions - Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Guatemala	High Regions - Chiquimula, Escuintla, Guatemala, Izabal, Petén, Quetzaltenango, and Zacapa departments
Guinea	High - Entire country	Extreme
Guinea-Bissau	High - Entire country	Extreme
Haiti	High - Entire country	Extreme
Honduras	Extreme Region - Gracias a Dios Department; High - entire country
India	Extreme Regions - Jammu, Kashmir, and border areas near Pakistan; High Regions - Asom (Assam), Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, non-coastal districts of Odisha (Orissa), and eastern areas of Maharashtra
Indonesia	High Regions - Central Sulawesi, Papua, West Papua
Iran	The University does not allow travel to Iran for any University travelers due to government sanctions.
Iraq	Extreme – entire country; High Region - Kurdistan	Extreme
Israel, West Bank, & Gaza	Extreme Region - Gaza; High Region - West Bank
Jamaica	High Regions - West Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay
Jordan	Extreme Region - Border with Syria and Iraq
Kenya	Extreme Regions - Border with Somalia, Counties of Tana River County, Lamu, and Kilifi north of Malinda; High Regions - Counties of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa (Garissa town and areas to its east); Eastleigh Neighborhood of Nairobi; Old Town Mombasa; Counties of West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Marasabit, and Isiolo (north of Isiolo town)
Kosovo	High Regions - North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan
Kuwait	Extreme Regions - Border with Iraq, City of Al Jahra, and Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh area in Kuwait City
Kyrgyzstan	High Regions - Batken province, the international border regions of Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces
Laos	High Region - Xaisomboun Province
Lebanon	Extreme Regions - Border areas with Syria and Israel, refugee resettlements; High - Rest of the country
Liberia		Extreme
Libya	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme
Madagascar	High Regions - Anosy (except its capital Fort Dauphin (Tôlanaro)) and Atsimo-Atsinanana regions (south-east)
Mali	Extreme Regions - Gao, Mopti, Timbuktu and Kidal regions; High Regions - Border with Mauritania, Segou region
Mauritania	High - Entire country
Mexico	Extreme Regions - States of Guerrero, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas; High Regions - States of Baja California, Chihuahua, Colima, Estado de Mexico, Jalisco, Morelos, Michoacán, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Zacatecas
Mozambique	High Region - Cabo Delgado Province
Myanmar	Extreme Regions - Maungdaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, and Buthidaung townships in Rakhine State; Paletwa township in Chin State, Hpakan, Mansi, Momauk, Sumprabum, Tanai, and Waingmaw townships in Kachin State, Hpapun township in Kayin State, Konkyan, Kutkai, Kyaukme, Laukkaing, Matman, Mongmao, Muse, Namphan, Pangsang, and Pangwaun townships in Shan State High Regions - Bhamo and Mogaung townships in Kachin State, Minbya, Mrauk-U, and Kyauktaw townships in Rakhine State, Hopang, Hsipaw, Mongkaung, Namhsan, Namtu, and Nanhkan townships in Shan State, Shadaw township in Kayah State
Nepal	High Region - South
Nicaragua	High - Entire country
Niger	High - Entire country	Extreme
Nigeria	Extreme Region - Borno State; High - Rest of the country
North Korea	Travel Ban in Effect Extreme – entire country	Extreme
Oman	Extreme Region - Border areas near Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Pakistan	Extreme Regions - Baluchistan Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA); High - Rest of the country
Panama	Extreme Regions - Darien, Mosquito Coast
Papua New Guinea	High - Entire country
Peru	Extreme Regions - Ene, Apurimac, and Mantaro River Valley (VRAEM) and border near Colombia in the Loreto Region
Philippines	Extreme Regions - Areas of insurgency, especially Malawi City in Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago; High Regions - other areas in Mindanao and Central Visayas, including both Cebu and Bohol provinces
Russia	Extreme Regions - The North Caucasus republics of Dagestan, Inigushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechnya, Mount Elbrus, and Crimea.
Rwanda	High Regions - Border areas with Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Saudi Arabia	Extreme Region - Yemen border areas; High Region - Iraq border areas
Sierra Leone		Extreme
Somalia	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme
South Africa	High Regions - Deprived urban areas
South Sudan	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme
Sri Lanka	High Regions - Northern province outside Jaffa and Eastern province
Sudan	Extreme Regions - Darfur region, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and Kassala states; High Regions - Rest of the country
Syria	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme
Tajikistan	High Regions - Afghan border; districts of Garm, Tavildara (both Rasht Valley in the region of Republican Subordination); Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast
Thailand	High Regions - Areas of southern insurgency, especially Narathiwat, Yala, Songjkhla, and Pattani
Trinidad & Tobago	High Regions - Laventille, Beetham
Tunisia	Extreme Regions - Border areas with Libya, Western mountainous areas; Jendouba south of Ain Drahem, Kasserine, Sidi Bou Zid, desert south of Remada
Turkey	Extreme Region - Border areas with Syria including the southeastern provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Sirnak, Diyarbakir, Van, Siirt, Mus, Mardin, Batman, Bingol, Tunceli, Hakkari, and Bitlis; High - Rest of the country
Turkmenistan	High Region - Border areas with Afghanistan
Uganda	High Regions - Border areas with Congo (DRC), South Sudan
Ukraine	Extreme Regions - Crimea and eastern border regions (Donetsk and Luhansk); High - Rest of the country
Uzbekistan	High Regions - Afghan, Kyrgyz borders, Fergana Valley
Venezuela	Extreme Regions - Caracas and border near Colombia; High - Entire country
Yemen	Extreme – Entire country	Extreme

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