International Travel
Higher-Risk Destinations
In an abundance of caution, effective March 6, the University of Denver is modifying its travel policy until further notice. We will re-evaluate our policy when new information becomes available. All non-essential international travel for University-related programs and activities is prohibited. All faculty and staff must receive approval for any perceived essential international travel. Contact risk@du.edu with questions.
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) of 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:
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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. |
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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 |
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Afghanistan |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |
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Algeria |
Extreme - Areas near the eastern and southern borders; Sahara Desert; High - Rest of the country |
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Angola |
High Region - North-east of Cabinda exclave |
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Armenia |
Extreme Region - Border with Azerbaijan |
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Azerbaijan |
High Regions - Armenian border areas and Nagorno-Karabakh |
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Bangladesh |
High Regions - Chittagong Hill Tracts; Dhaka |
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Benin |
High Regions - Border with Burkina Faso and Niger |
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Brazil |
Extreme Regions - informal housing developments; Brasilia's administrative regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastian, and Paranoa; areas within 150km of borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay |
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Burkina Faso |
Extreme Regions - Regions of the Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Sahel, and Sud-Ouest; High - Rest of the country |
Extreme |
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Burundi |
High – Entire country |
Extreme |
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Cameroon |
Extreme Regions - North, Far North, Northwest and Southwest Regions, and Parts of East and Adamawa Regions; High Regions - Bakassi peninsula and border with Central African Republic |
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Central African Republic |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |
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Chad |
High - Entire country |
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China |
Extreme - Entire country |
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Colombia |
Extreme Regions - Arauca, Cauca, Choco, Narino, and Norte de Santander Departments; High Regions - Departments of Antioquia north of Medellin, Caqueta, Casanere, Cesar outside of Valledupar, Cordoba outside of Monteria, Guainia, Guaviare, Meta, Putumayo, Valle del Cauca outside of Cali and Palmira area, Vaupes, and Vichada |
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Congo |
High Regions - Pool region; areas within 20 miles (32km) of the border with Central African Republic (CAR) in Likouala and Sangha departments |
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Cote d'Ivoire |
High Regions - All areas of the northern border region of the Burkina Faso within 25 miles (40km); and Mali borders within 25 miles (40km) including Denguele, Savanes, Zanzan districts and the northern half of Zanzan district comprising Comoe National Park and the east of Savanes district; Liberian border in the Montagnes and Bas-Sassandra districts |
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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 |
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Dijbouti |
High Regions - Borders with Eritrea and Somalia |
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Ecuador |
Extreme Regions - Carchi, Sucumbíos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, including Esmeraldas city |
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Egypt |
Extreme - Sinai Peninsula, Western Desert, and Egyptian border areas |
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El Salvador |
High - Entire country |
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Eritrea |
High Regions - Ethiopian, Sudanese, Djiboutian borders |
Extreme |
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Ethiopia |
Extreme Regions – Border area with Somalia and border areas with Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Eritrea; High Regions – Somali Regional State; Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR); the East Hararge region and the Guji zone of Oromia State; Benishangul Gumuz and the western part of Oromia State |
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Georgia |
Extreme Regions - Abkhazia, South Ossetia |
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Guatemala |
High Regions - Chiquimula, Escuintla, Guatemala, Izabal, Petén, Quetzaltenango, and Zacapa departments |
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Guinea |
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Extreme |
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Guinea-Bissau |
High - Entire country |
Extreme |
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Haiti |
High - Entire country |
Extreme |
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Honduras |
Extreme Region - Gracias a Dios Department; High - entire country |
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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 |
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Indonesia |
High Regions - Central Sulawesi, Papua, West Papua |
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Iran |
*The University does not allow travel to Iran for any University travelers due to government sanctions.* |
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Iraq |
Extreme – entire country; High Region - Kurdistan |
Extreme |
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Israel, West Bank, & Gaza |
Extreme Region - Gaza; High Region - West Bank |
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Italy |
Extreme - Entire country |
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Jamaica |
High Regions - West Kingston, Spanish Town, and Montego Bay |
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Jordan |
Extreme Region - Border with Syria and Iraq |
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Kenya |
Extreme Regions - Kenya-Somalia Border Counties (Mandera, Wajir, Garissa); Coastal Areas (Tana River County, Lamu County, Areas of Kilifi County north of Malindi); Turkana County; High Regions - Nairobi; Counties of West Pokot, Samburu, Marasabit, and Isiolo |
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Kosovo |
High Regions - North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zvecan |
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Kuwait |
Extreme Regions - Border with Iraq, City of Al Jahra, and Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh area in Kuwait City |
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Kyrgyzstan |
High Regions - Batken province, the international border regions of Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces |
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Laos |
High Region - Xaisomboun Province |
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Lebanon |
Extreme Regions - Border areas with Syria and Israel, refugee resettlements; High - Rest of the country |
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Liberia |
Extreme | |
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Libya |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |
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Madagascar |
High Regions - Anosy (except its capital Fort Dauphin (Tôlanaro)) and Atsimo-Atsinanana regions (south-east) |
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Mali |
Extreme – Entire country |
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Mauritania |
Extreme Regions - all no movement zones in close proximity to Mali |
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Mexico |
Extreme Regions - States of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas; High Regions - States of Baja California, Chihuahua, Estado de Mexico, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, Sonora, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Zacatecas |
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Mongolia |
High - Entire Country |
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Mozambique |
High Region - Cabo Delgado Province |
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Myanmar |
Extreme Regions - Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk- U, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine State; Paletwa township in Chin State; Hpakan, Momauk, Sumprabum, Tanai, and Waingmaw townships in Kachin State; Hpapun township in Kayin State; Hseni, Hsipaw, Konkyan, Kutkai, Kyaukme, Laukkaing, Matman, Mongmao, Muse, Namphan, Namtu, Pangsang; Pangwaun townships in Shan State High Regions - Ann, and Myebon townships in Rakhine State; Matupi township in Chin State; Bhamo, Mansi, and Mogaung townships in Kachin State; Hopang, Mongkaung, Namhsan, Nanhkan townships in Shan State |
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Nepal |
High Region - South |
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Nicaragua |
High - Entire country |
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Niger |
Extreme Regions: Areas within 30 miles (48km) of the border with Mali; areas within 18 miles (30km) of the border with Borno state (Nigeria) and Lac region (Chad); High - Rest of the country |
Extreme |
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Nigeria |
Extreme Region - Borno and Yobe States and northern Adamawa State; High - Rest of the country |
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North Korea |
*Travel Ban in Effect* Extreme – entire country |
Extreme |
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Oman |
Extreme Region - Border areas near Saudi Arabia and Yemen |
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Pakistan |
Extreme Regions - Baluchistan Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and the Azad Kashmir area; High - Rest of the country |
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Panama |
Extreme Regions - Darien, Mosquito Coast |
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Papua New Guinea |
High - Entire country |
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Peru |
Extreme Regions - Ene, Apurimac, and Mantaro River Valley (VRAEM) and border near Colombia in the Loreto Region |
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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 |
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Russia |
Extreme Regions - The North Caucasus republics including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, and Crimea |
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Rwanda |
High Regions - Border areas with Burundi and Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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Saudi Arabia |
Extreme Region - Yemen border areas; High Region - Iraq border areas |
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Sierra Leone |
Extreme | |
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Somalia |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |
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South Africa |
High Regions - Deprived urban areas |
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South Korea |
Extreme - Entire country |
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South Sudan |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |
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Sudan |
High – Entire country |
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Syria |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |
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Tajikistan |
High Regions - Afghan border; districts of Garm, Tavildara (both Rasht Valley in the region of Republican Subordination); Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast |
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Thailand |
High Regions - Areas of southern insurgency, especially Narathiwat, Yala, Songjkhla, and Pattani |
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Togo |
High Regions - Northern areas within 18 miles (30km) of the Burkina Faso border |
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Trinidad & Tobago |
High Regions - Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain |
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Tunisia |
Extreme Regions - Border areas with Libya, Western mountainous areas; Jendouba south of Ain Drahem, Kasserine, Sidi Bou Zid, desert south of Remada |
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Turkey |
Extreme Region - Border areas with Syria and Iraq borders; High Regions - Hakkari, Sirnak, and Diyarbakir provinces |
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Turkmenistan |
High Region - Border areas with Afghanistan |
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Uganda |
High Regions - Border areas with Congo (DRC), South Sudan |
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Ukraine |
Extreme Regions - Crimea and eastern border regions (Donetsk and Luhansk); High - Rest of the country |
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Uzbekistan |
High Regions - Afghan, Kyrgyz borders, Fergana Valley |
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Venezuela |
Extreme – Entire country |
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Yemen |
Extreme – Entire country |
Extreme |