As you prepare for the winter break and before you leave campus, whether to see family and friends or engage in university-sponsored travel, please install the International SOS travel app on your smartphone and review the following information.
Travel planning resources International SOS travel assistance All members of the Yale community are automatically enrolled in International SOS (ISOS), which provides pre-travel consultations and 24/7/365 domestic and international emergency medical, security and travel assistance for Yale travelers and accompanying family while more than 100 miles from home.
Download, print and carry the ISOS membership card while you travel so you have their emergency contact information if you ever need it and install the ISOS app on your phone.
Contact ISOS (call collect +1-215-942-8478 or contact them via the ISOS app) if you need medical assistance or advice while traveling, or for many other travel assistance needs.
Visit the International SOS member portal: access enhanced country guides using the “Search Destinations” window, sign up for email alerts to stay informed while traveling, and try out the Travel Advisor online medical and security briefing tool for a customized travel prep experience.
Use Yale’s Travel Self-Assessment tool: it will guide you through a series of questions and create an action plan to help you prepare for travel and inform yourself about your destination. Register your travel Whether you travel internationally for research, conferences, internships, or personal reasons, to destinations familiar or exotic, register your travel so that in the event of a major emergency the university will be able to contact you. This information has been critical to our efforts to locate and help Yale travelers following natural disasters or incidents of violence.
Travel booked through Yale’s World Travel or WorldTek accounts is automatically fed into the travel registry. Other ways to register travel include emailing your travel booking confirmation (with itinerary details) to YaleTravel@itinerary.internationalsos.com or registering travel via the ISOS app.
Medical Insurance Check with your medical insurance provider before you travel to verify coverage of routine medical needs and coverage limitations while you are away from campus. If you are a member of Yale Health or a student enrolled in Yale Health Basic and Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage, your Yale Health insurance coverage is good worldwide in the event of a health emergency. Aetna members also enjoy medical insurance coverage while overseas.
Note that some travel medical insurance is provided with International SOS travel assistance when traveling on University business. For details on coverage, see 'Out-of-country medical care coverage' at https://ogc.yale.edu/erm/ISOS.
In the event of an emergency In a medical emergency, always seek treatment first. In other emergency situations, get to a safe place, heed any local government warnings, and avoid trouble areas.
Alert International SOS (call collect +1-215-942-8478 or contact them via the ISOS app). They will notify Yale and activate the university’s emergency response.
Wherever you are, the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response & Education Center (https://sharecenter.yale.edu/) is available to assist Yale travelers in an emergency. Call SHARE at 203-432-2000 for telephone support in the event of a sexual harassment or assault crisis. Download SHARE’s travelers’ guide.
For international students and scholars International students and scholars on non-immigrant visas should consult the OISS winter travel advice web page before departing and check with OISS if concerned about travel plans or returning to the U.S. F-1 and J-1 visa holders should check the signature line of their I-20 or DS-2019 forms. Advice on handling immigration emergencies can be found on the OISS Emergency page.
U.S. sanctions and embargoes U.S. economic sanctions and country embargoes may require U.S. government approval before travel to an embargoed country or may restrict activities in that country. If you violate these rules, you may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.
Those traveling to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, or the Crimea, Luhansk, or Donetsk regions of Ukraine must first contact Mark Stomski, Director of Export Controls, at (203) 785-3817 or mark.stomski@yale.edu.
Wars and conflicts There are also numerous restrictions and warnings related to wars and conflicts. Consult State Department advisories for the latest information.
Electronics Traveling with electronic devices entails risks to the devices, your passwords, and your data. Leave electronic devices you do not really need at home and protect those you bring. For more information, visit: https://cybersecurity.yale.edu/travelsecurely.
New Requirements for Entry into Europe and the UK The UK and EU are introducing online travel authorizations that will apply to visitors who have previously not needed a visa for short stays. Travelers to the UK will be required to apply online for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departing for the UK. For certain countries, the ETA requirement is already effective and for many others it will start January 8, 2025. Please visit the following website for information and for a link to the online application: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta.
