Travel Resources

Penn Global International Travel Guidance

Penn Global maintains a robust website with regularly updated advice, including COVID-19 related requirements and restrictions for international travel. Please visit the Penn Global site whenever you are planning travel as information is subject to change.

It should be noted that on May 18, 2021 Penn ended the COVID-19 suspension on all domestic and international Penn-affiliated travel and moved to restricted status. As the situation can change at any time, you are urged to always double-check COVID-19 Related Travel Guidelines and Procedures.

Important Visa Note: CIBT is Penn’s preferred vendor for visa services. In order to receive the discounted rate and connect to Penn’s dedicated service team, participants must use the Penn CIBT Portal.

CIBT COVID 19 Information

We recommend using the CIA World Factbook to get acquainted with where you’ll be traveling, and to check out relevant risks using Penn’s international travel safety guidance and the CDC’s info on traveler’s health.

MyTrips International Travel Registry (required!) and International SOS

If you are leaving the country for Penn-related work or study, you must register with the University’s MyTrips International Travel Registry. Once registered with MyTrips, you’ll have no-fee emergency health and security insurance via International SOS (ISOS). The ISOS matrix on travel restrictions, medical screenings, and flight operations by country is available here.

ISOS COVID 19 Information

Penn’s MyTrips and associated travel insurance is provided to Penn faculty and staff while on Penn-affiliated travel. International Risk Management at Penn asks that you refrain from entering personal/leisure travel in MyTrips unless it is directly tied to a Penn-affiliated trip. However, we still recommend that you register with International SOS and/or STEP to receive ongoing travel alerts during leisure trips.

International SOS Access (using Penn Portal to subscribe to free alerts – no travel insurance included)

• Visit the Penn-ISOS Portal to receive free travel advisories and updates
• Click on “email alerts” on the left
• Enter your name and email address where you would like the advisories sent
• Select the country and type of alert in the drop down boxes

STEP: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (U.S. Department of State)

• Visit the STEP Website to receive travel alerts, warnings, and evacuation notices
• Click on “Travelers”
• Follow prompts to report your upcoming travel destination and travel dates

*Non-US Citizens may still subscribe to STEP and receive alerts but will not report dates of travel. Non-US citizens must unsubscribe following the steps above to discontinue receiving alerts.

Penn Global offers a number of funding opportunities for faculty including Penn’s Global Engagement Fund (GEF) — awarded through an annual Call for Proposals (typically in early February and due in mid to late March). Through the GEF Investigator-Initiated Program, applicants are invited to submit letters of inquiry off-cycle to propose innovative ideas that comply with the funding priorities of the Global Engagement Fund. Additionally, Penn Global offers specific funds for research and engagement in China and India.

Search the USAID database for international research and work funding sources.

The NIH Fogarty International Center also has funds available to help those conducting global health research.