Per the university’s international travel policy, Travel Suspension Conditions will be implemented for higher-risk areas.

A Travel Suspension Condition shall be declared for any country or region for which serious health and/or significant security concerns exist in the country or region. The International Travel Oversight Committee consults multiple sources to assess risk and determine areas to be placed under a Travel Suspension Condition.

In addition to monitoring security risks, the International Travel Oversight Committee’s Executive Body works with the School of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Disease when warranted to maintain a current list based on infectious disease conditions, like COVID-19, and their impacts. Conditions continue to change. As you are considering travel, please visit the CDC’s Travel Health Notices page to review active health alerts.

Faculty, staff, and graduate/professional students who wish to pursue travel to a country or region under a Travel Suspension Condition may submit a Petition for Exception.

Failure to complete a Petition for Exception and receive approval may jeopardize your emergency travel assistance, insurance coverage, and the university’s ability to support you in case of an emergency while abroad. This means that if you do not submit the Petition for Exception and receive approval to travel from ITOC, you may not be eligible to receive emergency services such as evacuations, medical evacuations, repatriation, or shelter-in-place support.

It is the traveler’s responsibility to understand how this list impacts their itinerary.

Locations under a Travel Suspension Condition

  • Afghanistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Burundi
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Ethiopia (only some regions)
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel, West Bank and Gaza
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Niger
  • Nigeria (only some regions)
  • North Korea
  • Pakistan
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Republic of South Sudan
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Ukraine
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

Specific Regions (within countries) under a Travel Suspension Condition

Below is a list of countries that have specific regions that are under a Travel Suspension Condition. Please visit the linked Travel Advisories; the regions under a Travel Suspension Condition are those designated as “Do Not Travel” within the text of the Travel Advisory. If you will be staying in, visiting, or working in any of the regions designated in these Travel Advisories, you must submit a Petition for Exception. If you are visiting the country, but not the specific region, you do not need to submit a Petition.

This list was posted as of October 31, 2024. The next update is scheduled for November 30, 2024.

Petition materials

This petition is intended for faculty, staff, and graduate/professional students who wish to pursue travel in a location currently under a Travel Suspension Condition. ITOC will review the petition, assess local conditions, and send a recommendation to the appropriate dean’s office for decision. It is recommended you submit your petition 6-8 weeks prior to your anticipated departure to ensure adequate time for the committee and dean’s office to review.

Download Petition for Exception Packet

 Submit your completed Petition for Exception to itoc@wustl.edu.

Please contact itoc@wustl.edu with any questions.