TRAVELING TO RESTRICTED DESTINATIONS

Restricted Travel

UCF encourages international travel in the pursuit of our global strategy and academic mission while aiming to make those travels as safe as possible.  To this end, UCF constantly monitors global health, safety, and security information.  In accordance with UCF Policy, Florida statutes, and U.S. law, certain destinations have been identified as “restricted”.

Regardless of destination, all faculty, staff, and students are asked to register their university sponsored international travel prior to departure.  This registration entitles the traveler to automatic enrollment in the Accident/Sickness insurance policy, access to travel assistance services, and allows administrators to quickly locate travelers when an emergency occurs.  Travel can be registered here.

On January 10th, the U.S. Department of State implemented a new travel advisory system replacing the “Warning” and “Alert” designations.  The new system assigns a category of 1: Exercise normal precautions, 2: Exercise increased caution, 3: Reconsider travel, 4: Do not travel, to individual countries (and some regions).

While we assess and contrast the new system with the old, UCF will continue to consider travel to destinations previously under “warning” as restricted.  A list of the countries for which you wish to travel to, on UCF business, which require Provost approval, and are subject to the Restricted Travel Policy, is found below.  Note faculty exemptions at the bottom of this page.

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Colombia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Israel The West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of South Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,  Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen.

Travel Designation Restrictions

Countries with U.S. Department of State or CDC Level 3 Warning

The UCF Policy 2-903 should be reviewed as the travel warning has been issued in accordance with it.

  • Exceptions may be granted by the Provost or Provost Designee based on the details of the specific travel.
  • Exceptions allow UCF to consider and provide additional resources to make travel as safe as possible.
  • Applies to all Faculty, staff, and students.
  • To avoid undue burden, some regions within travel warning countries have been identified as “cleared for travel”. Click for full list of destinations.
  • While most exception decisions take less than 10 days, some travel can require up to 90 days for applicable licenses.  Please plan accordingly.
  • Questions or concerns may be directed to the International Health and Safety Coordinator at intlsafety@ucf.edu

 

Process to Seek an Exception

  1. Complete the online Travel Authorization Petition. Refer to this guide for detailed instructions.
  2. This form will be routed to the Dean and Chair of your academic unit, Export Control, UCF Global for review, and the Provost/ Provost Designee for final exception decision.
  3. Progress of your form can be tracked via the online portal through which you submit the request.

Countries under U.S. Sanction or Embargo

Countries classified as a Terrorist State

According to Chapter 1011 (6), Florida Statues:

  • There is no process to approve travel using any university funds to the following countries: Iran, Sudan and Syria.
  • “None of the state or non-state funds made available to state universities may be used to implement, organize, direct, coordinate, or administer, or to support the implementation, organization, direction, coordination, or administration of, activities related to or involving travel to a terrorist state.”

Travel to Cuba

The United States government has reestablished diplomatic relations with Cuba. This action, together with the removal of Cuba from the State Department’s list of countries that sponsor terrorism, means that UCF and other public universities in Florida are no longer prohibited from using university dollars to pay for faculty travel to Cuba in furtherance of the university’s educational activities.

Your travel must still comply with the requirements for general licenses established by the federal government, or if not, a special license must be obtained, in accordance with the amended regulations announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury.

 

View OFAC Application

All existing university policies and procedures applicable to foreign travel will apply to travel to Cuba as well. You may also consult the U.S. State Department’s website for additional travel-related information.

Exemptions to Restricted Travel

The following destinations are exempt from this process for faculty/staff only.  All graduate and undergraduate students must file a Travel Approval Petition for all restricted countries.

  • Bogota, Colombia
  • Cartagena, Colombia
  • Medellin, Colombia
  • Cairo, Egypt
  • Cuba*
  • Bethlehem, Israel
  • Haifa, Israel
  • Jerusalem, Israel
  • Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Baja California, Mexico
  • Baja California Sur, Mexico
  • Campeche, Mexico
  • Cancun, Mexico
  • Chiapas, Mexico
  • Cozumel Mexico
  • Estado De Mexico, Mexico
  • Guanajuato, Mexico
  • Hidalgo, Mexico
  • Puebla, Mexico
  • Queretaro, Mexico
  • Quintana Roo, Mexico
  • Tabasco, Mexico
  • Tlaxcala, Mexico
  • Veracruz, Mexico
  • Yucatan, Mexico
  • Kyiv, Ukraine

*OFAC regulations and sanctions still apply