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Pre-Departure Requirements for International Travel

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International Programs
Pre-Departure Requirements for International Travel

Pre-departure requirements, which vary according to the nature and purpose of a specific traveler's itinerary, help keep travelers safe and healthy.

Travelers should first review the tab that is relevant to their Law School role, and then complete the checklist outlined there with as much lead time as possible. Note that different requirements apply to students, faculty, researchers, librarians, fellows, and administrators and support staff.

As a general matter, all travelers (including faculty) must:

First, start as early as possible by completing a brief Attestation form.
- The Student Attestation form is here, and the Faculty/Administrator Attestation form is here.
  The Business Office cannot process funding or reimbursement requests until an Attestation form has been received.
Next, as soon as detailed flight, hotel, and other information is available, register with Crisis24 Horizon as described below.
- Instructions to create a Crisis24 Horizon user account and register your travel are found on this page.
30 Days in Advance: All itineraries ranked by Crisis24 as Extreme-risk (and, for students, administrators, and support staff, those destinations ranked as High-risk), as well as any subject to CU Travel Restrictions, require submission of an Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal at least 30 days prior to the proposed departure date.

Office of International Programs

Please contact us to arrange an appointment to discuss any of the programs we offer. We look forward to working with you.

William and June Warren Hall, Floor 6

+1 212-854-8170

Send an email

Checklist for students planning international travel

The International Travel Planning Policy covers all "Columbia-related" international travel. Generally speaking, this means international travel that is sponsored, funded, and/or facilitated by Columbia University.

Pre-departure requirements are drawn from the University's International Travel Planning Policy, as well as the Law School's own policies. Columbia-related international travel does not include travel that is strictly personal.

Students, administrators, and support staff (and any faculty, researchers, librarians, or fellows who accompany students) who propose travel to locations that are ranked High- or Extreme-risk, and/or subject to CU Travel Restrictions, must seek prior approval from the Dean and the Elevated Travel and Activity Review Committee (ETARC) by submitting the University's Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal at least 30 days prior to departure.

Further information is available via these links:

Review your itinerary's risk rating with regard to each of the following two references.

Crisis24. The University's outside security consultant, Crisis24, assigns a risk rating of "Minimal”, "Low", "Moderate”, "High", or "Extreme" to various global locations. To determine the rating of a particular itinerary, please create a Crisis24 Horizon User Account as described here.

After logging into Crisis24 Horizon, go to "Intelligence" and then "Location Intelligence" to determine the highest risk level associated with your proposed itinerary.

CU Travel Restrictions. The University occasionally issues its own guidance, requirements, and restrictions regarding travel to specific designations. To determine whether your itinerary is subject to any such CU Travel Restrictions, please review the various lists posted here.

The travel risk of an itinerary is the risk aligned with the highest-risk location associated with that itinerary. "Location" could refer to one country within a multi-country itinerary, or a city or region within any one country.

Students proposing High- or Extreme-risk or CU Travel Restriction itineraries must seek review by the Dean and, if applicable, the Elevated Travel and Activity Review Committee (ETARC) 30 days before departure. The form must be submitted after first receiving a response to the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review submission discussed in the checklists below.

Based on your itinerary's risk level as described above in Step 2, complete all applicable pre-departure requirements shown below.

1. For all student travel

Prior to departure, but ideally as early as possible: Submit an online Pre-Departure Attestation / Assumption of Risk, Waiver, and Release. This can be done before your exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
Register trip details in Crisis24 Horizon: See special instructions, below, for those organizing, leading, or participating in group travel.

Travel-related funding requests cannot be considered by the Business Office until receipt of your form has been acknowledged by email as "OK to Fly", which may take up to one week.
- Strongly suggested:
  - Download the Crisis24 Horizon Mobile App. Available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS.

2. For student travel to Minimal- and Low-risk destinations: No further pre-departure requirements.

3. For student travel to Moderate-risk destinations (at least two weeks before travel): Send itinerary for pre-trip review via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. Copies are automatically sent to the University's Global Travel office and Crisis24. The latter will then reply with a comprehensive set of safety and security recommendations specifically tailored to that trip.

4. For student travel to High- and Extreme-risk destinations, or destinations subject to CU Travel Restrictions (at least 30 days before travel):

Submit itinerary for review by Crisis24
Submit an Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal to Columbia University Global Travel, which will forward it for review by the Dean, and if applicable, ETARC.

Note that travelers must submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal after first receiving an itinerary review by Crisis24.

For Group Leaders

(E.g., individual students responsible for Spring Break Pro Bono Caravans, administrators organizing moot court travel, researchers leading human rights clinic site visits, or faculty leading overseas study trips.)

Identify the group you are leading, its individual members, and your role where indicated on the online Attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for Faculty, Researchers, and Administrators can be found here.) This can be done before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
Send the group's itinerary for pre-trip review (if one is required per the checklist above) via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. Individual group members do not need to send this same form for the same itinerary.
Submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal - for Groups of three or more (if one is required per the checklist above) to the University's Global Travel office, which will request the required review by the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC. Each individual group member must, separately, submit the Participant Form.
Ensure that each member of the group complies with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the checklist above.

For Individual Group Participants

(E.g., individual students traveling with a Spring Break Pro Bono Caravan, an international moot court team, an international human rights clinic, or with a class on an overseas study trip.)

Identify the group you are traveling with and its leader, where indicated on the pre-departure attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for faculty, researchers, and administrators can be found here.)
Do submit, separately, the Elevated Travel and Activity Participant Form (if one is required per the checklist above.) The group organizer will submit a group form, and Global Travel will request the required review by the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC.
Do not send an additional copy of the group's itinerary for pre-trip review (if one is required per the checklist above) via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. The group leader is responsible for requesting a pre-trip review on behalf of the group.
Ensure that you comply with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the checklist above.

Checklist for Administrators and Support Staff planning international travel

Further information is available via these links:

Review your itinerary's risk rating with regard to each of the following two references.

Crisis24. The University's outside security consultant, Crisis24, assigns a risk rating of "Minimal”, "Low", "Moderate”, "High", or "Extreme" to various global locations. To determine the rating of a particular itinerary, please create a Crisis24 Horizon User Account as described here.

After logging into Crisis24 Horizon, go to "Intelligence" and then "Location Intelligence" to determine the highest risk level associated with your proposed itinerary.
CU Travel Restrictions. The University occasionally issues its own guidance, requirements, and restrictions regarding travel to specific designations. To determine whether your itinerary is subject to any such CU Travel Restrictions, please review the various lists posted here.

Administrators and support staff proposing High- or Extreme-risk or CU Travel Restriction itineraries must seek review by the Dean and, if applicable, the Elevated Travel and Activity Review Committee (ETARC) 30 days before departure. The form must be submitted after first receiving a response to the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review submission discussed in the checklists below.

Based on your itinerary's risk level as described above in Step 2, complete all applicable pre-departure requirements shown below.

1. For all administrator and support staff travel

Prior to departure, but ideally as early as possible: Submit an online Pre-Departure Attestation / Assumption of Risk, Waiver, and Release. This can be done before your exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
Register trip details in Crisis24 Horizon. See special instructions, below, for those organizing, leading, or participating in group travel.

Travel-related funding requests cannot be considered by the Business Office until receipt of your form has been acknowledged by email as "OK to Fly", which may take up to one week.
- Strongly suggested:
  - Download the Crisis24 Horizon Mobile App. Available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS.

2. For administrator and support staff travel to Minimal- and Low-risk destinations: No further pre-departure requirements.

3. For administrator and support staff travel to Moderate-risk destinations (at least two weeks before travel): Send itinerary for pre-trip review via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. Copies are automatically sent to the University's Global Travel office and Crisis24. The latter will then reply with a comprehensive set of safety and security recommendations specifically tailored to that trip.

4. For administrator and support staff travel to High- and Extreme-risk destinations, or to destinations subject to CU Travel Restrictions (at least 30 days before travel):

Submit itinerary for review by Crisis24
Submit an Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal to Columbia University Global Travel, which will forward it for review by the Dean, and if applicable, ETARC.

Note that travelers must submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal after first receiving an itinerary review by Crisis24.

Identify the group you are leading, its individual members, and your role where indicated on the online Attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for Faculty, Researchers, and Administrators can be found here.) This can be done before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
Send the group's itinerary for pre-trip review (if one is required per the checklist above) via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. Individual group members do not need to send this same form for the same itinerary.
Submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal - for Groups of three or more (if one is required per the checklist above) to the University's Global Travel office, which will request the required review by the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC. Each individual group member must, separately, submit the Participant Form.
Ensure that each member of the group complies with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the checklist above.

For Individual Group Participants

(E.g., individual students traveling with a Spring Break Pro Bono Caravan, an international moot court team, an international human rights clinic, or with a class on an overseas study trip.)

Identify the group you are traveling with and its leader, where indicated on the pre-departure attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for faculty, researchers, and administrators can be found here.)
Do submit, separately, the Elevated Travel and Activity Participant Form (if one is required per the checklist above.) The group organizer will submit a group form, and Global Travel will request the required review by the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC.
Do not send an additional copy of the group's itinerary for pre-trip review (if one is required per the checklist above) via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. The group leader is responsible for requesting a pre-trip review on behalf of the group.
Ensure that you comply with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the checklist above.

Checklist for Faculty (or Assistants on their behalf) and Researchers planning international travel

Further information is available via these links:

Review your itinerary's risk rating with regard to each of the following two references.

Crisis24. The University's outside security consultant, Crisis24, assigns a risk rating of "Minimal”, "Low", "Moderate”, "High", or "Extreme" to various global locations. To determine the rating of a particular itinerary, please create a Crisis24 Horizon User Account as described here.

After logging into Crisis24 Horizon, go to "Intelligence" and then "Location Intelligence" to determine the highest risk level associated with your proposed itinerary.
CU Travel Restrictions. The University occasionally issues its own guidance, requirements, and restrictions regarding travel to specific designations. To determine whether your itinerary is subject to any such CU Travel Restrictions, please review the various lists posted here.

Faculty and researchers (or assistants acting on their behalf) proposing Extreme-risk or CU Travel Restriction itineraries must seek review by the Dean and, if applicable, the Elevated Travel and Activity Review Committee (ETARC) 30 days before departure. The form must be submitted after first receiving a response to the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review submission discussed in the checklists below.

Based on your itinerary's risk level as described above in Step 2, complete all applicable pre-departure requirements shown below.

1. For all faculty and researcher travel

Prior to departure, but ideally as early as possible: Submit an online Pre-Departure Attestation. This can be done before your exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
Register trip details in Crisis24: See special instructions, below, for those organizing, leading, or participating in group travel.

Travel-related funding requests cannot be considered by the Business Office until receipt of your form has been acknowledged by email as "OK to Fly", which may take up to one week.
- Strongly suggested:
  - Download the Crisis24 Horizon Mobile App. Available on the Google Play Store for Android and the Apple App Store for iOS.

2. For faculty and researcher travel to Minimal-, Low-, and Moderate-risk destinations: No further pre-departure requirements (unless accompanying students - see below).

3. For faculty and researcher travel to High-risk destinations: No further pre-departure requirements, but the University strongly recommends sending your itinerary for pre-trip review via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form at least two weeks before travel (unless accompanying students - see below).

Crisis24 will then reply with a comprehensive set of safety and security recommendations specifically tailored to your trip.

4. For faculty and researcher travel to Extreme-risk destinations, or destinations subject to CU Travel Restrictions (at least 30 days before travel):

Submit itinerary for review by Crisis24
Submit an Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal to Columbia University Global Travel, which will forward it for review by the Dean, and if applicable, ETARC.

Note that travelers must submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal after first receiving an itinerary review by Crisis24.

Identify the group you are leading, its individual members, and your role where indicated on the online Attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for Faculty, Researchers, and Administrators can be found here.) This can be done before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
For Minimal- and Low-risk destinations, No further pre-departure requirements other than ensuring that each member of the group complies with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the “Checklist - Students” tab on this website.
For Moderate-, High-, and Extreme-risk destinations, or destinations subject to CU Travel Restrictions, send the group's itinerary for pre-trip review via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. Individual group members do not need to send this same form for the same itinerary.
For High- and Extreme-risk destinations, or destinations subject to CU Travel Restrictions (see the “Checklist - Students” tab on this webpage), submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal - for Groups of three or more to the University's Global Travel office, which will request the required review by the Dean and/or Provost. Each individual group member must, separately, submit the Participant Form.
Ensure that each member of the group complies with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the “Checklist - Students” tab on this website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals planning Columbia-related international travel should review and complete the relevant checklist on the Law School's Pre-Departure Requirements for International Travel website.

These checklists summarize requirements and suggestions derived from the International Travel Planning Policy, Columbia University's Travel Advisories website, and the Law School’s own policies.

Faculty Assistants may submit the Pre-Departure Attestation, and the Crisis24 Itinerary Registration, on behalf of faculty who plan to undertake international Columbia-related travel.

Columbia-related international travel is travel that is, generally speaking, sponsored, funded, and/or facilitated by the University with respect to Law School students, researchers, faculty, administrators, and support staff.

Travel that is strictly personal is not considered Columbia-related travel. If a personal trip includes any Columbia-related travel or activities (i.e., research, conference attendance, collaborations, etc.), however, you must complete the relevant checklist on the Law School's Pre-Departure Requirements for International Travel website.

For a detailed description, see the "What is Columbia Travel" webpage.

International travel is travel to any location outside of the 50 United States (including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories).

All travelers must, prior to departure but ideally as early as possible, submit a brief online Pre-departure Attestation form. The student form can be found here, and the form for faculty, researchers, and administrators can be found here. Attestation forms may be submitted before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been completed.

The Business Office cannot consider travel-related funding requests until receipt of the attestation form has been acknowledged by email as "OK to Fly", which may take up to one week.

Students, administrators, and support staff traveling to Moderate-risk destinations should request the required pre-trip review of their itineraries via the Crisis24 Pre-trip Itinerary Review Form at least two weeks prior to departure.
Students, administrators, and support staff traveling to High- or Extreme-risk destinations, or those subject to Columbia University Travel Restrictions, require written approval from the Dean and Elevated Travel and Activity Review Committee (ETARC). They should first send their itinerary for pre-trip review via the Crisis24 Pre-trip Itinerary Review Form as early as possible.

Then, after receiving a response (which may take up to one week) and at least 30 days prior to departure, they should submit the the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal Form. The University's Global Travel office will then forward that to the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC.
Faculty, researchers, and librarians (not accompanying students) who are traveling to Extreme-risk destinations, or those subject to Columbia University Travel Restrictions, require prior approval by the Dean and ETARC. They should first send their itinerary for pre-trip review via the Crisis24 Pre-trip Itinerary Review Form as early as possible.
Then, after receiving a response (which may take up to one week) and at least 30 days prior to departure, they should submit the the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal Form. The University's Global Travel office will then forward that to the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC.
Faculty, researchers, and librarians accompanying students should follow the pre-departure requirements as outlined in the “Checklist - Students” tab on this webpage.

Yes. All Law School travelers must, prior to departure but ideally as early as possible, submit a brief online Pre-departure Attestation form. The student form can be found here, and the form for faculty, researchers, and administrators can be found here. Attestation forms may be submitted before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been completed.

Faculty, researchers, librarians, administrators, support staff, and students are all subject to other specific requirements as well. Please see the relevant checklist tabs (“Students”, “Administrators”, and “Faculty/Researchers”) found on this webpage.

Identify the group you are leading, its individual members, and your role where indicated on the online Attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for Faculty, Researchers, and Administrators can be found here.) This can be done before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized.
Send the group's itinerary for pre-trip review (if one is required per the checklist above) via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. Individual group members do not need to send this same form for the same itinerary.
Submit the Elevated Travel and Activity Proposal - for Groups of three or more (if one is required per the checklist above) to the University's Global Travel office, which will request the required review by the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC. Each individual group member must, separately, submit the Participant Form.
Ensure that each member of the group complies with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the “Checklist - Students” tab on this webpage.

For Individual Group Participants

(E.g., individual students traveling with a Spring Break Pro Bono Caravan, an international moot court team, an international human rights clinic, or with a class on an overseas study trip.)

Identify the group you are traveling with and its leader, where indicated on the pre-departure attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for faculty, researchers, and administrators can be found here.)
Do submit, separately, the Elevated Travel and Activity Participant Form (if one is required per the checklist above.) The group organizer will submit a group form, and Global Travel will request the required review by the Dean and, if applicable, ETARC.
Do not send an additional copy of the group's itinerary for pre-trip review (if one is required per the checklist above) via the Crisis24 Pre-Trip Itinerary Review form. The group leader is responsible for requesting a pre-trip review on behalf of the group.
Ensure that you comply with all applicable pre-departure requirements per the “Checklist - Students” tab on this webpage.

If you are traveling to your home country for Columbia-related business (study, research, conferences, meetings, etc.), the International Travel Planning Policy, the Countries Subject to CU Travel Advisories and other Law School pre-departure requirements do apply to your travel.

If you are traveling to your home country, strictly for personal/leisure travel, these policies do not apply.

First, submit a brief attestation form. (The student form can be found here, and the form for Faculty, Researchers, and Administrators can be found here.)

Then, when trip details are known, register via Crisis24 Horizon.

No, University requirements do not cover strictly personal travel.

If you are traveling to your home country for research, meetings, or anything related to your work or academics at Columbia Law School, however, you must comply with the International Travel Planning Policy, the Countries Subject to CU Travel Advisories webpage, and Law School policies.

The University's pre-departure requirements are presented on this Global Travel website.

The Law School requires travelers to submit a brief Pre-Departure Attestation form that, among other things, is used by the Business Office to determine when it can fund or reimburse travel expenses. The student form can be found here, and the form for faculty, researchers, and administrators can be found here.

Attestation forms can be submitted before exact travel dates and other arrangements have been finalized. The Business Office cannot, however, consider travel-related funding requests until receipt of your form has been acknowledged by email as "OK to Fly", which may take up to one week.

You will need to contact the Columbia International Students and Scholars Office. You can also contact their office regarding your inbound visa status.

Columbia University does not have an outbound visa office, but please see the following links for information.

* For International Students and Scholars, please see ISSO’s Visas and Travel webpage

* EmbassyPages.com lists the foreign consulates in New York City

* You can dial ‘311’ to find a Consulate (NYC Contact a Consulate)

If you are dealing with an emergency abroad, call the country's 911 equivalent listed here if emergency services are needed.

Refer to the comprehensive guidance on the University's Global Travel website.

The travel risk of an itinerary that includes one destination in a country is considered to be the risk level associated with that specific destination, even if other destinations in that country are associated with higher risk levels.

For example, if you are traveling to Capital City where the risk level is "Moderate", but not traveling to Border Province where the risk level is "High", the risk level for your itinerary is "Moderate".

Pre-Departure Requirements for International Travel

Office of International Programs

Related Links