Penn Travel Guidance Update (Fall 2022)

By: Global Support Services & International Risk Management

As a reminder, disruptions due to COVID-19 continue to impact international travel.  If you plan to travel internationally, please be prepared in the event you test positive for COVID-19 immediately before or during your trip.  Travelers that test positive for COVID-19 while abroad must isolate and avoid travel for 10 days from the date symptoms started or the date of the positive test if no symptoms are present.  Click here for CDC international travel guidelines during the pandemic. 

Below are tips to prepare for international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• Do not travel if you are sick.   Postpone travel until you confirm a negative COVID-19 test result or have completed isolation and symptoms have improved.  If you test positive abroad, you will need to isolate and your travel companions may need to quarantine.
   
• The U.S. no longer requires air passengers returning to the U.S. from a foreign country to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery before boarding their flight.  That said, the CDC states “do not travel until a full 10 days after your symptoms started or the date the positive test was taken if you had no symptoms.”
   
• Familiarize yourself with rules about isolation specific to your destination, including length of isolation and testing requirements.  Some countries will allow you to self-isolate in your private accommodation or hotel room, while other countries have designated quarantine hotels or government-run quarantine facilities.  You should be prepared to pay the cost of additional accommodation, food, COVID-19 tests and flight changes associated with your extended stay.
   
• Consider bringing self-administered rapid antigen test(s) with you.  If you develop symptoms during your trip, isolate and test immediately to prevent infecting others.   
   
• Pack an extra two weeks of medication, medical supplies and contact lenses in the event you need to prolong your stay abroad due to isolation.

Bring your laptop, work and/or course materials in the event you need to prolong your stay due to isolation.  If you are unable to return to the U.S., you are responsible to inform your professors of your absence and complete missed coursework. 

• Take a picture of your CDC vaccination card in the event it is lost or stolen.
   
• Visit Penn’s International Travel Guidance for more information on travel that is part of a Penn-Affiliated program.