Planning Tools and Resources

For Students
Student Health and Counseling offers Travel Health appointments to individuals and groups for pre-trip consultations, immunizations, completion of study abroad forms, and post-travel health evaluations. SHC encourages you to make your appointment at least 4-6 weeks before your trip. 

To make an appointment visit: Student Health and Counseling.

For Faculty and Staff
Penn Travel Medicine provides destination-specific medical consultation, including immunizations, prescription recommendations and the latest medical alerts and advisories.

To make an appointment, call 610-902-5618.

Visit CDC website for more details. 

Visit EHRS to access training and guidance to chemical, biological, radiation or physical hazards.

The US Department of State provides country specific guidance to help you prepare for and understand any travel risks associated with your destination.

International SOS provides 24/7 medical and security assistance to Penn travelers.

Contact International SOS at 215-942-8478 or philadelphia@internationalsos.com (Penn Member ID 11BSGC000012) to speak directly with a medical or security professional. 

Penn Travel and Expense Management (PennTEM) is the central travel department for University faculty, staff, students and guests. The office offers services and programs to arrange individual or group domestic and international travel.

Penn’s preferred agency provides travel arrangements and assistance for missed flights. The expenses can be charged directly to your funding source so make sure to have your 26 digit billing code.

World Travel Inc. 24/7 Contact Numbers

+1 (888) 641-9112   

+1 (484) 348-6313 (outside the U.S.)   

For more information please contact:
Sarah Bandos
Manager, Travel Services
Phone: +1-215-746-1404

GSS suggests enrolling in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP is a free service for U.S. citizens/nationals traveling abroad to register with a local U.S. Embassy or Consulate. STEP allows you to enter information about upcoming trips abroad so that U.S. embassies and consulates can better assist you in an emergency. You can also subscribe to receive email updates with travel advisories and other information for a particular country or destination. Enrolling in the program only takes a few minutes. 

Penn’s preferred visa processing vendor, CIBTvisas, will register your trip with STEP for a fee of $25 per traveler.

When traveling abroad on behalf of Penn it is important to safeguard your data. Penn has tools and support to help prepare you and your data for your destination. 

International travel introduces new risks to your data and devices. We encourage you to also consult Penn’s Office of Information Security and their information on Data Security on Foreign Travel. 

Review these guidelines 4 weeks before you travel as arrangements may be necessary. Consult your Local Support Provider (LSP) for specific information and recommendations related to your devices and Penn services.

• International Calling Plan/wireless coverage: Depending on your planned usage, you can compare the usage rates among these three options: international plan, international roaming, or renting a device. 
• International dialing codes: International calls require country codes which can be found on this website.
• Power voltage varies between countries and may require power adapters for your electronic devices.
• Remote access to Penn Systems and Services: Check with your LSP for requirements to access systems remotely.
• Computer repair overseas: Check the warranty status of your computer as warranties provide access to support services including repairs or technical support.
• Consider purchasing a burner phone and a local SIM card to eliminate high international calling and texting costs.
• Be aware, at the border of some countries (air or land), the customs and border staff may ask to access your mobile device data. At your return, the U.S. border and customs staff may also ask to access your mobile device data.

Get a travel briefing from your School/Center IT support staff on keeping your equipment and tool safe and secure.

Consult with your LSP if you require IT services or facilities beyond support for personal devices and connectivity. Additional recommendations include:

• If you have reliable Internet services overseas, it may be more cost effective to leverage services hosted at Penn.
• If you need IT infrastructure or facilities on site at your location, consult with IT staff familiar with your work who can translate your functional needs into specific technical requirements.
• If you are affiliated with an organization while you’re overseas, the organization may be able to provide the IT services or facilities you need.
• If you don’t need a device, don’t take it with you. Consider taking a clean laptop and external flash drive. Talk to your School/Center for a possible loaner laptop with only needed to work tools installed.
• Taking a device out of the US may be considered an export, therefore talk to your School/Center IT support staff about export encryption rules and exceptions.

Department of Commerce: Country Guidance

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Safety & Security Abroad for Professionals

US Department of State: Know Before You Go