Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Updates

If you have plans to travel on a Penn-affiliated trip during the COVID-19 pandemic, please review Penn's temporary:

Travel guidelines and procedures.

For U.S. citizens and permanent residents returning to the U.S.:

• Visit the State Department guidance, FAQ, and travel advisories.

For international students and scholars seeking to return to the U.S.:

If you are concerned about not being permitted to board your flight to the United States or being denied at the US Point of Entry, you may request a travel support letter from your academic department and/or from ISSS confirming that you are seeking entry into the country under the sponsorship of the University of Pennsylvania. Please note that this support letter does not guarantee that you will be permitted entry into the United States and is only meant to provide additional documentation of your status as an active Penn student

• To request a support letter from your department, please contact your academic advisor or your admissions office. Here is an example of a support letter from an academic department. 

• To request a travel support letter from ISSS, please log on to iPenn and select Student Services -> Immigration Status Verification Letter (for F-1/J-1 Students). You will be required to provide your anticipated return date and upload a copy of your flight itinerary.  This is only necessary if you would like to have a DSO-signed letter.

• View FAQs on required immigration documents, notification procedures, and guidance developed by International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

• Visit CDC information on Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the U.S., with explained exceptions.

• For Penn students currently abroad on a Penn Abroad Global Program visit: 

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information from Penn Abroad 

General Guidance:

• For restrictions, medical screenings, and flight operations listed by state, visit the dedicated COVID-19 page maintained by International SOS.  Be sure scroll down to the United States section.

• For additional information on entry restrictions and exceptions into the U.S., visit IATA travel regulations map. Be sure to click on the United States on the map for details.

• For visa information, entry restrictions, health requirements, transit rules, and guidance for re-entry to the United States, use the CIBT Entry Guide. Be sure to select United States of America as the destination.

• The Penn Travel Office has released COVID-19 Guidance and Related Resources.  

• For assistance finding COVID-19 testing sites, medication refill or mental stresses support and more, call 215-942-8478 (Penn Member ID 11BSGC000012) or email onlinehelp@internationalsos.com to speak with a medical and security expert from the International SOS Assistance Center. Even in instances when an individual is not traveling, Penn community members still have access to International SOS member benefits, including the Assistance Center.

General Guidance:

• For more information on entry bans, exceptions, and required documentation by country, visit the Interactive Coronavirus (Covid-19) Travel Regulations Map (powered by Timatic)

• For restrictions, medical screenings, and flight operations listed by country, visit the dedicated COVID-19 page maintained by International SOS.  

• For visa information, entry restrictions, health requirements, transit rules, and guidance for re-entry to your international destination, use the CIBT Entry Guide.  For additional information, download the latest CIBT Visas guide on immigration restrictions and exceptions by country.

• For entry requirements, health regulations, quarantine protocols for specific travel itineraries, CIBT's Informed Traveler Service provides a CIBT specialist for individualized help. Note: there is a $50 charge associated with this service.

• For case counts and country COVID information, view the NYTimes COVID-19 Map. 

• Download the lasted Fragomen guide for entry bans and quarantine restrictions by country. 

• The Penn Travel Office has released COVID-19 Guidance and Related Resources.  

For Penn students planning to go, or currently abroad, on a Penn Abroad Global Program: 

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information from Penn Abroad 

For Penn Faculty and Researchers:

• For research that involves field work, off-campus interactions, or travel, visit the Office of the Vice Provost for Research guidance on research resumption and associated travel risks.

For international students and scholars leaving the U.S.:

• View required FAQs on immigration documents, notification procedures, and guidance developed by International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

• For students and scholars sponsored by Penn with international emergency travel concerns, view the notification process and resources listed on the ISSS site.

For state-by-state restrictions in the U.S., including stay at home orders, mobility restrictions/limitations, public requirements and more, view the National Governors Association interactive map.

For case counts and state-by-state COVID information, view the NYTimes COVID-19 Map. 

For restrictions, medical screenings, and flight operations listed by state, view the dedicated COVID-19 page (select Restrictions from the top menu) maintained by International SOS. 

For research that involves field work, off-campus interactions, or travel, view the Office of the Vice Provost for Research guidance on research resumption and associated travel risks.

The Penn Travel Office has released COVID-19 Guidance and Related Resources. That page includes, but is not limited to, the latest news and resources provided by World Travel.

As we begin this summer to repopulate the campus, schools, centers, and departments can again consider bringing in scholars and visitors to campus in accordance with social distancing and facility planning guidelines. Visitors must comply with all Penn health guidelines and policies and participate in PennOpen Pass. All Penn identification holders will have access to testing and vaccination opportunities in accordance with University and municipal and state health policy guidelines. For questions related to visitor travel, please contact your department BA or the travel office for Concur procedure.

For Faculty & Staff

Penn’s Division of Human Resources has developed a comprehensive guide (PDF) for the return to in-person work, which will be updated as the guidance continues to evolve.  

For Students

The Student Campus Compact will be updated with any changes in expectations for student conduct early in the fall. All students should remain familiar with the standards for behavior that it outlines. 

Visit the latest information for Penn's international community provided by ISSS. 

Personal travel is not prohibited or restricted, however, it is advisable to follow guidance from:

• The CDC

• The Commonwealth of PA 

• The additional resources found on this page

From Penn's central guidance: With increasing numbers of people being vaccinated, we still expect that masks will be required in many campus settings, testing and contact tracing for COVID-19 may still be necessary, and large gatherings may still be limited or modified. Everyone on campus will need to be mindful of social distancing, hand washing, and completing their daily PennOpen Pass.