High-Risk Destinations

Country Levels

The U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory system has four advisory levels, each with a corresponding color. Every country receives an advisory. Regions and cities may also receive an advisory level. Remember: Conditions and advisory levels may change at any time.

• Level 4 – Do Not Travel (Red): This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to assist travelers. The U.S. Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Level 3 – Reconsider Travel (Orange): Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security.
• Level 2 – Exercise Increased Caution (Yellow): Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security.
• Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions (Blue): This is the lowest advisory level. There is risk for all international travel but travelers should be able navigate these risks.

Regional Levels

The U.S. Department of State assigns a Travel Advisory Level to countries, but risk (and the associated advisory) may vary within a country. For instance, an advisory may advise travelers to “Exercise increased caution” (Level 2) in a country, but to “Reconsider travel” (Level 3) to a particular region or city based on specific hazards.

• Review World at a Glance Map. The map displays each country by color. (Countries with no color are Level 1, Exercise Normal Caution.) Countries with a diagonal crosshatch (//////) have a region with elevated risk higher than the country designation. Travelers to these countries must read the Travel Advisory to understand the elevated risk.
• Read the travel advisory. This is preferred as travelers must understand the affected area, the associated risk, and potential mitigation advice. Travel Advisories with regional differences clearly state “Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire advisory.” The advisory lists and describes the variations.

Risk Indicators

Travel Advisories at Levels 2-4 contain clear reasons for the level assigned, using established risk indicators and specific advice to travelers who choose to those destinations.

C – Crime: Widespread violent or organized crime is present in areas of the country. Local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.

T – Terrorism: Terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.

U – Civil Unrest: Political, economic, religious, and/or ethnic instability exists and may cause violence, major disruptions, and/or safety risks.

H – Health: Health risks, including current disease outbreaks or a crisis that disrupts a country’s medical infrastructure, are present. The issuance of a Centers for Disease Control Travel Notice may also be a factor.

N – Natural Disaster: A natural disaster, or its aftermath, poses danger.

E – Time-limited Event: Short-term event, such as elections, sporting events, or other incidents that may pose safety risks.

K – Kidnapping and/or Hostage-Taking: Elevated risk of kidnapping or hostage-taking of U.S. nationals to compel an action as a condition of release.

D – Wrongful Detention: The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by a foreign government exists.

O – Other: There are potential risks not covered by previous risk indicators. Read each country’s Travel Advisory for details.

For Graduate and Undergraduate Students

The identification of high-risk destinations is the same for all University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students. International Safety and Security monitors insurance enrollments and attempts to assist students in identifying high-risk destinations but responsibility remains on the student.

1. Open the Department of State’s Country Information webpage and select the advisory for each country to be visited.
2. On each country page, observe two things:
   • Color and Advisory Level. Observe the color of the country banner (blue, yellow, orange, or red) and the associated level (Exercise Normal Precautions, Exercise Increased Caution, Reconsider Travel, or Do Not Travel).
   • Areas of Higher Risk. In the first two lines of the advisory, look for: “Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.”
3. The destination is high-risk if:
   • The country color and advisory level is Orange (Level 3) or Red (Level 4).
   • The country color and advisory level is Blue (Level 1) or Yellow (Level 2) but the advisory for the intended destination (city or region) is Reconsider Travel or Do Not Travel.
4. Student travelers that identify the destination (country, region or city) as Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or Level 4 (Do Not Travel) should submit a travel request as explained in the Approval of Travel to High-Risk Destinations section.

Note: If a country is Level 1 or Level 2 with areas of higher risk (Level 3 or Level 4) that will not be visited, the travel is not to a high-risk destination and no further action is required. It is only travel to a high-risk destination if a traveler intends to visit a location identified as Level 3 or Level 4. If unsure, the traveler should contact International Safety and Security to discuss their itinerary and travel plans.

For Faculty and Staff

The university will only require approval for travel to Level 4 countries or regions that present unusual or extreme risk. Some Level 3 and Level 4 countries are considered “war-risk” locations for the university’s international insurance policy and require additional coordination, including the purchase of a war-risk rider, to support faculty and staff travel to those locations. The Director for International Safety and Security will monitor insurance enrollments and communicate with faculty and staff when such concerns arise.

We encourage faculty and staff to review the travel advisory for each intended destination to plan their travel. Travel advisories can be reviewed at the Department of State’s Country Information webpage.

For questions regarding a Travel Advisory or university approval, please contact International Safety and Security.

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate student travel on formal programs will be reviewed during program approval. Informal travel (travel without credit) to High-Risk Destinations requires Vice Provost for Global Engagement approval.

1. Review Identifying High-Risk Destinations and determine if the destination country, region, or city has a Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory.
2. For each Level 3 or Level 4 destination, undergraduates request approval following instructions on the Undergraduate Student High-Risk Destination Form. The form must be submitted at least 45 days before departure. Incomplete or inadequate forms will be returned for more information.
3. International Safety and Security reviews the form and, after consulting stakeholders, advises the Vice Provost for Global Engagement. The Vice Provost for Global Engagement makes a final determination for approval or disapproval.
4. International Safety and Security will communicate the decision and rationale to the student and the sponsoring department or unit.
5. Undergraduate students can appeal travel disapproval decisions to the Vice Provost for Global Engagement.

Graduate Students

Graduate student travel to High-Risk Destinations at Level 3 requires review by International Safety and Security for risk mitigation strategies. Travel to High-Risk Destinations at Level 4 requires approval by the Vice Provost for Global Engagement.

1. Review Identifying High-Risk Destinations and determine if the destination country, region, or city has a Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory.
2. For each Level 3 or Level 4 destination, graduate students should begin the high-risk destination review process by following instructions on the Graduate Student High-Risk Destination Form.
3. For Travel Advisory Level 3 destinations, International Safety and Security reviews the information, consults stakeholders, and provides risk mitigation strategies to the unit and traveler. In rare instances, travel to Level 3 destinations may be disapproved. The Vice Provost for Global Engagement will work with the college in making this determination.
4. For Travel Advisory Level 4 destinations, International Safety and Security reviews the information, consults stakeholders, and advises the Vice Provost for Global Engagement. Working with the appropriate college administration, the Vice Provost for Global Engagement determines approval or disapproval.
5. International Safety and Security will communicate all decisions and risk mitigation strategies to the unit and the traveler.
6. Graduate students can appeal travel disapproval decisions to the Vice Provost for Global Engagement.

Student Groups (with or without Faculty-Staff)

Formal study abroad programs are reviewed through the university’s program review process. All other travel involving three or more students using a similar travel itinerary follows the process below, including Registered Student Organizations and similar organizations.

Upon submission of the form, review and approval follows the process for undergraduate or graduate students, based on participant status.

1. The group identifies an individual to lead the process and coordinate with International Safety and Security. If students are traveling with faculty-staff, the faculty-staff must be involved, even if students lead the process.
2. After reviewing the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for each destination, the student leader determines if the country, region, or city has a Level 3 or Level 4 Advisory.
3. For each Level 3 or Level 4 destination, the leader completes the Group High-Risk Destination Form. The form must be submitted to International Safety and Security at least 45 days before departure. Incomplete or inadequate forms will be returned.
4. Upon submission of the form, review and approval follows the process for undergraduate or graduate students, based on participant status.

Faculty and Staff

The university will only require approval for travel to Level 4 destinations that present unusual or extreme risk. The Director for International Safety and Security will monitor insurance enrollments and communicate with faculty and staff when such concerns arise.

1. International Safety and Security reviews insurance enrollments. If the Director for International Safety and Security identifies a location of significant concern, they will contact the traveler for more information.
2. After an initial review, the Director determines if the travel needs formal review and approval based on the severity of the risk.
   1. If no additional information is required, travel proceeds as planned.
   2. If the Director determines additional information is required, the process below continues.
3. Faculty and staff review the Travel Advisory and other additional resources identified by International Safety and Security. They complete and submit the Faculty-Staff High-Risk Destination Form.
4. Ideally, the Faculty-Staff High-Risk Destination Form is submitted at least 30 days before departure, but it should be submitted as soon as possible.
5. International Safety and Security reviews the information provided and conducts a risk assessment. The Vice Provost for Global Engagement determines approval or disapproval based on consultation with International Safety and Security, the appropriate college or department administration, and other stakeholders.