Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
All travelers are strongly encouraged to register their travel with the US Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll in their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, you receive the following benefits:
- Live updates about health, weather, safety, security in your destination.
- Allows the U.S. Embassy in your destination to contact you in an emergency situation: Natural disasters, civil unrests, interpersonal emergencies.
- Gives you greater flexibility to plan your trip with information from the U.S. Embassy in the destination.
Please note that non-US citizens cannot register their travel but can subscribe to country-specific alerts and messages.
Export Control Compliance
It is the responsibility of all campus community members to be familiar with and adhere to U.S. export controls. Export controls are laws and regulations that regulate and restrict the release of controlled items, such as critical technologies and equipment, technical data, software, and chemical and biological materials, and information and services to foreign nationals and foreign countries for reasons of national security and foreign policy. Export controls apply to all activities – not just sponsored research projects.
If you have questions about the application of export controls to your travel, please contact the Office of Research Compliance at (413) 545-5283 or visit the Export Control website.
UMass Amherst IT Security Guidance for International Travel
There are information and information technology risks when traveling. UMass Amherst IT provides the following general guidance for all types of travel, including specific recommendations for domestic and international travelers. It is intended to help mitigate the risks to your information, university data and IT assets. The appropriate controls should be implemented to maintain compliance with federal law, university policy, data use agreements, and security plans.
U.S. Embassy
Find the nearest consular service or U.S. Embassy in your destination
Travel Advisories
We encourage you to check travel risks on government websites for your destination. Because information may be limited, it's best to check multiple government sites:
- United State - The United States State Department maintains a detailed overview of security conditions for all countries. Travel Advisories offer a rated risk scale from a Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions to a Level 4: Do Not Travel.
- Australia - Australia categorizes their high-risk destinations from a Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions to a Level 4: Do Not Travel.
- Canada - Canada categorizes their high-risk destinations from a Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions to a Level 4: Do Not Travel.
- United Kingdom - The United Kingdom website does not offer a rated risk-scale, but does offer Travel Advice and Travel Warnings for countries and territories