An update to Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy now makes some travel to USDOS Level 3 and 4 locations approvable beginning with summer 2022 programs.

Please review the below policy carefully and reach out with any questions about how this may affect you and your program choice or a pending application. If you had previously delayed making plans it is not too late to apply for many summer and fall programs abroad.

Updated Travel Approval Policy 03.03.22

In line with peer institutions and in response to recent changes in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for COVID-19 mitigation, beginning with summer 2022, Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy has been updated.

Chatham’s Travel Approval Policy covers any travel for which a student is receiving academic credit for their activity abroad (coursework, internship, fieldwork, research, etc.). The policy states that students will be approved for travel to locations that have a US Department of State (USDOS) Travel Advisory of Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions or Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Applications to travel to locations that are Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel for COVID-19 only will be reviewed and may be approved on a case by case basis. The designation for Health Risk (H) and information on COVID-19 risk will be stated at the top of a location’s Travel Advisory, along with any other risk factors. Locations that include any other risk factor (except Health for COVID-19 only) of Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel will not be approved. Students should review the USDOS Travel Advisory Level of their travel location and contact the Office of International Affairs with any questions.

Students approved to travel to a Level 3: Reconsider Travel or Level 4: Do Not Travel location will be required to 1) sign an Acknowledgement of Risk and Release Related to the Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory and 2) to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19; boosters are highly recommended and may be required for entry into certain countries. It is each student’s responsibility to monitor and be aware of entry requirements, including vaccine documentation, mandatory quarantine, testing, masking or any other restriction as detailed by country and local authorities.

Please note that US DOS Advisory Levels change often – please check the USDOS Travel Advisory listing regularly for any updates.

Students may apply to programs abroad that include other risk factors as designated on the USDOS Travel Advisory, including in Level 3 and Level 4 locations and be conditionally approved by Chatham, however, if the location’s Travel Advisory Level does not exclude Level 3 or Level 4 risk factors other than Health for COVID-19 by 60 days prior to the program start date, they will not be approved. It is not recommended that students make nonrefundable deposits or plans that cannot be changed until fully approved by Chatham.

As of today, some countries that could be approved under the updated policy include: Japan, Germany, Greece, France, Costa Rica, Brazil, Spain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy. United Kingdom, Jordan, Morocco, Argentina, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia. These countries are Level 3 or Level 4 for Health (H) and may have other risk factors that do not exceed Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution). Please review the USDOS Travel Advisories to check other locations and to confirm advisory levels and risk factors.

Please contact internationalaffairs@chatham.edu with any questions.