Travel Guidelines

The federal government has lifted the national Public Health Emergency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shifted from an emergency public health posture to recommending personal health precautions. As it has from the beginning of the pandemic, Penn State will continue to follow CDC guidance on COVID-19, and university officials urge all members of the Penn State community to take recommended preventative steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

Visit the University's Travel Guideline site for complete and up-to-date information, as these guidelines are periodically updated as needed.

Domestic Travel:

Employees planning to travel on Penn State business should follow their unit's pre-COVID-19 travel approval process. Any necessary air travel should be arranged through Anthony Travel, Penn State's preferred travel agency.

Employees engaging in University-affiliated domestic travel should:

Note: All travel arrangements must be made through Penn State's travel provider, Anthony Travel.

International Travel:

Policy TR01 International Travel requirements, applies to all international travel. Requirements at international destinations and within the United States can shift without notice, and Penn State reserves the right to modify its COVID-19 vaccination requirements accordingly.

  • Penn State strongly recommends that all University-affiliated travelers be up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccinations for other infectious diseases.
  • Employees should research the specific health or vaccinations requirements set by the host country before travel. Visit the CDC Travel Health Notices website.
  • You must register with the Travel Safety Network at least 30 days in advance of travel or as soon as possible once travel is planned.  You much receive final confirmation of TSN approval to travel at a minimum of 3 days before travel.
  • Reimbursement for travel expenses will not be possible without proof of confirmation by TSN that your trip had been approved prior to travel.
Note: All travel arrangements must be made through Penn State's travel provider, Anthony Travel.

Travel Process

Note: Please be sure to review the "Travel Authorization Process" prior to submitting a travel funding authorization request.

All faculty and Academic Affairs staff are required to complete an employee travel authorization form which must be submitted a minimum of 2 weeks in advance for domestic travel (international travel would be 6 weeks in advance). The authorization form, which is also the reimbursement form, can be accessed by clicking on the link:  Travel Authorization & Reimbursement Form

The process includes:

  • Authorization (submission of authorization form and supporting documents for pre-approval)
  • Reimbursement (submission of reimbursement form and all required itemized receipts)
  • Entry into SAP Concur (entry of travel expenses with required receipts)
  • Submission in SAP Concur (submitting the report is your electronic signature)