International Travel - New Updates

The CSU policy on High Hazard International Travel Approval Process and Requirement to Purchase Insurance (Policystat ID 13720928) requires all CSU faculty, staff, and students who travel internationally on university business to use the Foreign Travel Insurance Program (FTIP) via CSU Risk Management Authority (CSURMA).

FTIP provides coverage anywhere in the world that is not the United States of America (including territories and possessions) and any country or jurisdiction which is the subject of trade or economic sanctions imposed by the United States of America.

Subject to terms, conditions and applicable exclusions, FTIP benefits include but are not limited to the following:

General Liability
Excess Auto Liability
Primary Medical Expense & Emergency Medical Benefits
Emergency Medical Evacuation
Repatriation of Remains
Political Evacuations & Repatriation Benefit War Risk Coverage
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefit

CSU’s recognized insurance carrier is CHUBB/ACE Insurance and AXA is an assistance travel service provider around the world. For state-funded travels, CSUN RMI covers international travel insurance premium costs for faculty and staff. For externally-funded travels (e.g., grants or sponsored projects), CSUN RMI will bill the funding grant or sponsored project for the insurance premium costs (see details below). Students are required to pay for their insurance premium costs.

TUC grant/project: In accordance with ICSUAM Policy 03552.01, each CSU campus is required to maintain a cost allocation plan and a reimbursement mechanism for costs charged to the campus general fund on behalf of external funding or activities. Thus, FTIP premium costs incurred by the general fund on behalf of externally funded grants or projects will be billed by the University Corporation (TUC) directly to your fund or project. Please note that the premium cost will be determined after you have submitted your application and the cost will vary depending on destination, risk level, and duration of trip(s).

Reminder: Ensure all personal travel dates are included in your itenerary request for insurance and request for approval of travel. Travel Insurance covers up to 14 days of personal travel.

Check the following sites for each city and country you plan to visit:

U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory 

2026-2027 High Hazardous Countries Ratings CSU Safety Risk Management (CSURMA)

Reminder: Ensure all personal travel dates are included in your itenerary request for insurance and request for approval of travel. Travel Insurance covers up to 14 days of personal travel.

Taxability of International Travel with Personal Use: International travel frequently consists of both business and personal components. According to the IRS, there is a taxable event if BOTH of the following conditions are met:

a. The total period of the trip is longer than one week, and

b. At least 25% of the trip is personal

In the event that both conditions are met, a portion of the common business expenses that are incurred by the traveler, including airfare, is taxable to the traveler. This requirement applies only to travel outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

Reminder: Ensure all personal travel dates are included in your itenerary request for insurance and request for approval of travel. Travel Insurance covers up to 14 days of personal travel.

1. Request Foreign Travel Insurance via the International Travel Insurance portal.

2. Upon receipt of the insurance email confirmation, create an online Concur Travel Request:
    - Select Int'l Expense Types (Air, Rental, etc)

3. Attach the following information to the online Concur Travel Request:
    - Attachments preferred in PDF format
    - Insurance email confirmation 
    - Related documentation required by your College or Department
 

Note: You may start the online Concur Travel Request process (but do not submit for approval) and complete all necessary sections while waiting for the Insurance email confirmation.

Faculty/Staff: Concur travel approval process

Students: Form travel approval process

Travel Approval Questions: csuntravel@csun.edu  

Insurance Questions: international.travel@csun.edu 

Faculty/staff independent/small group travel is related to traveling independently or with other faculty/staff/student/combination attending a conference or university, to present or partake in activities.

All Travelers: Upload a file related to the purpose of your travel (conference agenda, invitation letter, etc.)
Emergency Contacts: One primary and one alternate emergency contact is required (include full name, phone, email)

Read the CSUN Emergency Guidelines for International Activities 

Insurance Questions: international.travel@csun.edu 

Student independent/small group travel is related to a student traveling independently or with other faculty/staff/student/combination attending a conference or university, to present or partake in activities.

All Travelers: Upload a file related to the purpose of your travel (conference agenda, invitation letter, etc.)
Students: If under 18 prior to the date of departure upload your Hold Harmless Waiver signed by parent/guardian. Emergency Contacts: One primary and one alternate emergency contact is required (include full name, phone, email)

Read the CSUN Emergency Guidelines for International Activities

Upon receipt of the insurance email confirmation, student travelers need to complete the Travel Request form and route via AdobeSign.

Students: Form travel approval process

Insurance Questions: international.travel@csun.edu 

Faculty-Led Program travel is related directly to course sylibus and includes a faculty lead/organizer, students and possibly additional faculty or staff.

• Faculty-Led Program Part 1 is only completed by the faculty lead/organizer and an application number will be generated in the Part 1 confirmation email. Part 2 will be completed by all participants.
• Faculty-Led Program (Faculty Organizer only): Responsible to email participants and share the Part 1 App #, in order for each participant to submit their Part 2 request.
• Faculty-Led Program (Faculty Organizer only): Upload syllabus and the Academic Field Trip Participant List located at Ins&Risk Forms 

Per the CSU Policy on Exchange Programs and Campus Activities Abroad, faculty-led programs are required to go through an on-campus development process that incorporates all appropriate administrative and academic reviews.  This Faculty-Led Program Part 1 application is the first step to completing the required program review.  CSUN has determined that all faculty-led programs must undergo this review for term the program is being offered, regardless of prior approvals.

 
SERVICE AGREEMENT: If you have arrangement(s) with institution(s) abroad and/or third-party vendor(s) to assist with any logistics for the trip, you must have active agreement(s) between CSUN and the institution/vendor in place prior to completing your program proposal.

To begin the agreement approval process: Contact the Office of Senior International Officer sio@csun.edu

Read the CSUN Emergency Guidelines for International Activities

Faculty-Led Program Questions: sio@csun.edu   

Insurance Questions: international.travel@csun.edu 

Study Abroad/Student Exchange travel is related to students participating in one of CSUN’s university-affiliated exchange programs.

• Study Abroad/Student Exchange Part 1 will continue using myCSUNglobe 
• Study Abroad/Student Exchange Part 2 after program approval is received, submit International Travel Insurance request
• Students will be provided with the insurance rate quote and payments need to be made via Cashnet prior to departure
• International & Exchange Student Center (IESC)  

Read the CSUN Emergency Guidelines for International Activities 

Study Abroad Questions: study.abroad@csun.edu   

Insurance Questions: international.travel@csun.edu