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Cornell University

Elevated Risk Destinations

The countries, cities, and/or regions listed below as elevated risk require additional precautions. Cornell students, as well as faculty or staff traveling with students, must petition the International Travel Advisory and Response Team (ITART) if their itinerary involves an elevated-risk destination.

How are elevated-risk destinations selected?

Cornell uses a multifactor approach to identify elevated-risk destinations, applying a comprehensive set of criteria at both the country and regional levels. This methodology considers factors such as geopolitical conditions, cultural nuances, and security indicators, drawing from trusted sources and industry best practices.

Critical Elements of Our Methodology

  • Trusted Sources: International SOS (ISOS) and U.S. Department of State (DoS) risk assessments
  • Peer Benchmarking: Alignment with frameworks used by other leading institutions
  • Regular Review:
    • Annual comprehensive review of all destinations
    • Ad-hoc updates based on emerging geopolitical developments and intelligence

Primary Indicators for Elevated Risk

A destination may be classified as elevated risk if it meets any of the following criteria*:

  • Rated High or Extreme Risk by ISOS
  • Assigned a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory by the U.S. DoS
  • Identified as a war or conflict-risk destination by our insurance provider(s)
  • Subject to international sanctions or embargoes

*Cornell reserves the right to include additional destinations at its discretion based on evolving conditions.

Elevated Risk Destinations

Designations Key:

  1. Elevated-Risk: All students and faculty/staff traveling with students must submit a petition.
  2. War or Conflict-Risk: All travelers must submit a petition, and approval by college/school dean is required. Travel to these destinations is not covered under Cornell's standard policy. However, coverage may be available for an additional per-person, per-diem premium, subject to approval by Cornell's insurance company. Initiate process through the Travel Registry at least 45 days before departure.
  3. Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance: Cornell's travel insurance is not offered for this destination. All travelers must submit a petition, and approval by college/school dean is required. Initiate process through the Travel Registry at least 45 days before departure.
  4. Sanctions: Sanctions necessitate additional steps, see information here and contact export control.
  5. Workers Compensation Review: Pre-approval by Workers Compensation required for faculty and staff. Initiate process through the Travel Registry at least 45 days before departure.
CountrySpecific area(s), if applicableISOS Risk RatingU.S. Dept. of State Risk RatingDesignation (see above)
AfghanistanAllExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
AlgeriaAllHighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
AngolaNorth-east of Cabinda enclaveMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
ArmeniaBorder with Azerbaijan, and Syunik and Vayots Dzor provincesLow-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
AzerbaijanArmenian border areas and Nagorno-KarabakhLow-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
BahrainAllSpecial NoticeLevel 3Elevated-Risk
BangladeshAllMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
BelarusAllLowLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
+ Sanctions
BeninBorder with Burkina Faso and Niger, including the Pendjari (Alibori department) and W (Atakora department) National ParksMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
BrazilUrban trouble spotsMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
Burkina FasoAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Elevated-Risk
BurundiAllHighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
CameroonAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 2Elevated-Risk
Central African RepublicAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Elevated-Risk
ChadAllHighLevel 3War or Conflict-Risk
ColombiaAllMedium-HighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
CongoAreas in Likouala and Sangha departments within 20 miles (32km) of the border with Central African RepublicMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
Congo (DRC)AllHigh-ExtremeLevel 3War or Conflict-Risk
Côte d'IvoireNorthern border regions with Mali and Burkina Faso, and Comoe National Park; Liberian border in Montagnes and Bas-Sassandra districtsMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
CubaAllLowLevel 2Sanctions. Follow the required steps outlined on this page. All travelers must initiate process through the Travel Registry at least 90 days before departure.
+ Workers Compensation Review
CyprusAllSpecial noticeSpecial NoticeElevated-Risk
EcuadorAllMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
EgyptAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 3Elevated-Risk
El SalvadorAllMediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
EritreaAsmara. Ethiopian, Sudanese, Djiboutian bordersMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
EthiopiaAnywhere outside of Addis Ababa, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) and Somali regionHigh-ExtremeLevel 3Elevated-Risk
GeorgiaAbkhazia and South OssetiaLow-HighLevel 1Elevated-Risk
GuatemalaGuatemala City (transit permitted, stays require petition) & Chiquimula, Petén, Zacapa, and Izabal departmentsMedium-HighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
Guinea-BissauAllMediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
GuyanaAllMediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
HaitiAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4War or Conflict-Risk
+ Workers Compensation Review
HondurasAnywhere in the country, with the exception of Roatan IslandHighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
IndiaAsom (Assam), Manipur, Nagaland; some districts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh; Kashmir division and parts of Jammu division (both Jammu and Kashmir union territory)Medium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
IndonesiaPapua, West PapuaMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
IranAllHighLevel 4
Sanctions		Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
IraqAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
IsraelAllMedium-HighLevel 3 and 4War or Conflict-Risk
+ Workers Compensation Review
JamaicaWest Kingston, Spanish Town, Montego BayMedium-HighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
JordanAllSpecial noticeSpecial NoticeElevated-Risk
KenyaNairobi; the northern counties of Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Marsabit and Isiolo, the Somali-border counties of Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, and LamuHighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
KuwaitAllSpecial noticeSpecial NoticeElevated-Risk
KyrgyzstanBatken province, the international border regions of Osh and Jalal-Abad provincesMedium-HighLevel 1Elevated-Risk
LebanonAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Elevated-Risk
LibyaAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
MadagascarAnosy (except its capital Fort Dauphin (Tôlanaro)) and Atsimo-Atsinanana regions (south-east)Medium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
MaliAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
MauritaniaBorder areas with Algeria and Mali and eastern desert area (Regions of Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Chargui, Dakhlet-Nouadhibou and Inchiri)Medium-HighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
MexicoAllMedium-HighSee WebsiteElevated-Risk
MozambiqueMacomia, Meluco, Mocimboa da Praia, Muidumbe, Nangade, Palma and Quissanga districts (all Cabo Delgado province)Medium-ExtremeLevel 2Elevated-Risk
MyanmarAllExtremeLevel 4Elevated-Risk
New CaledoniaFrance territoryMediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
NicaraguaAllMediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
NigerAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 3Elevated-Risk
NigeriaAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 3Elevated-Risk
North KoreaAllMediumLevel 4Elevated-Risk
+ Sanctions
OmanAllSpecial noticeLevel 2Elevated-Risk
PakistanAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 3Elevated-Risk
Palestinian TerritoriesWest Bank, East Jerusalem, GazaMedium-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
PanamaDarién regionLow-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
Papua New GuineaAllMediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
PeruEne, Apurimac and Mantaro River Valley (VRAEM) / Border area with ColombiaMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
PhilippinesSouth-west Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago (Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi)Medium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
QatarAllSpecial noticeSpecial NoticeElevated-Risk
RussiaAllHighLevel 4War or Conflict-Risk
+ Sanctions
RwandaBorder with Congo (DRC)MediumLevel 3Elevated-Risk
Saudi ArabiaAllMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
SomaliaAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
South AfricaAllMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
South SudanAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
SudanAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
SyriaAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
+ Sanctions
TajikistanDushanbe and surrounding areas are approved for travel, the remainder of the country requires ITART petitionMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
TanzaniaSouthern border areas within 12 miles (20km) of the Mozambican border and inland up to 93 miles (150km) from the coastMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
ThailandSouthern provinces of Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, and the southern districts of Songkhla provinceMedium-HighLevel 1Elevated-Risk
TogoNorthern areas within 18 miles (30km) of the Burkina Faso borderMedium-HighLevel 1Elevated-Risk
Trinidad and TobagoLaventille, BeethamMedium-HighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
TunisiaLibyan border areas; areas within 25 miles (40km) of the Algerian border; Mount Chaambi, Mount Mgilla, Mount Salloum, and Mount SammamaMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
TurkeyAreas within ten miles (16km) of the Syrian border + Hakkari, Sirnak, Diyarbakir provincesMedium-HighLevel 2Elevated-Risk
TurkmenistanAfghan borderMedium-HighLevel 1Elevated-Risk
UgandaAreas within 18.6 miles (30km) of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan bordersMedium-HighLevel 3Elevated-Risk
UkraineAllHigh-ExtremeLevel 4War or Conflict-Risk
+ Sanctions
United Arab Emirates (UAE)AllSpecial noticeSpecial NoticeElevated-Risk
UzbekistanAfghan, Kyrgyz borders, Fergana ValleyHighLevel 1Elevated-Risk
VenezuelaAllHighLevel 4War or Conflict-Risk
+ Sanctions
YemenAllExtremeLevel 4Not Eligible for Cornell Travel Insurance
Even if your destination is not listed here, all students, staff, and faculty must register international Cornell travel.