Update to Systemwide Travel Restrictions

Thursday, Mar 12, 2026 • Travel & Expense : Media Contact

1. Travel to Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Iran, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, the UAE,Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus continues to be suspended until further notice. If your institution determines there is a business or research need that warrants an exception to the suspension, the following is required:

a. Travel must be approved by the International Oversight Committee (IOC) and the President. This authority cannot be delegated. If an exception is to be granted, the President must provide notice to the Executive Vice Chancellor (EVC) for Health Affairs or Academic Affairs as appropriate, and the Chief Risk Officer at least two weeks prior to the trip departure date unless there are special circumstances requiring less notice.

b. Your Export Control subject matter expert and your Office of Legal Affairs must review any such travel requests to ensure that neither the institution nor the traveler violates any applicable sanctions with respect to financial transactions or engages with any sanctioned person or entity and ensure regulatory compliance to mitigate institutional risk. The IOC must reference review by Export Control and Legal Affairs in any approval documentation.

2. Effective immediately, travel to Moldova, Egypt, Cyprus, and Turkey will no longer require approval by both the IOC and President. UTS 190, International Travel Policy criteria will determine whether or not IOC review and approval is required.

3. Considering the resumption of some commercial flights in the region, travel through one of the named countries no longer requires following the same elevated approval guidelines set forth in this memorandum.

These restrictions will be reviewed again within the next 60 days, or sooner as deemed appropriate,to determine whether updates are warranted.

Please contact the UT System Office of Risk Management if you have questions.