With 25 percent of students studying abroad during their time at Michigan, it is important to know the steps to planning a safe trip. Whether you travel within the country or across the globe, keep these suggestions in mind.
- Register your travel with the U-M Travel Registry on Wolverine Access. This involves providing your contact information and travel plans – information that will help the University get in touch with you in the event of an emergency. Visit for more information.
- Plan ahead and utilize available University resources for a safe trip.
- Review the U-M Pre-Departure Checklist for students traveling abroad:
- Fill out an Emergency Wallet card with important contact information:
- If you plan to travel abroad, obtain a passport and check visa requirements a few months in advance. If your passport is lost or stolen while you are overseas, report it immediately to the local police and your nearest Embassy or Consulate – which can issue a replacement passport, often within 24 hours.
- Purchase U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance (required for all students, faculty and staff travelling for University-related purposes). This coverage can also be obtained for personal vacations. For more information on available insurance plans.
- Review the University Travel Warning and Travel Restriction Destinations. Additional steps must be taken by individuals hoping to travel to these countries for University-related purposes. Also, be aware of any short-term travel alerts issued by the U.S. State Department for your destination.
- Familiarize yourself with your destination. Find country-specific information such as the location of the U.S. embassy, crime and security information, and entry/exit requirements.
- Leave a copy of your travel itinerary with family or friends at home in case they need to contact you in an emergency. Make two photocopies of your passport identification page, airline tickets, driver’s license and the credit cards you plan to take – leave one set of copies with family or friends and pack the other set separately from the originals.
- Evaluate options for phone use overseas so that you can call home if needed. To use public phones, phone cards can be purchased in most countries. If you have a GSM cell phone, you can usually pack the device and buy a new SIM card when you arrive at your destination.
- Don’t bring anything that you would hate to lose on your trip including valuable or expensive-looking jewelry, unnecessary credit cards, irreplaceable family objects, or your Social Security card.
- Avoid becoming a target of crime by considering these pointers from the U.S. State Department.
- Schedule direct flights if possible and try to arrive in the daytime. Also, try to minimize time spent in the public area of an airport, which is a less protected area.
- Do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money.
- Watch for people following you or “loiterers” observing your comings and goings.
- Select your own taxicabs at random or ask your hotel/colleagues for a taxi provider recommendation. Avoid taking a vehicle that is not clearly identified as a taxi and compare the face of the driver with the one on his/her posted license.
- If possible, travel with others.
- Be sure of the identity of visitors before opening your hotel room door.
- If you are a victim of a crime while abroad, U.S. consular officers can help to contact family, friends or employers, address any emergency needs, and provide information about the local criminal justice process. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates. University staff members affiliated with the U-M Travel Registry and in the Dean of Students Office can also be a resource to students abroad.