Travel Warnings

What do I do if the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) issues a travel warning for the area that I am in?

McGill’s International Mobility Guidelines prohibit student travel for academic reasons to locations the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) has issued a level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) or level 4 (avoid all travel) warning against.

DFAIT issues such travel warnings when the security of Canadians visiting a particular region abroad may be compromised. It provides the Government of Canada’s official advice regarding travel to a country or specific region(s) of a country.

In the event a travel warning is issued, academic activities in the area are cancelled and students are advised. Prior to departure, students plan and register for an alternative activity. If a student is already in the affected area, they must leave the country or region and make alternative arrangements to complete their studies.

Conference Travel

I am attending a CONFERENCE, what am I required to do?

Students attending international conferences or formally organized workshops held in countries listed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) at Level-1 (Exercise normal security precautions) or Level-2 (Exercise a high degree of caution), are required to complete a travel registry form on Minerva, but are not required to take part in a university-wide Pre-Departure orientation session.

You must ask your Departmental Student Affairs Office to create a travel registry form for you.

Travel Health

Where can I get more information about TRAVEL HEALTH?

At any travel clinic or on the McGill Student Health website

Where can I get my required travel IMMUNIZATIONS?

At any travel clinic, including McGill Student Health Services (514)398-6017; 3rd floor, Brown Student Services Building, or choose another Montreal-area clinic listed here.

Insurance

Am I required to purchase SUPPLEMENTAL TRAVEL INSURANCE when studying abroad?

All students participating in a university-related travel activity abroad must carry sufficient travel insurance, including emergency medical evacuation which provides transportation in the event of medical emergencies.

The insurance plans offered by SSMUand PGSS, which include emergency medical evacuation insurance, are ACCEPTABLE, but note the LIMITATIONS in the plan. For example, there is a requirement that you check with the insurer before receiving care. Carefully review the coverage provided by your plan to ensure you are adequately insured.

Canadian non-residents and international students MUST ADVISE International Student Services of study-abroad plans as soon as possible before leaving to activate the travel insurance. Address any questions to International Student Services.

Other travel insurance can be purchased from any travel agency, i.e. Voyages Campus (Travel Cuts), the student travel agency on campus.
In the Travel Registry form, if your insurance plan provides unlimited coverage enter “999999” in the Amount of Coverage field; and if your insurance plan has no expiry date enter “2099-01-01”.

Travel Registry

When do I complete a TRAVEL REGISTRY Form?

If a travel registry form is created for you it can be found in Minerva under the Student Records Menu. When your form is ready for you to complete, you will receive a notice by email linking you directly to the form.

If within two weeks of your departure for your travel activity, you have not received notice of a travel registry form, you may wish to inquire with your Departmental Student Affairs Office or Service Point.

Who is my program administrator?

Your Program Administrator is normally your advisor or the administrator in your Faculty or Department, or Graduate Affairs Coordinator if you are a graduate student. Click here to consult a complete list of advisors.

Am I required to provide my passport number?

The University will only use your passport number if it is required to identify you in communication with the Canadian or other governments in the event of an emergency. If however you would rather not share your passport information, you can enter arbitrary numbers, e.g., “123456789” and “2099-01-01” for your 'Passport Number' and Passport Expiry' fields respectively. Select "Canada" in the 'Country of Issue' field.

I plan to travel on my own after completing my university-related travel activity. Do I have to include these travel plans in the travel registry form?

No, the travel registry is ONLY for ACADEMIC activities.

I may travel after my study-away term ends. What should I indicate in the Itinerary section for my return flight?

Enter the date which your terms ends and keep the flight information incomplete until your travel plans are finalized.

I submitted my travel registry form by clicking the I ACCEPT button and now need to make a change. What do I do?

Once you accept the terms of the agreement, the status on your form changes to ‘Accepted’. But you can still access your form and update the following fields: mobile telephone, emergency contact information and personal itinerary. If you need to make changes to any other section, you must contact your Program Administrator, and ask them to change the status to ‘Incomplete’. You can then access the form, make any changes, and click I ACCEPT to submit it.