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Travel Health Resources

COVID-19 Travel Essentials

PLEASE NOTE: Testing for travel (RT-PCR or antigen) is NOT available at the Department of Student Health and Wellness.

  • If you are required to test for travel, either by an airline or by the country you are traveling to, you should use a commercial provider (provider list on second page).
  • If you are an international student traveling home for a break, make sure to review guidance on the UVA ISO webpage.
  • As of Nov. 8th, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to boarding an airplane to the U.S., with few exceptions. Plan ahead for showing proof of vaccination if you are returning to the U.S. after international travel. 
  • UVA Be SAFE is unable to offer travel testing outside of the normal saliva testing hours and test results for in time for travel are NOT guaranteed. If you will be using a Be SAFE test result for travel, here is a printable description to accompany your test result.
  • UVA Riverside offers asymptomatic testing Monday - Friday that can be scheduled up to a week ahead of time by phone. Lab turnaround for test results are 1-3 days after pick-up.
    • NOTE: No lab or clinic will guarantee that your test results will be ready in time for your travel, although most laboratory-processed PCR tests can take 24 - 72 hours. 
  • Avoid booking your tickets for a late Sunday or Monday departure. Testing on Monday - Thursday is preferable to ensure results are back in time.
  • If you would like to proactively test before traveling home but are not required to, UVA Be SAFE saliva testing is a good option. Check Be SAFE for testing times and days. Be SAFE and testing in the community may be closed on weekends and around holidays. 
    • Here are some tips for providing an adequate sample that won't be rejected. Don't forget your University ID!
    • Negative saliva test results will be released 24 hours a day when they are available; download your results from the HealthyHoos patient portal. 
    • UVA Be SAFE saliva testing done on a Friday will likely NOT have results ready for travel by late Sunday or Monday.
  • Letters of Recovery from COVID are available for travel at SHW
    • If this is your only requirement, you may make a "COVID Questions" phone appointment online via HealthyHoos with a nurse.
  • Forms for COVID-19 tests will NOT be completed outside of business hours or over the weekend.
  • For other useful information regarding COVID-19 and international travel, please review this PDF.

UVA Student Health and Wellness Travel Clinic Resources

General Travel Resources about Health/Safety and Study Abroad

Accessing Health Care Abroad

University-Related Travel

  • The University of Virginia Policy on Student International Travel requires students who travel outside the U.S. for University-related purposes to enroll in the UVA international health and emergency assistance insurance plan through CISI. See here for more information.
  • Traveling for university-related purposes may include but is not limited to study, research, internships, service, conferences, presentations, teaching, performances, recruiting, or athletic competitions. University-related purposes include any travel that is for academic credit and/or utilizes University resources.
  • UVA requires all students who engage in travel abroad for university-related purposes to register with the International Studies Office. Registration instructions are available here.
  • Signing up for a Student Health and Wellness Travel Clinic appointment is NOT the same as registering your travel with the International Studies Office.

UVA Aetna Student Health Insurance for Travel

Air Pollution Abroad

LGBTQ+ Travel

  • ILGA: under resources contains maps about sexual orientation laws and other resources
  • Equaldex: a collaborative LGBTQ+ knowledge base
  • LGBTQ+ Travel Information from the State Department
  • For additional information on the state department website, find the country you plan on visiting under Country Information and then go to “Local Laws and Special Circumstances” for specific LGBTQ+ information.

Food Allergies Abroad