Country-specific Travel Guidance

This page provides specific guidance relating to countries where travel has a higher risk. It is always safest to check the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) guidance before booking travelling.  

 Travel to Sanctioned Countries or High Risk Territories

Sanctions consist of a wide range of political and/or economic measures which are put in place by international, regional and state bodies with the aim of influencing the behaviour of a particular country’s regimes, individuals or groups. The types of sanctions measures put in place can vary widely including (inter alia): financial restrictions, import/export restrictions and travel bans.

Please check the latest FCDO update of ALL financial sanctions imposed in the UK here sanctioned countries

If you are travelling to one of the sanctioned countries listed below, you must complete the Sanctioned territories referral questionnaire before you travel, which will be shared with our Insurance Broker.  This will allow insurers to screen the information for any potential sanction breaches in advance and confirm whether cover can be provided.  Travelling to such countries can increase the risk of travel, so our insurers need to consider carefully the full details of your planned activities before travel commences. The questionnaire should be completed as soon as possible, at least 21 days prior to departure and sent to uor-insurance@reading.ac.uk.

University of Reading Financial Sanctions Policy

In addition to Sanctioned countries, our insurers also require the university to declare trips to high risk territories.  Due to these increased risks our insurers need to consider carefully the full details of your planned activities before travel commences. If you are travelling to any of the following destinations please complete the Security Questionnaire as soon as possible and submit this to the insurance office at least 21 days prior to departure

• Sanctioned Countries	High Risk Territories
  Crimea Region of Ukraine	Afghanistan
  Cuba	Belarus
  Donetsk People's Republic (DNR)	Burundi
  Iran	Central African Republic
  Kherson (Region of Ukraine)	Democratic African Republic
  Luhansk People's Republic (LNR)	Iraq
  North Korea	Israel including Gaza, West Bank & Occupied Palestinian Territories)
  Syria	Republic of Guinea
  Zaporizhzhia (Region of Ukraine)	Republic of Guinea - Bissau
  Venezuela	Lebanon
  	Libya
  	Mali
  	Myanmar (Burma)
  	Russia
  	Somalia
  	South Sudan
  	Sudan
  	Tunisia
  	Ukraine
  	Yemen
  	Zimbabwe

  Any other Territories whereby UK FCDO advises against All Travel

Travel to Qatar

If you are intending to travel to Qatar on University business there have recently been some significant changes to the entry requirements.  As a result of these changes the University Travel insurance will not be accepted by Qatar facilities and will no longer respond in the event of a medical emergency and provide cover for any associated costs.

All visitors to Qatar must now obtain health insurance covering their intended stay in the country from accredited insurance companies listed by the Ministry of Public Health in the State of Qatar and failure to evidence Qatar Healthcare cover will result in denial of entry.  For further information please visit the Ministry of Public Health FAQs webpage.

Please also visit the FCDO website for full details of  Entry requirements - Qatar travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).   If you require any further information please contact the insurance office  uor-insurance@reading.ac.uk. The cost of buying this additional insurance can be claimed back via expenses.

Travel to China

A guide on travelling to China on University business will be available soon. 

Travel to Cuba

Please note that any travel to Cuba must be declared to our Insurer prior to travel as the standard coverage, particularly related to medical and evacuation, may not apply. Please contact the Insurance team on uor-insurance@reading.ac.uk prior to making any travel bookings to Cuba.