Safety Abroad - 91��ɫ International

91��ɫ values the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff when traveling abroad on university-sanctioned academic and business activities.

With this commitment in mind, 91��ɫ’s Safety Abroad Program has developed a framework to support all members of the university community before, during, and after international travel. This framework promotes best health and safety practices and outlines the implementation of emergency management protocols to mitigate and respond to potential risks associated with international travel.

Our main objective is to provide all travelers with comprehensive guidance and training to ensure their safety as best as possible while participate in university-sanctioned activities abroad.

All students travelling internationally must review and adhere to the Student Safety Abroad requirements listed below.

Staff and faculty travelling internationally on university business should review the Staff and Faculty Safety Abroad section.

Please e-mail safetyabroad@yorku.ca for any questions or concerns, or if you are experiencing an emergency abroad.

Student Safety Abroad Requirements

Students travelling abroad are required to complete all safety abroad steps at least one month prior to travel. Failure to complete requirements prior to travel (specifically completing the Travel Registry, the eClass module, and purchasing Guard.me travel insurance) will result in the cancellation of any study abroad awards or scholarships that you may be eligible for.

All Students travelling on university-sanctioned international programs should consult the  for their specific country/region. This site provides information about potential health and security threats in your destination, official travel documentation and entry/exit requirements, and local consular assistance and emergency services.

There are 4 Global Affairs Canada Travel advisory levels:

Level 1 - Exercise normal security precautions
Level 2 - Exercise a high degree of caution
Level 3 - Avoid non-essential travel
- Undergraduate students are not approved to travel to Level 3 countries unless they are returning to their home and/or country of birth.
- Graduate students must engage the High-Risk Travel Authorization Process and receive approval to travel.
Level 4 - Avoid all travel
- Undergraduate students are not approved to travel to Level 3 countries unless they are returning to their home and/or country of birth.
- Graduate students must engage the High-Risk Travel Authorization Process and receive approval to travel.

Levels 3 & 4 are considered high risk travel and require special authorization to travel to these destinations. Please contact safetyabroad@yorku.ca at least 2 months before proposed travel to begin the High-Risk Travel Authorization Process.

The Safety Abroad Program has developed a pre-departure eClass module to help students understand potential risks associated with international travel and develop risk mitigation strategies. The module is available online and all students travelling abroad (undergraduate and graduate) are required to complete it prior to their departure.

Topics covered in pre-departure training

Travel Preparations (research about destination, flight, accommodation arrangements, visa, customs, insurance)
Risk Management (risk assessment planning, travel waiver, emergency contact card, Registration of Canadians Abroad)
- Graduate students should follow The Graduate Student Risk Assessment Guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS)  when developing risk assessment plans.
Student Resources
Inter-cultural learning and engagement
Travel safe resources

Enrol in 91��ɫ's Global Pre-Departure eClass module .

91��ɫ Students traveling abroad for international programs are required to purchase �ҳܲ��.��® insurance. �ċ&�Բ��;

�ҳܲ��.��® Insurance provides comprehensive insurance coverage and benefits that are in the best interest of the students and the university at-large.
�ҳܲ��.��® covers medical, emergency, evacuation, and 3rd party liability, among others. Please read the ��ܲ��.��® benefit summary for more information. Students must register directly with  and should purchase their policies at least two weeks prior to travel.
�ҳܲ��.��® must be purchased from Canada and prior to your departure. Policies cannot be purchased from outside Canada or backdated.
Purchasing �ҳܲ��.��® is a requirement for all students (undergraduate and graduate) travelling abroad. Exemptions will only be granted to students who:
- Are travelling to their home country/country of citizenship
- Are over the age of 65
- Require a specific type of insurance for their student/work/research visa
  - Please check with your destination country’s embassy or consulate
- *Exemptions must be approved by the Safety Abroad office. Please e-mail safetyabroad@yorku.ca to inquire.

If you are currently covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), or another provincial plan, be sure to contact the closest office to find out what regulations are applicable if you are outside Canada for an extended period of time. For more information, visit the  w��ٱ�.&�Բ��;

Other Insurance

Travelers should consider trip cancellation and property insurance to cover changes to travel plans and lost baggage or personal items while abroad. Guard.me does not provide insurance for trip cancellation or

Property Insurance

Some homeowner insurance policies extend property insurance worldwide. Check your policy to see if you need additional coverage.

All students participating in university sanctioned international activities must submit their travel details to the university’s Travel Registry. Your safety and security while abroad are our mutual priority and the registry helps 91��ɫ to monitor travel advisories in locations where students are based abroad.

Complete the  at least one month prior to your departure.

Submitting your trip to Global Affairs Canada’s  allows you to stay connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad.

If you are an international student, you should consider registering with your home country’s equivalent service if one exists.

It is your responsibility to learn about your destination country and take steps to ensure your own health and safety. You should visit a health care professional before traveling to enquire about any preventive measures you can take, or any vaccinations required or recommended for your destination.

Depending on your destination country’s requirements and your own health concerns, you may need to travel with:

official record of immunizations
medical certificates
your prescriptions

Please consult and your destination country’s local embassy or consulate for guidance on specific entry requirements or vaccinations.

Staff and Faculty Safety Abroad

Your safety and security while abroad for university activities is our mutual priority and we encourage you to register your travel, determine the travel advisory level and investigate insurance. Adequate research of your destination and safety preparation is essential to your success.

All staff travelling for university-sanctioned activities should consult the for their destination. This site provides information about potential health and security threats, official travel documentation and entry/exit requirements, and local consular assistance and emergency services.

There are 4 Global Affairs Canada Travel advisory levels:

Level 1 - Exercise normal security precautions
Level 2 - Exercise a high degree of caution
Level 3 - Avoid non-essential travel
Level 4 - Avoid all travel

All 91��ɫ community members are encouraged to submit their travel details so that we can offer support and emergency assistance if needed. Please complete the  at least one month prior to your departure.

Health Insurance Abroad: Are you covered?

All faculty and staff are encouraged to review their benefits plan of travel to understand their insurance coverage when travelling internationally. You can purchase additional coverage through 91��ɫ International's preferred provider: Guard.Me: 

At a minimum we recommend you know the answers to, and the risks associated with, the following:

Does your coverage provide international/out of province medical expense coverage? Please note, in some instances international travel may be described as out of province.
If international/out of province medical coverage is provided, is there a maximum amount the plan will pay?  For example, some plans will only pay a maximum of $10,000 for international/out of province medical expenses.
Is there coverage for repatriation for medical or safety reasons?
If the Canadian government travel advisory is Level 3 (avoid non-essential travel) or Level 4 (Avoid all travel) is coverage still available?

It is your responsibility to assess and confirm the health coverage and coverage exclusion(s) applicable to your travels.

Submitting your trip to Global Affairs Canada’s  allows you to stay connected to Canada in case of an emergency abroad.

Citizens of other countries should consider registering with their home country’s equivalent service if one exists.

Travel Emergency Information

Emergency Checklist

Contact local emergency services
Communicate with the relevant contacts for your situation
Call your emergency contacts to update them on your status
File an Incident Report with Safety Abroad through the or email safetyaboard@yorku.ca

Emergency Contacts

GuardMe 24-Hour Emergency Health Number

Tel. Outside of North America: +1 (905)-667-0587
Tel. Toll Free North America: +1 (800)-334-7787

Government of Canada Emergency Contacts:

Tel: +1 (613)-996-8885
Whatsapp: +1 (613)-909-8881

Focus Point International (Security Incidents)

Tel: +1 (619)-717-8549

91��ɫ Campus Security

Tel: +1 (416)-736-5333

Be sure to download and print-off a copy of the Travel Emergency Card for your travel documentation: