Continue to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada

Global Affairs Canada continues to caution Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. This is considered a Level 3 travel warning.   

At McMaster, field trip, research activities and student placements continue to be managed through, Risk Management Manual (RMM) #801. This policy requires that travel requests to a Level 3 (L3) or Level 4 (L4) country as defined by Global Affairs Canada must be approved by the Provost and the AVP International. Undergraduates are not permitted to travel to an L3/L4 country for any academic purpose at this time. The forms for essential travel approval are provided in RMM 801 (Page 11).   

Travel for institutional business is not encouraged at this time. Faculty members and staff who must travel for conferences, seminars, meetings or visits to academic or related institutions for non-research purposes are advised to consider the following before making travel plans:   

• It is important to check travel advisories before leaving and during your trip.  Global Affairs Canada provides updated information for Canadians and continues to advise no non-essential travel outside of the country. 
• Full vaccination against COVID-19 is advised, and for many destinations required. Confirm specific vaccination rules for your destination as they vary by country and can change with little notice.  
• Check the provincial or territorial requirements when travelling within Canada for restrictions and quarantine requirements. 
• Consider that in some countries, as well as in parts of Canada, healthcare systems may be restricting access to medical care and treatments due to COVID-19 demands. 
• Review your travel and health insurance coverage to make yourself aware of any potential restrictions. Some plans may have time limits for travel, a maximum dollar amount for reimbursement, or exclusions that may void your travel medical coverage such as pandemics or existing travel advisories.
• For faculty and staff who are enrolled in McMaster’s Extended Health Care plan, SunLife Emergency Travel Assistance coverage continues to be in place. Please review your individual coverage to check for any restrictions. 
• Travellers should also be aware that the Canadian Government has advised that no repatriation is available for Canadians who choose to travel outside the country during a global travel advisory. 
• Faculty and staff are asked to notify their chair or supervisor of any potential travel plans including their destination and travel dates.  

Please note that McMaster’s Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Centres cannot be used to obtain a rapid test for the purpose of travel.  

Travel considerations will be regularly reviewed by the university.