Travel Abroad

If you plan to travel to any of the countries that are the subject of any U.S. sanctions or programs included in the links at the bottom of this page to conduct University-related work or research or to present the results of University-related work or research, you should consult with the Export Control Director to determine whether any restrictions will apply to your travel. If a license is required, the Export Control Director can assist with that effort.

Note that travel abroad with technical data, technology, software or information controlled for US export purposes may be prohibited or subject to an export license prior to the travel. Moreover, if your research falls under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, you are prohibited by law from taking any technical data or ITAR controlled articles to proscribed countries identified in 22 CFR 126.1. (http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/embargoed_countries/index.html) for the current list of proscribed destinations or contact the University Export Control Director to provide assistance.

The Office of Foreign Assets Sanctions Program includes the following countries and travel to these countries for any purpose is likely to be restricted.

  • Balkans
  • Iraq
  • Belarus
  • Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor
  • Burma
  • North Korea
  • Cote d’Ivoire
  • Sudan
  • Cuba
  • Syria
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Zimbabwe
  • Iran
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Somolia
  • Yemen

If you intend to travel with your laptop or GPS equipment, be sure to complete the Laptop-GPS Checklist and keep it on file for 5 years after the travel is completed. You should also take it with you when you travel in case you are asked by US Customs officials what type of information is on your laptop and which license exception you are applying for the equipment/devices. PLEASE NOTE that some of the software applications that Boston University uses to analyze data or make technical drawings and blueprints is controlled for export purposes, however, you are permitted to take it out of the US on temporary basis pursuant to the “tools of trade” license exception. Contact the University Export Control Director for more information.

Furthermore, you are prohibited from taking any export controlled materials/papers/reports on your laptop outside of the US without an export license or valid license exception that is determined by the University Export Control Director. Please pay special attention to the reports that you are submitting to your project managers or instructions that you are receiving from sponsor agencies part of the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Energy, NASA, NOAA. Even if your research qualifies under the Fundamental Research Exclusion; these materials may be controlled for export purposes and not intended for public release. Contact the University Export Control Director to assess whether or not you may take these abroad. Link here (Traveling Overseas with Mobile Phones, Laptops, PDAs, and Other Electronic Devices) for helpful tips for traveling with electronic devices abroad.

If you plan to carry or transport materials outside of the United States, be sure to consult the Shipments/Transport – Questions to Answer.

Suggested Links: