FAQ's

If you're traveling on RF funds, please visit SUNY RF's website to learn about international travel benefits. The RF pays the full cost of this coverage (Global Traveler & Global Expatriate plans). To enroll, please visit GeoBlue.

SUNY also provides international travel and health benefits for faculty, staff and students who are traveling on SUNY programs. To learn more about SUNY's coverage, please visit ASA's outbound insurance website. Coverage is available at a very modest cost (less than $3 per day).

The rules of travel to Europe have changed. Starting in mid-2025, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorization to enter most European countries. Visit EU's Official website for the most up-to-date information (including specifics on the exact launch date, accessing the online application, etc.) from the EU's official website.

Look at the upper right-hand corner of your license. Does it contain a star inside a circle (or, for California residents, a star on a golden bear)? If it does, your license is certified as Real ID and no further action is required. If you are unsure if your license is Real ID-compliant, please consult the Department of Homeland Security website.

To obtain a Real ID, you will need to go to your DMV and present an appropriate form of identification as defined by your state. For state-specific details, visit www.dhs.gov/real-id and select your state. You will be redirected to your state's DMV website where you can find additional information. 

Starting on February 1, 2026, travelers flying domestically without a Real ID or other form of acceptable ID (see link below) will face the new $45.00 fee for the TSA's ConfirmID system, which verifies identity through biometrics/biographics before allowing access to security checkpoints. This fee covers the cost of verifying insufficient IDs and can be paid for online or at the airport, though paying in advance is recommended to avoid significant delays, as the process can take 10-30 minutes. This fee is not an allowable business expense and therefore should not be paid with a University issued credit card and will not be reimbursable. Visit the TSA website  for information on acceptable IDs to avoid the fee). 

An employee is in travel status when the employee is:

• Engaged in official State business
• At more than 35 miles from both their designated official station and their place of residence. Employees must obtain appropriate approvals prior to traveling. 

Official Station is generally defined as the address of the office to which the employee is assigned. An employee can only have one official station. The designation of official station is determined by the University in the best interest of the State and not for the convenience of the employee. The purpose of the official station is to determine when the traveler is in travel status and eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses. *Travel between the employee's home and official station is considered commuting and is not reimbursable. *

The current mileage rate can now be found under Travel Policies

Please scroll down to the search bar and type in "Mileage Rate" for the latest on the current mileage rate price.

Domestic Travel Restrictions:

The ban on travel to North Carolina and Indiana has been lifted. The ban on travel to Mississippi remains in effect. This travel ban applies to all travel funded by the State or certain Research Foundation sponsors.

Foreign Travel Restrictions:

As a first step in planning any trip abroad, please check the Travel Advisories for your intended destination at the U.S. Department of State Alerts and Warnings Travel Site

Visit Guidance and Procedures for information regarding export controls.

Please visit: https://www.osc.state.ny.us/agencies/guide/MyWebHelp/Content/XIII/4/D.htm

Day Trip Reimbursement: When an employee is in "travel status" for the day, the employee may be reimbursed for breakfast and/or dinner based on departure and return times. Travelers are entitled to reimbursement for breakfast if they leave before 7:00 AM and/or for dinner if they return after 7:00 PM. Travelers without meal receipts are reimbursed $5.00 for breakfast, and/or $12.00 for dinner. Travelers with meal receipts are reimbursed up to the maximum amount of the meal per diem allowance specified for the particular area related to the travel destination. The meal per diem allowance is apportioned for breakfast & dinner. Please visit the OSC website for current per diem meal allowance breakdown: 

Day trip meal reimbursements are reportable as income to the IRS. Lunch is not reimbursable.

Non-Reimbursable Expenses include:

Personal, non-business-related expenses such as speeding fines, parking tickets, laundry, entertainment (i.e. theater tickets, in-room movies, banquet tickets), early bird check-in charges, seat upgrades, or airline/trip insurance. Additionally, transportation to and from meals is not reimbursable. Trip insurance is allowed under RF and RF IDC Funded travel.