Safety Abroad

Complete the International Activity Registration Form (external link) . 

We recommend you complete this form 3-4 months prior to departure. In this form you will be required to include the following information:

• Student information (name, student number, program, etc)
• Diversity Self-ID (optional)
• Activity information (destination, start and end dates, host university/organization, etc)

*Note that students participating in the exchange program do not need to complete this form as they will be automatically enrolled in the International Travel Registry through their exchange application form. 

7 business days after you have completed your International Activity Registration Form (external link) , you will be provided with instructions on how to login in to your International Activity Portal. In the portal you will be able to complete all of your international risk management requirements.

We recommend that you complete the "Pre-Departure Training Resrouces Form" at least 3-4 months prior to your departure. You may want to review the training resources multiple times at different stages of your preparation. 

These training resources cover important information on:

• Travel documentation and customs;
• Travel logistics (packing, financial planning, trip insurance, etc);
• Medical considerations (including COVID-19);
• Risk awareness and navigating emergency situations abroad

  To access and complete the above form, you must login to your International Activity Risk Management Portal.

 Additionally, you are encouraged to attend an optional Risk & Safety Pre-Departure Orientation. This virtual information session outlines the required International Risk Management steps for students going abroad on university-sanctioned activities. Students will come away from this session with knowledge about the tools and resources available to them prior to, during, and post-trip. Students are encouraged to bring their questions to the event, there will be time set aside to address specific circumstances. 

This is a recurring event on the first and third Tuesday of every month, from 3pm-4pm. You can register for an upcoming session on our Stories and Events webpage. We look forward to seeing you there! 

We recommend that you complete the “Travel Advisories and COVID-19 Form” (required of all students) and the “International Risk Management Plan” (required only for destinations that are rated at level 3 and 4, high and extreme risk ratings as outlined below) 4 months prior to departure. 

Travel Advisories and Covid-19 Form

The “Travel Advisories and COVID-19 Form” includes information from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and International SOS (see ISOS FAQ section for more information):

• GAC Travel Advisories
• ISOS’ Security and Medical Risk Ratings
• ISOS’ COVID-19 Impact Scores
• COVID-19 Entry Requirements and Public Health considerations for your destination(s)

International Risk Management Plan

Completion of the “International Risk Management Plan” is required only when your destination(s) is rated at a level 3 (“avoid non-essential travel”) or Level 4 (“avoid all travel”) by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and/or “High” or “Extreme” risk by International SOS. The plan is a tool that helps you to identify the medical, health, security and travel risks associated with the destination(s) you will be visiting, and allows you to develop a plan to mitigate these risks. 

• The plan is reviewed by TMU Global and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS).
• Activity is contingent on approval from the Associate Dean of your Faculty (Level 3 or High risk ratings) or the Provost and Vice-President, Academic (Level 4 or Extreme risk ratings). 

See Travel Risk Advisories and International Risk Management Plan FAQs for more information.

  To access and complete the above forms, you must login to your International Activity Risk Management Portal.

For Group-Based Activity Only:

University-sanctioned international group activity must have a faculty and/or staff member responsible for the international risk management requirements of the group. This individual is responsible for the completion of an International Risk Management Plan on behalf of the group. 

See the Group Travel Abroad (external link)  section on our Faculty and Staff resources page for more information.

We recommend you complete the “Liability Waiver and Acknowledgement Form” 2-4 months prior to departure. These documents ensure that you are aware of the risks associated with international activity. We encourage you to take the time to carefully assess how you might be impacted and if this is a risk you are willing to assume. 

  To access and complete this form, you must login to your International Activity Risk Management Portal.

We recommend that you complete your “Final Pre-Departure Form” 1-2 months prior to departure. 

In this form you will be required to include the following information:

• Travel Medical Emergency Coverage (policy name and number)
• Emergency Contact and passport information
• Confirmation of registration with International SOS (instructions provided)
• Confirmation of registration with the Government of Canada (or the country of your passport)

  To access and complete this form, you must login to your International Activity Risk Management Portal.

Once students have completed all of the requirements outlined above, they will receive an email with their confirmation of completion within 3 business days. Students may be required to share this documentation with their academic department prior to departure.

The university uses Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Travel Advice and Advisories (external link)  to assess the risk associated with a particular country. The GAC travel advice and advisories have four levels (external link)  under which countries, and sometimes regions within countries, fall:

• 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
  

The university’s international travel risk management partner, International SOS, also compiles detailed information and provides risk ratings by country. In addition to the GAC travel advisories, the university uses  (google doc) International SOS’ risk ratings and country profiles (external link)  as an additional source of information.

• ISOS Security Risk Rating (Insignificant, Low, Medium, High, Extreme)
• ISOS Medical Risk Rating (Low, Medium, Variable, High, Very High)

To identify the GAC Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination(s), visit the GAC website  (external link) and select the destination under consideration.

Through our risk management partner, International SOS’s Members Portal (external link) , you can search additional detailed risk assessments by country. Simply select the “Know My Risks” tab in the top banner and then select a country from the “please select location” drop down menu on the top left (directly under the “Learn About Your Risks” header). Once the country profile is loaded you will be able to find all risk ratings on the main “Overview” page. For a step-by-step guide for reviewing this information on our ISOS Membership portal, please review: (google doc)  ISOS’s Membership Portal Step-by-Step Guide: Accessing Country Profiles & Risk Ratings (external link) .

An International Risk Management Plan is a tool that helps to identify the medical, health, security and travel risks associated with the destination(s) you will be visiting, and allows you to develop a plan to mitigate these risks. It is reviewed by TMU Global and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and approved by the the relevant senior academic leader, depending on the risk rating level of your destination.

Completion of the “International Risk Management Plan” is required only when your destination(s) is rated at a level 3 (“avoid non-essential travel”) or Level 4 (“avoid all travel”) by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and/or “High” or “Extreme” risk by International SOS (see “What are Travel Advisories” FAQ). 

In certain circumstances, students may be asked to complete an International Risk Management plan even if their destination is listed as Level 1 or Level 2 by GAC or Insignificant to Medium risk by International SOS. For example, additional requirements may be identified based on other risk assessment resources. You will be contacted directly if this requirement is identified for your destination(s).

University-sanctioned international group activity must have a faculty and/or staff member responsible for the international risk management requirements of the group. This individual is responsible for the completion of the International Risk Management Plan on behalf of the group. See the Group Travel Abroad (external link)  section on our Faculty and Staff resources page for more information.

We recommend that students start working on the International Risk Management Plan 3-4 months prior to departure, submitting it for review as soon as possible. 

Students should not finalize any bookings (such as flights and accommodation) until formal approval is received. The review and approval process between the student traveller, TMU Global, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and appropriate academic leadership can take several weeks to finalize. As such, it is important to start the process as early as possible.

International SOS (ISOS) is the University’s International Risk Management provider. The University has partnered with ISOS to offer our students medical, safety and security expertise and help when traveling or living abroad.

When you are away from home and in unfamiliar surroundings, there are some events that you can't predict. You may become ill, lose your passport, run out of medication or simply need advice. As an International SOS member, you receive extended security assistance 24/7 no matter where you study or travel internationally. No issue is too small. Consider ISOS your reliable, virtual advisor for both critical and routine questions. You have access to the following services before travel and from your destination(s):

• Destination specific information. Visit our Member’s Portal  (external link) for access to travel, medical and security information on 220 countries and more than 330 cities.  
• Regular email updates and ISOS Assistance App (external link)  notifications on the latest travel security developments and advice in response to significant travel security incidents
• Advice before your trip from a regional expert or medical professional
• A referral for a local doctor, dentist or other care
• Routine or urgent medical care, including medical evacuation;
• Counseling sessions while abroad either via phone or in-person (where available). Your membership allows you to have 5 free counseling sessions per trip. 
• Assistance with lost passport  
• Translation services 
• Urgent and non-urgent travel security assistance and advice
• When in doubt, call International SOS for compassionate, reassuring support.

Who do you call?

In the event of an emergency ISOS should be your first point of contact for support. You can reach out to ISOS 24/7 via phone ( (PDF file) Assistance Center phone numbers) or the ISOS Assistance App (external link)  (allows wifi enabled calling and texting). As an ISOS member, you will have access to a worldwide network of 27 assistance centers staffed by doctors, nurses, coordinators and security professionals who will provide you with local expertise and emergency assistance. 

Emergency Incident Check-ins:

If a significant travel security incident, health threat or natural disaster has affected your region, TMU Global will reach out via the International SOS Assistance App, as well as by email, to check on your safety status. We will reach out on the email provided when you registered for ISOS. It is important that you regularly check this email address while traveling abroad to ensure you are keeping up-to-date on ISOS communications. 

1. Register a New User/Login using your @torontomu.ca email address at International SOS MyTrips (external link) 
2. Add a “New Trip”. Must include both:
   1. Housing Accommodations Information (For entire length of activity abroad),
   2. Flights (Return & Departure)
3. Read carefully through the “Pre-trip Advisory” email that is sent from ISOS within 24 hours of successfully adding a “New Trip”. This email contains important security and medical information relevant to your travel.
4. Download your  (PDF file) PDF file International SOS Membership Card to keep with you at all times while traveling abroad. In the event of an emergency, call one of the phone numbers listed on the card or call via the International SOS Assistance App. 
5. (OPTIONAL) We highly encourage you to download the International SOS Assistance App (external link)  for wifi enabled calling or texting to the closest International SOS Assistance Centre, for immediate help while abroad. The app also provides travel alerts/notifications and country specific medical and security information. 
   • Login Information: When logging into the App for the first time you will need to create a new account. You should use the same first name, last name, and email address as you used to create your International SOS MyTrips account (See step 1 above). This will enable the trip details you entered in your MyTrips account to sync with your International SOS Assistance App. 

When purchasing an insurance plan for travel, it is important to know what is and is not included in your plan. Most options available are a combination of travel insurance and medical insurance (often called Travel Medical Emergency Insurance for travelers).

Travel Insurance:

Most basic travel insurance plans cover Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption. Extended travel insurance plans may also cover:

• Lost, damaged or delayed baggage
• Flight delays and cancellations
• Theft
• Flight and travel accident

Medical Insurance (Travel Medical Emergency Insurance):

Basic medical insurance does not include Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption. Many insurance providers offer medical-only plans with options to add-on coverage for travel insurance like Trip Cancellation & Interruption. Medical-only insurance plans often cover:

• Medical emergency services including hospital accommodation, lab tests, x-rays, and ground ambulance
• Fees for nurses, physicians and other health care professionals for emergency medical treatment
• Emergency dental expenses
• Medical evacuation
• Repatriation
• Family member travel assistance

Some insurance plans combine travel insurance and medical insurance plans. This is the case with TMSU Travel Insurance which includes medical coverage as well as trip cancellation, trip interruption, and baggage insurance. When purchasing your own insurance, you have the option to build a plan suitable for your needs. 

The Toronto Metropolitan University minimum Travel Medical Emergency Insurance requirements (see next question below) requires students to obtain a Travel Medical Emergency insurance plan which includes travel insurance covering Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption in addition to typical medical insurance coverage.

Students are required to obtain a Travel Medical Emergency Insurance that covers: 

• Medical emergency services which includes Hospital accommodation, lab tests, x-rays, nursing and ground ambulance
• Emergency dental expenses
• Medical evacuation
• Repatriation

While it is not mandatory, you are strongly encouraged to obtain a Travel Medical Emergency Insurance plan that includes Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption insurance, as well as Family member travel assistance. In the event that you need to return home sooner or later than expected, or if your trip is cancelled altogether, Trip Interruption/Cancellation insurance covers extra costs and reimburses you for non-refundable and/or non-transferable portions of unused, prepaid travel arrangements. Family Member Travel Assistance covers the expense of bringing a family member to the hospital in the event that you are hospitalized while abroad and are traveling without family.

You can compare your insurance policy to the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan (See “Travel Insurance") (external link)  which serves as a minimum standard for coverage (you may already have coverage through this plan, see next question). It is every student’s responsibility to consult with a doctor to understand their own medical needs and if any additional coverage is needed. 

If you are a member of the Toronto Metropolitan Student Union and enrolled in their health care plan, you may already be covered through the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan (See “Travel Insurance”) (external link) . As mentioned above, the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan serves as our minimum standard for health insurance. If the coverage provided by this plan meets your own medical needs and/or your personal preferences, and you have coverage (i.e. you have not opted out of the plan) for the duration of your activity, then you would not need to buy another plan. Please note if you are traveling to your home country, you will not be eligible for TMSU’s travel coverage. You can contact the TMSU Health and Dental Plan Administrator (tmsuplan@mystudentplan.ca) to see if you are covered. 

Important Notice: If you are traveling to your home country or country of permanent residency, you will not be eligible for TMSU’s travel coverage.

Please note that if you are traveling on a personal trip the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan only covers the first 180 days of your trip abroad. If you are traveling abroad for longer than the applicable coverage period you will need to purchase additional insurance to cover the remainder of your trip. 

It is the responsibility of all students to read through TMSU’s Travel Insurance coverage and confirm if this meets their own individual needs. We encourage all students to talk with their doctor prior to travel to discuss any medical needs to better inform their decisions regarding insurance coverage.  

• Review TMSU’s updated Travel Insurance Benefit’s Booklet (See "Travel Insurance") (external link, opens in new window) .
• If covered, download your TMSU’s travel medical assistance card under the “Travel Insurance” section of your  (PDF file) TMSU MyBenefits page (external link, opens in new window) . Please note that there are two different cards available for download. Select the card with the applicable coverage period. For example, if you are participating in a university sanctioned international activity, select the card that lists 180days.
  

For questions regarding TMSU Travel Insurance coverage information, please reach out to the TMSU Health and Dental Plan Administrator (tmsuplan@mystudentplan.ca).

Students who are a member of the Graduate Students Union (XGSU) and enrolled in their health care plan, may already be covered through the  (PDF file) XGSU Travel Insurance Plan. (external link)  The XGSU Travel Insurance Plan covers 60 days of travel and covers a total of $5,000,000 for Emergency Services per covered person per benefit year and $50,000 for Referral Services per covered person per benefit year. For those students who are looking to extend their benefits for longer travels, XGSU has partnered with AwayCare for an option to extend their health plan and purchase an additional 30 days. Please visit AwayCare (external link)  for further details. Please note that due to COVID-19, arrangements with AwayCare can currently only be made by phone or email. 

For more information of how to access the XGSU Insurance plan or to find out if you are covered, please see the XGSU Health and Dental Plan (external link)  or contact healthplan@xgsu.ca

If you are not covered under the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan, or it doesn’t meet your needs or preferences, you can purchase travel insurance independently. You may be able to get a better rate, or have access to travel insurance plans through your  employer’s insurance, travel agent, credit card company, parent’s health insurance, student travel insurance companies, etc.

It is very important that you read through the travel insurance policy in detail before you purchase travel medical emergency insurance. You should  understand the eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, limitations, restrictions and exclusions of the policy. Please note: If you are traveling to a high risk destination coverage may be affected.

If you are already covered for travel medical insurance by your employer, credit card company, or host institution but your plan does not meet the previously outlined minimum standards, it may be possible to expand the coverage of your existing plan. Contact your insurance provider to explore options.

In the case of insurance from your host institution/country (particularly in relation to students participating in the semester based exchange program), the insurance plan usually does not cover Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption, which is highly encouraged. Additional insurance from Canada/your home country may be purchased to supplement your existing medical insurance from your host institution.

Prior to traveling abroad, you should check with your insurance provider to understand:

• your coverage details
• where you can access medical care
• how their reimbursement/claims process works. 
• how Global Affairs Canada’s travel advisories (external link)  for your destination will affect your policy. Travel insurance policies may have exceptions in place if there is a level 3 or 4 travel advisory issued by Global Affairs Canada. (external link) 

This will vary greatly by insurance policy. Ensure you know how to use your policy before you need to access medical care. Some insurance companies require you to contact them in advance of receiving treatment or will only reimburse treatment at partner health care organizations or providers. Some providers will pay your medical costs directly while others reimburse for out of pocket or charge a deductible.

When travelling abroad, it can sometimes be difficult to access online resources such as G Suite at Toronto Metropolitan University, D2L Brightspace and the my.torontomu portal. It is important that you have access to these resources in order to facilitate contact and continued support for International Risk Management procedures. 

Computing and Communications Services (CCS) has created global.torontomu.ca, a proxy service to help in many of these situations. This proxy service, much like a virtual private network or VPN, helps you access most applications on the torontomu.ca domain that may not otherwise be available in your location.

Where should I be using global.torontomu.ca?

The service is available for use primarily in the Asia-Pacific region but can be accessed anywhere outside of Canada, the United States and Mexico.

How can I access global.torontomu.ca?

Bookmark https://global.torontomu.ca prior to your departure in order to easily access the proxy service during your travels. If you try to open global.torontomu.ca in a window right now, the page will not load. To connect to the global.torontomu.ca interface you need to be outside of Canada, the United States or Mexico. You will need to provide your my.torontomu username, password and two-factor credentials to authenticate to the proxy. Once authenticated, you should be able to access TMU's online resources in the same way you do on the TMU campus. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Computing and Communications (CCS) Help Desk at help@torontomu.ca or 416-979-5000, ext. 556806.