Temple University continues to closely monitor the events that are occurring in the Middle East region, and we have been in regular contact with members of our community who have been affected by developments abroad.

The university strongly advises all members of its community to defer any travel and transit through the Middle East region until further notice. This guidance comes on behalf of the U.S. Department of State as well as Healix International, Temple’s global assistance provider.

Any university-sponsored travel to the impacted countries must be reviewed by the university’s Division of Global Health, Safety and Security (GHSS) and the Office of Risk Management. 

If you plan to travel to any of the countries listed below through June 30, 2026, complete and submit a Pre-Travel Application and reach out directly to GHSS at ghss@temple.edu with your proposed dates and reason for travel.

• Bahrain 
• Egypt 
• Iran 
• Iraq 
• Israel (including Gaza and West Bank) 
• Jordan 
• Kuwait 
• Lebanon 
• Oman 
• Qatar 
• Saudi Arabia 
• Syria 
• United Arab Emirates 
• Yemen 

If you’ve previously received approval for upcoming travel to these countries, you must still contact GHSS at the above email address for an additional review. GHSS will then convene the HERC, comprised of representatives from Education Abroad and Overseas Campuses, the Office of the Provost, the Office of University Counsel, and the Office of Risk Management, for review and purpose for approval.

Travel must NOT be booked to any of the above-mentioned countries without GHSS explicit approval. Supervisors who receive a “Passive Approval” email from Concur for a direct report’s travel to these countries must confirm with GHSS that travel has been approved. The GHSS approval email must be shared with Christopherson Business Travel if the agency is used for booking, and this approval email must be attached to any expense reports submitted for travel expense reimbursement.  If travel is ultimately booked without GHSS approval, expenses will not be reimbursed.

Updated March 4, 2026