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Frequently Asked Questions

Browse the health clearance FAQs below, and contact us if your question hasn’t yet been answered.

Completing Health Clearance

Health clearance is required for:

  • Undergraduates on Harvard-led trips of any duration
  • Undergraduates on Harvard-sponsored trips (with limited exceptions for trips less than two weeks)
  • All students participating in Harvard Summer School study abroad programs

Administrators of graduate level or other programs who are interested in requiring health clearance for their participants, email Katherine Swanson, katherine_swanson@harvard.edu, in Global Support Services.

There are several steps to the health clearance process, so start early. Review the instructions on page 2 of the health clearance packet that applies to you.

The description of your travel can be a description provided by your program’s web page, or you may need to write your own description. Include information such as the remoteness of the location, the availability of medical resources, whether the activities are physically strenuous, the type of lodging (homestay, hostel, etc.), whether you're traveling individually or as part of a group, and any other details that would help a health care provider evaluate your plans.

Yes. You're required to complete and submit a new health clearance packet 30–90 days prior to departure for each trip.

If you're participating in a Harvard Summer School study abroad program, you must submit your packet by the date set by your program.

No. HUHS Medical Records only accepts the standard Harvard health clearance packet. If you need to complete any requirements regarding health clearance, or if a doctor's signature is required on a form other than the Harvard health clearance packets found on the Student Travel Forms page of our website, you'll need to contact HUHS or your primary care physician to fulfill the requirement.

Yes, with one exception: If you're traveling on a non-Harvard program that has a health clearance process requiring review by a medical professional or contact with a medical professional, then you can securely email a completed copy of the medical clearance forms from your non-Harvard program to the Office of International Education, oie@fas.harvard.edu. In the subject line of your email, include your last name, first name, and the terms "Health Clearance Exception." You'll be notified within four to five business days if this exception has been granted.

Harvard Sponsorship

Any travel or related activity involving academic work qualifying for Harvard credit, funded in whole or in part by Harvard, or organized or accompanied by a Harvard faculty or staff member acting in a Harvard capacity, is considered Harvard sponsored.

Any program for which there is a Harvard faculty or staff member on the ground in the program location, either as a program leader or to provide support or guidance to program participants, is considered a Harvard-led trip.

Travel Clinic

No. While a pre-departure visit to the travel clinic is recommended, the health clearance process is completed separately.

If you typically receive your medical care at HUHS, you can obtain health clearance from HUHS, just not the travel clinic specifically. Review the instructions included in the health clearance packet that applies to you.

Yes. The travel clinic will provide country-specific health advice and immunizations, as well as other reference materials that will help you stay healthy abroad.

Medications & Medical Accommodations
  • If you use medication on a regular basis—including, but not limited to asthma inhalers and oral contraceptives—you should take a supply to last throughout your stay.
  • When going through Customs abroad, officials may scrutinize prescription medication. Carry your prescriptions in original containers and a letter from your physician on letterhead explaining the medical necessity and treatment. Travelers have been arrested for "smuggling" ordinary quantities of medication in other than the original containers.
  • Medications that are legal and readily available in the U.S. may be considered illegal, require a prescription, or prior authorization from your host country to be allowed in the country. Remember to find out whether your prescription medication is available and legal in your destination. The U.S. embassy website of your destination country is a good place to start. If your medication isn't legal or available, consult with your health care provider about the suitability of alternative medications.
  • If you're taking a psychotropic drug, you must be stable on your medication before starting your study abroad experience. Medically stable means that no changes in your symptoms are foreseen or expected. Discuss proper medication management with your doctor.

Most countries have very strict regulations on having medications shipped abroad, and students find that refills of common medications in the U.S., such as Adderall, are stopped by the host country's Customs. The host country government, not the U.S. Post Office, decides which medications may be mailed legally within their country. Call the host country government office in the U.S. or search the destination guides on the International SOS member portal to learn about the legality of mailing certain medicines.

  1. Take special precaution in preparing for and managing your situation abroad. For example, if you have allergies, ensure that specialized medications will be available. If you're diabetic, consider the consequences of contracting malaria.
  2. Anticipate how the new environment and the stresses of study abroad can affect your health. Preexisting mental health conditions are often intensified by living in a different culture and local resources may be less than or different from those to which you're accustomed at Harvard. Discuss these concerns with your health care provider(s) prior to your departure. Fully explore the resources available to you in the location you'll be visiting and how to reach out for help while abroad, if needed. If you're being treated for a mental health condition, it may be necessary for you to have a treatment plan identifying a therapist and frequency of appointments.

If your health care provider indicates on the health clearance form that you require certain medical services or accommodations to participate in the Harvard travel plan, then you must work with the FAS Disability Access Office (for Harvard College, GSAS, or SEAS students) or the Harvard Summer School Accessibility Services Office to complete the medical services and accommodation portion of the Health Clearance Packet. These offices may be able to assist you in identifying the resources you need. Harvard cannot guarantee that services or accommodation are available, nor can it guarantee the accessibility of vehicles, housing, other accommodations, study sites, or other places you may visit.

Submitting & Tracking Forms

There are several steps to the health clearance process, so start early. Review the instructions on page 2 of the health clearance packet that applies to you.

Allow at least five business days for HUHS to review your packet and complete the clearance. However, if HUHS determines that you require an in-person appointment prior to being cleared, this process could take longer. You need to submit the health clearance packet 30-90 days prior to your anticipated departure.

Once you're cleared, HUHS will send you a secure message through the Patient Portal. HUHS will also route certain forms to OIE or Harvard Summer School. Generally, the process is completed within five business days of HUHS receiving a completed packet.