Assistance App
International SOS in Your Pocket
Whether you have an emergency or simply need advice or information while abroad on a Harvard-related trip, the Assistance App provides you with quick and easy access to the benefits of our International SOS membership.
Get personalized trip-preparation and travel advice, real-time updates and incident alerts, and 24/7 assistance from a real person when needed, from anywhere around the globe.
You can download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. When you first start the Assistance App, you’ll need to sign up with your Harvard email address and enter your profile information (name, contact information). After that, you'll be able to log in with your HarvardKey.
"Have the app ready to go just in case! It gives a sense of security." – Harvard traveler
Register Your Trips and View Your Itineraries
You can create, edit, and delete your trips from within the Assistance App. And whether you register your trips in the Assistance App or through the MyTrips website, you can view and search your current and completed itineraries from within the app, too.
Read Country & City Guides
Review country and city summaries, social and business etiquette, crime and safety, local laws and customs, vaccination requirements, money and language, geography and weather, and much more. "Favorite" up to 25 countries for quicker access.
Get Alerts & Notifications
Sign up to receive push notifications and alerts about medical and travel security incidents in your area that may affect your travel.
Call for Help
With one tap, you can call Harvard's dedicated 24/7 emergency hotline: +1-617-998-0000 and be immediately connected to International SOS operators.
Chat with a Case Manager
Chat with International SOS operators and case managers from within the app. Simply set up a PIN and security question to get started.
Check-in & Share Your Location
With two quick taps, you can share your current location for 48 hours. You can also refine your location by typing in an address. The check-in feature requires you to enable and allow GPS-based location services on your device.
Checking in via the app is a good option if you take a short trip and forget to update your itinerary in either the Assistance App or MyTrips. Note that checking in on the Assistance App won't update your itinerary, but both International SOS and our safety & security team are able to access your check-in location in the event of an emergency.
"The International SOS app was very useful.... Though I was in a very safe country, the app still provided me information about various strikes/demonstrations and how they might impact my travel plans." – Harvard traveler
Note: The Assistance App is maintained by International SOS. Country and region names may appear differently in their reports. The information contained in their reports is obtained from a variety of international governing bodies. The geographic names that appear are not necessarily endorsed by Harvard University. For more information, see to the Assistance App video user guides.