Travel to Foreign Countries

Do not travel to conduct research or educational activities to embargoed countries without first checking with the Office of Research to secure a license from the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control. A request to travel in embargoed countries is sometimes granted for educational purposes.

The current list of embargoed countries includes the following:

• Balkans
• Cuba
• Iran
• Iraq
• Libya
• North Korea
• Burma
• Liberia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Zimbabwe

This list is subject to updates. Please reference OFAC's Sanctions Program and Country Summaries for the most current list.

NOTE: A general license for Cuba may cover you; all other countries require a specific license.

What Can You Take with You Overseas?

Under the license exception for temporary export (TMP) you can take usual and reasonable kinds and quantities of tools of trade (commodities and software) for use by you or your employees in a lawful enterprise. The tools of trade must remain under your effective control or your employee's (you or your employee must retain physical possession of the item, lock it in a hotel safe, or have it guarded). Encryption commodities and software may be pre-loaded on a laptop, handheld device or other computer or equipment.

All tools of trade may accompany you departing from the U.S. or may be shipped unaccompanied within one month before your departure from the U.S., or at any time after departure. All commodities and software must, if not consumed or destroyed in the normal course of authorized temporary use abroad, be returned as soon as practicable, but no later than one year after the date of export. No tools of trade may be taken to embargoed countries.

Contact Information

Robin Witherspoon
Export Control Officer
UT Knoxville Office of Research
1534 White Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37996-1529
Phone: (865) 974-0232
Fax: (865) 974-2805
Email: rwither@utk.edu