The university pays directly or reimburses individuals for expenses that are necessary and appropriate to conduct university business. Expenditures must be consistent with the university’s purchasing policies and guidelines as well as the guiding principles and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations with regard to business and travel expense policies. 

In June 2020, the university implemented a new travel policy that states that university funds may only be used to purchase or reimburse new university-sponsored travel expenses when booked through one of the Stanford Travel booking channels: Casto, Egencia, United Corporate Direct, and Anthony Travel (used exclusively by Athletics). This policy applies to Stanford faculty, staff and students booking airfare, hotel, and/or car rentals. Read the complete policy in the Business and Travel Expense policy overview.

Stanford Travel is the university's preferred travel management service for travelers and arrangers. Special Stanford-negotiated rates for air travel, car rental and lodging can all be booked through Stanford Travel. Per Administrative Guide Policy 5.4.2: Business and Travel Expenses, use of Stanford Travel booking channels is expected, as it supports the guiding principle to spend appropriately, eliminates the administrative requirement to provide documentation demonstrating the expense is reasonable and also connects travel reservations to International SOS.

The Stanford Travel Card (TCard) is the preferred payment method for travel expenses. Alternatively, personal funds may be used and a request for reimbursement can be submitted after the trip. The same policies and guidelines must be followed regardless of payment or reimbursement method. Learn more about these methods on the Travel Process page.

Before Foreign Travel

Before foreign travel, Stanford business travelers should:

Permissible Foreign Business Travel Expenses

In addition to air travel, ground transportation, lodging and meals for foreign business travel, Stanford will pay these other business and travel expenses: actual costs of acquiring passports, visas, tourist cards, necessary photographs, birth certificates, required inoculations, immunizations, health cards and fees for the conversion of funds to foreign currencies.


Reporting Expenses for Foreign Travel

Expense reports with relevant supporting documents attached must be completed for all travel expenses paid by the university. Refer to How to: Create Foreign Expense Report for an SU Payee.

Note: If a trip either originates or terminates in a foreign country, the entire cost of the trip is coded to a foreign travel expenditure type. This includes any costs for transportation, meals and lodging in the United States that is necessitated by the foreign business travel (e.g., ground transportation to and from a U.S. airport at the start or end of foreign travel).

Supporting documentation required for expenditures associated with foreign travel are the same as for domestic travel. The university does not require receipts for expenditures less than $75; however, schools and departments may require receipts for such expenditures.

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