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  1. Home
  2. Before you go
  3. Who you are: Advice for different types of travellers
  4. Advice for academics

Advice for academics

Last Updated
Friday, 10/05/2024
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Academic study and work will often take you overseas. But it’s important to remember that the risks may be different for you while travelling.

Before you go

It's your responsibility to understand the risks of travel and plan for your safety.

  • Read the travel advice for the destinations you plan to visit. Subscribe for updates.
  • Understand the risks you might face.
  • Find out what visas, permits and credentials you may need.
  • Think about your cyber security and the potential for foreign interference.

Risks to consider

Read the travel advice for your destination thoroughly. If the advice level is 4, we advise against all travel. If the advice level is 3, our advice is that you reconsider your need to travel.  If despite our advice you travel to a higher-risk destination, we recommend you take extra precautions.

Conduct a risk assessment of your destination in consultation with your local contacts, your institution, and its security advisers. It's important to understand the risks you might face and have a plan if things go wrong.

When assessing your destination, carefully consider:

  • the cultural or political sensitivity of what you’re doing. Think about how your area of research or academic specialisation could be viewed by the local government or people of the destination you're visiting. Particularly if the topic is potentially controversial in the local context, including both international and local issues.
  • your public-facing online content or commentary. If you've been outspoken against the government or politics of the destination you're travelling to, it may increase the risk to your personal security or the risk of you being arrested or detained.
  • your previous travel or links to third countries that may be a source of suspicion for the authorities in your destination.
  • the local attitude towards academics and academic freedom. The Scholars at Risk Network provides information on destinations where academics may be targeted.
  • local laws and culture. Understand what laws may affect where you can go, what you can say, and who you can talk to. Also be aware of laws and attitudes towards women, LGBTQIA and people of a specific ethnic or cultural background.
  • the political and security situation. Political and social unrest can increase the risk of arrest or detention if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.
  • the risk of
    • kidnapping
    • arbitrary arrest or detention
    • terrorism
    • espionage and cyber crime
  • dual nationality. If you’re a dual national this can impact how and when we can help you overseas. If you’re in your other country of citizenship, the government there may restrict what consular services we can provide.
  • any health risks you might face.

Be sensitive to any risks you may create for locals when you ask them to participate in interviews, surveys or other research activities.

Local authorities have detained travelling academics, including Australians, under false accusation of serious crimes. Seriously consider the risks you face.

Visas, permits and credentials

Research entry rules and apply for the correct visas. You may need a specific visa if you're travelling to take part in research or teach as a visiting academic. 

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. We can’t pay your fines or stop you from being deported if you don’t have the right visa or breach your visa conditions.

Special equipment

If you bring equipment or samples, you may need a special permit. If you don't have the correct paperwork, they could be taken from you at the border.

Be careful what equipment you take into the field. Some devices may be considered suspicious or banned outright by local authorities. Ensure you get any permits you need for the equipment and always keep them with you. Also carry evidence of your research activity and the equipment’s purpose.

Cyber security

The information you have access to is a valuable commodity. Travelling businesspeople and academics are key targets for cybercrime and espionage. It's important to consider

  • the information you're responsible for
  • your online footprint and the information about you available to others
  • the potential motivation of anyone who goes out of their way to connect with you.

Assume that your devices will be scrutinised when crossing international borders. Information found on personal devices during a police search has been used against Australian travellers in the past, including personal emails and search history.

Before you travel

  • Do a stocktake of your public online presence, including social media. Lock down accounts or remove anything that may compromise your safety while overseas.
  • Audit information stored on devices you're taking with you, including personal documents and photos. Save anything you don't need to take on a different device and leave it at home. Consider setting up new email accounts for your trip or backing up and deleting your email history.

While you're away

  • Avoid accessing your accounts on a public computer, for example, at an internet café or library. Don't use free public wifi.
  • Use your own charging cables and plugs.
  • Use a data blocker when charging your device.
  • Be careful who you connect with on social media.
  • Log out of your accounts after you use them.
  • If legal in your destination, use encrypted messaging apps to communicate. Look for apps that offer end-to-end encryption.
  • Don't leave your devices unattended, including charging cables. Even in hotel safes.
  • Regularly back up data on your devices to an encrypted hard drive or cloud service. Clear sensitive information off your devices after backing up.

Read our full advice on cyber security while travelling.

 

Read next

  • Understand how the Australian Government can help you overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.
  • Know what to do if you’re arrested overseas.
  • Read our advice on preventing kidnapping.
  • Learn about protecting your health while travelling.

See also

  • Read advice about identifying malicious profiles on social media 
  • Learn more about being cyber secure 

Main navigation

  • The basics
    • Destinations
    • Europe and the Schengen Area
    • Getting a foreign visa
    • Travel insurance
    • CHOICE travel insurance buying guide
  • Who you are
    • Academics
    • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
    • Dual nationals
    • Journalists
    • LGBTQIA+
    • Mature and older travellers
    • School leavers
    • Travelling with children
    • Travelling with a disability
    • Travelling with pets
    • Women
  • Activities
    • Adoption
    • Antarctica and the Arctic
    • Backpacking
    • Business
    • Living and working overseas
    • Marriage
    • Retiring overseas
    • Sports and adventure
    • Studying
    • Surrogacy
    • Volunteering
  • Major events
    • Cultural events
      • Travel overseas for Anzac Day
    • Religious events
      • Travel overseas for Ramadan
      • Travel overseas for Hajj
    • Sporting events
      • Rugby League Las Vegas 2025
  • Health
    • Infectious diseases
    • Going overseas for a medical procedure
    • Medical assistance overseas
    • Medication and medical equipment
    • Mental health
    • Organ transplant tourism
    • Pregnancy
    • Reciprocal health care agreements
    • What happens if you die overseas
  • Staying safe
    • Armed conflict
    • Assault
    • Cyber security
    • Earthquakes and tsunamis
    • Kidnapping
    • Natural disasters
    • Partying safely
    • Piracy
    • Protests and civil unrest
    • Scams
    • Severe weather
    • Sexual assault
    • Terrorism
    • Theft and robbery
  • Laws
    • Carrying or using drugs
    • Child sex offences
    • Female genital mutilation
    • Forced marriage
  • Getting around
    • Air travel
    • Boat travel
    • Cruising
    • Public transport
    • Road safety

Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

To report a vulnerability you’ve identified on this website or to find out more about the department’s Vulnerability Disclosure Policy visit the DFAT website

About us

Smartraveller is provided by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For more information go to about us.

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Main navigation

  • Home
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Destinations
      • Europe and the Schengen Area
      • Getting a foreign visa
      • Travel insurance
      • CHOICE travel insurance buying guide
    • Who you are
      • Academics
      • Colour, race, ethnicity, or religion
      • Dual nationals
      • Journalists
      • LGBTQIA+
      • Mature and older travellers
      • School leavers
      • Travelling with children
      • Travelling with a disability
      • Travelling with pets
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Antarctica and the Arctic
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Retiring overseas
      • Sports and adventure
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Cultural events
        • Travel overseas for Anzac Day
      • Religious events
        • Travel overseas for Ramadan
        • Travel overseas for Hajj
      • Sporting events
        • Rugby League Las Vegas 2025
    • Health
      • Infectious diseases
      • Going overseas for a medical procedure
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medication and medical equipment
      • Mental health
      • Organ transplant tourism
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health care agreements
      • What happens if you die overseas
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Protests and civil unrest
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • Pacific
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent help
  • Our services
    • Consular State of Play
      • Data
      • Case studies
      • Images
      • Videos
      • Audio
      • Historical data
    • Consular Services Charter
      • ميثاق الخدمات القنصلية (Arabic)
      • 领事服务章程 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 領事服務章程 (Chinese Traditional)
      • Panduan Layanan Konsuler (Indonesian)
      • 領事サービス憲章 (Japanese)
      • 영사 서비스 헌장 (Korean)
      • กฎบัตรว่าด้วยบริการต่าง ๆ ของกงสุล (Thai)
      • Quy định về Dịch Vụ Lãnh Sự (Vietnamese)
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • 日本語 (Japanese)
      • 한국어 (Korean)
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Crises
    • News and updates
    • Notarial services
      • Documents we can legalise
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Passport services
    • Resources
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement
    • Subscription
    • Travel advice explained
    • Voting overseas