Duke Faculty Travel

Once you have identified a Duke-NUS host and agreed on visit dates, you should contact the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs to begin travel planning.

Visitors receive a letter of invitation from the Duke-NUS host department that outlines travel entitlements and expectations.

The first step is to submit the Outgoing Travel Request Form, completing all required fields.

When selecting preferred travel dates, please:

• Ensure they meet the required duration of stay in Singapore

• Avoid Singaporean public holidays

• Account for travel time and time zone differences

In most cases, travelers must depart approximately 48 hours before their intended arrival date in Singapore. A sample travel schedule is outlined below under our Outgoing Travel Resources.

*All travelers must hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended return date from Singapore.

The Office of Duke-NUS Affairs provides travel booking and coordination support for visitors traveling from Duke University or the Duke University Health System. The level of support depends on the traveler’s needs and the source of travel funding.

Travelers may either:

• Book travel through the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs, or

• Upon the approval of the Office of Duke-NUS, book travel independently and request reimbursement after returning, in accordance with applicable Duke-NUS travel policies.

Direct travel between Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) must be booked through the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs. Travelers are responsible for booking their own travel and submitting expenses for reimbursement according to the guidelines outlined in their invitation or appointment letter.

Booking through the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs

Travelers booking direct flights between RDU and SIN will work with the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs, which coordinates bookings with a travel agent.

The process includes:

1. Submission of the Outgoing Travel Request Form and passport information

2. Review of details and identification of flight options

3. Approval of flight options by Duke-NUS

4. Selection of approved options by the traveler

5. Final booking and confirmation shared with the traveler and Duke-NUS host department

Because of the time difference with Singapore, this process may take up to 10 days to two weeks.

Important notes:

• Travelers are responsible for all costs related to upgrades, add-ons, or changes

• Any changes must be coordinated through the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs

• Airfare cannot be finalized without confirmation of approved travel dates and duration

Booking independently

Travel that does not originate at RDU or includes additional destinations may be booked independently. Travelers coordinating trips with companions must book independently.

Important notes:

• Duke-NUS will reimburse only the portion of airfare that reflects direct travel to and from Singapore

• Travelers must submit the Outgoing Travel Request Form so reimbursement approval can be obtained before booking

• Bookings that exceed the approved amount are not eligible for reimbursement

• Travelers are responsible for all ticketing changes

* Please review the Office of Duke-NUS guidelines for additional information. 

The travel policy that applies to your trip depends on your appointment status with Duke-NUS and the source of travel funding.

• Duke faculty with joint appointments at Duke-NUS Medical School are considered Duke-NUS staff. Their travel is governed by the Duke-NUS Overseas Staff Travel Policy. 

• Travelers without a Duke-NUS appointment are considered visitors. Their travel is governed by the Duke-NUS Overseas Visitor Travel Policy. 

Copies of Duke-NUS travel policies are available upon request.

Trip expenses and support vary based on the traveler’s role, host department, and purpose of the visit. Specific entitlements are outlined in the traveler’s invitation or appointment letter.

Trips may include:

• Airfare, with class of travel determined by Duke-NUS policy

• Airport transfers at the origin and destination

• Hotel accommodations, including approved hotel and number of nights

• Per diem, covering meals, local transportation, and incidental expenses while in Singapore

• Honorarium, for individuals giving Duke-NUS–organized or co-organized seminars

• Singapore withholding tax, paid by Duke-NUS on behalf of non-residents

Per diem rates and processing vary by traveler role and visit purpose. In some cases, per diem payments are processed by the Duke-NUS host department; in others, reimbursement may be handled by the Office of Duke-NUS Affairs.

A yellow fever vaccination is required for all travelers, including Singapore residents, who have been in any country with risk of yellow fever transmission within six days prior to arrival in Singapore. This includes transit periods of more than 12 hours. A valid yellow fever vaccination certificate must be presented to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) upon arrival.

For more details on yellow fever and the list of affected countries, you may refer to the CDA’s website.

All travelers are required to submit the SGAC within three days (including the day of arrival) before arriving in Singapore, except:

• Those transiting/transferring through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance; and
• Singapore citizens, Permanent Residents and Long-Term Pass Holders entering via land checkpoints.

Submission of SGAC is free and can be done via the SGAC e-Service or MyICA Mobile app. 

Both of these popular apps will make your visit to Singapore more convenient. We strongly recommend downloading and setting both apps up prior to leaving the US.

• Whatsapp - the most commonly used messaging app outside the US, this will allow you to text and call using your phone's internet connection rather than your mobile plan's minutes.
• Grab: This platform is used for ride sharing and food delivery, among other services. Uber is not widespread in Singapore, so we recommend using Grab instead.

Consult Duke Global Travel Support for more resources regarding traveling on Duke business. They provide travel policies, pre-departure checklists, emergency response information, and other resources.

Per the Duke Global Travel Policy, any individual traveling abroad with “Duke Support” - whether Student, Faculty, Staff, or Other (e.g., alumni, visiting scholars) – is required to enter their trip details into the Duke Travel Registry prior to departure. When an emergency occurs outside the United States, Duke consults the Travel Registry to identify individuals who might be in the affected location and determines if it can provide assistance.

Keep your digital information safe with help from Duke Information Security's travel guidelines.

Don't forget to notify your bank before traveling abroad, so that your charges don't get flagged as suspicious. Duke-NUS policy is to issue a per diem to each traveler after the close of the trip, best practice is to use a personal card for expenses while you are in Singapore.

For information regarding health insurance while abroad, please review this page and download the available membership cards for CIGNA and I-SOS.

Please find a list of Singapore's national public holidays here.