Skip to Main Content
You are now in the main content area

IARM Portal

TMU Holiday Closure Notice

TMU will be closed for the holidays from Monday, December 23, 2024, and will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025. During this period, IARM forms will not be processed.

We wish you a happy holiday season!

IARM form banner - 1

IARM Steps

You will receive an IARM completion email once you complete the following steps ahead of your departure.

Please complete and submit the International Activity Registration Form (external link, opens in new window)  using my.torontomu.ca login.

You will require the following information to complete this form

Submit the International Activity Risk Management form 2-3 months before your travel and it will take up to 10 business days to process this form. Once this form is processed, you will receive an email from global.learning@torontomu.ca (opens in new window)  with instructions to  login to the International Activity Risk Management portal.

If you do not receive an email within 10 business days after submission, please check your spam or junk email folder.

Use the Resources section provided below to complete this form.

Login to the International Risk Management Portal using the link that was emailed to you.

You will find 2 forms available to you in this portal

  1. Pre-Departure Form - should be submit this form at least 2 weeks prior to departure.
  2. International Activity Risk Management Plan - is only required for travels to a high risk destinations. Please read the International Risk Management Plan section below for more information.

 Use the Resources section provided below to complete these forms.

Once you have completed and submitted all your required IARM forms, you will receive a confirmation of completion email from global.learning@torontomu.ca (opens in new window) 

You may be required to share this documentation with your academic department prior to departure.

Now you are ready to travel. Bon Voyage!

Resources

What is the difference between travel insurance and medical insurance?

When purchasing an insurance plan for travel, it is important to know what is and is not included in your plan. Most options available are a combination of travel insurance and medical insurance (often called Travel Medical Emergency Insurance for travelers).

Travel Insurance:

Most basic travel insurance plans cover Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption. Extended travel insurance plans may also cover:

  • Lost, damaged or delayed baggage
  • Flight delays and cancellations
  • Theft
  • Flight and travel accident

Medical Insurance (Travel Medical Emergency Insurance):

Basic medical insurance does not include Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption. Many insurance providers offer medical-only plans with options to add-on coverage for travel insurance like Trip Cancellation & Interruption. Medical-only insurance plans often cover:

  • Medical emergency services including hospital accommodation, lab tests, x-rays, and ground ambulance
  • Fees for nurses, physicians and other health care professionals for emergency medical treatment
  • Emergency dental expenses
  • Medical evacuation
  • Repatriation
  • Family member travel assistance

Some insurance plans combine travel insurance and medical insurance plans. This is the case with TMSU Travel Insurance which includes medical coverage as well as trip cancellation, trip interruption, and baggage insurance. When purchasing your own insurance, you have the option to build a plan suitable for your needs. 

The Toronto Metropolitan University minimum Travel Medical Emergency Insurance requirements (see next question below) requires students to obtain a Travel Medical Emergency insurance plan which includes travel insurance covering Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption in addition to typical medical insurance coverage.

 

What are the minimum requirements?

Students are required to obtain a Travel Medical Emergency Insurance that covers: 

  • Medical emergency services which includes Hospital accommodation, lab tests, x-rays, nursing and ground ambulance
  • Emergency dental expenses
  • Medical evacuation
  • Repatriation

You are strongly encouraged to obtain a Travel Medical Emergency Insurance plan that includes Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption insurance, as well as Family Member Travel Assistance. In the event that you need to return home sooner or later than expected, or if your trip is canceled altogether, Trip Interruption/Cancellation insurance covers extra costs and reimburses you for non-refundable and/or non-transferable portions of unused, prepaid travel arrangements. Family Member Travel Assistance covers the expense of a family member traveling to your location in the event that you are hospitalized while abroad and are traveling without family.

You can compare your insurance policy to the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan (See “Travel Insurance") (external link, opens in new window)  which serves as a minimum standard for coverage (you may already have coverage through this plan, see next question). It is every student’s responsibility to consult with a doctor to understand their own medical needs and if any additional coverage is needed. 

 

Where can I purchase travel medical emergency insurance?

TMSU Travel Insurance Plan (undergraduate students only)

If you are a member of the Toronto Metropolitan Student Union and enrolled in their health care plan, you may already be covered through the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan (See “Travel Insurance”)  (external link, opens in new window) . The TMSU Travel Insurance Plan serves as our minimum standard for health insurance. If the coverage provided by this plan meets your own medical needs and/or your personal preferences, and you have coverage (i.e. you have not opted out of the plan) for the duration of your activity, then you would not need to buy another plan. Please note if you are traveling to your home country, you will not be eligible for TMSU’s travel coverage. You can contact the TMSU Health and Dental Plan Administrator (tmsuplan@mystudentplan.ca (opens in new window) ) to see if you are covered. 

Important Notice: If you are traveling to your home country or country of permanent residency, you will not be eligible for TMSU’s travel coverage.

If you are traveling on a personal trip the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan only covers the first 180 days of your trip abroad. If you are traveling abroad for longer than the applicable coverage period you will need to purchase additional insurance to cover the remainder of your trip. 

It is your responsibility to read through TMSU’s Travel Insurance coverage and confirm if this meets their own individual needs. We encourage you to talk with their doctor prior to travel to discuss any medical needs to better inform their decisions regarding insurance coverage.  

For questions regarding TMSU Travel Insurance coverage information, please reach out to the TMSU Health and Dental Plan Administrator (tmsuplan@mystudentplan.ca (opens in new window) ).

Toronto Metropolitan Graduate Students Union (TMGSU) Travel Insurance

Students who are a member of the Toronto Metropolitan Graduate Students Union (TMGSU) and enrolled in their health care plan, may already be covered through the  (PDF file)  (PDF file) XGSU Travel Insurance Plan. (external link, opens in new window)  The TMGSU Travel Insurance Plan covers 60 days of travel and covers a total of $5,000,000 for Emergency Services per covered person per benefit year and $50,000 for Referral Services per covered person per benefit year. For those students who are looking to extend their benefits for longer travels, XGSU has partnered with AwayCare for an option to extend their health plan and purchase an additional 30 days. Please visit AwayCare  (external link, opens in new window)  for further details. Please note that due to COVID-19, arrangements with AwayCare can currently only be made by phone or email. 

For more information of how to access the XGSU Insurance plan or to find out if you are covered, please see the XGSU Health and Dental Plan (external link, opens in new window)  or contact healthplan@xgsu.ca (opens in new window) 

Other Insurance Plan Options

If you are not covered under the TMSU Travel Insurance Plan, or it doesn’t meet your needs or preferences, you can purchase travel insurance independently. You may be able to get a better rate, or have access to travel insurance plans through your  employer’s insurance, travel agent, credit card company, parent’s health insurance, student travel insurance companies, etc.

It is very important that you read through the travel insurance policy in detail before you purchase travel medical emergency insurance. You should  understand the eligibility requirements, terms and conditions, limitations, restrictions and exclusions of the policy. Please note: If you are traveling to a high risk destination coverage may be affected.

 

What if my existing plan does not meet the minimum requirements?

If you are already covered for travel medical insurance by your employer, credit card company, or host institution but your plan does not meet the previously outlined minimum standards, you will need to purchase additional coverage. It may be possible to expand the coverage of your existing plan. Contact your insurance provider to explore options.

In the case of insurance from your host institution/country (particularly in relation to students participating in the semester based exchange program), the insurance plan usually does not cover Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption, which is highly encouraged. Additional insurance from Canada/your home country may be purchased to supplement your existing medical insurance from your host institution.

 

How does my travel medical emergency insurance coverage work abroad?

Prior to traveling abroad, you should check with your insurance provider to understand:

This will vary by insurance policy. Ensure you know how to use your policy before you need to access medical care. Some insurance companies require you to contact them in advance of receiving treatment or will only reimburse treatment at partner health care organizations or providers. Some providers will pay your medical costs directly while others reimburse for out of pocket or charge a deductible.

What is an International Risk Management Plan?

TMU's International Risk Management Plan is a tool to identify the medical, health, security and travel risks associated with the destination(s) you will be visiting, and allows you to develop a plan to mitigate these risks. It is reviewed by TMU Global and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and approved by the relevant senior academic leader, depending on the risk rating level of your destination.

Am I required to complete an International Risk Management Plan?

Completion of the “International Risk Management Plan” is required only when your destination(s) is rated at a level 3 (“avoid non-essential travel”) or Level 4 (“avoid all travel”) by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and/or “High” or “Extreme” risk by International SOS (see “Travel Risk Advisories” below). 

Students may be asked to complete an International Risk Management plan even if their destination is listed as Level 1 or Level 2 by GAC or Insignificant to Medium risk by International SOS. For example, additional requirements may be identified based on other risk assessment resources. You will be contacted directly if this requirement is identified for your destination(s).

University-sanctioned international group activity must have a faculty and/or staff member responsible for the international risk management requirements of the group. This individual is responsible for the completion of the International Risk Management Plan on behalf of the group. See the Group Travel Abroad (external link, opens in new window)  section on our Faculty and Staff resources page for more information.

When do I have to submit an International Risk Management Plan

You should start working on the International Risk Management Plan 2-3 months prior to departure, submitting it for review as soon as possible. 

Do not finalize any bookings (such as flights and accommodation) until formal approval is received. The review and approval process between the student traveler, TMU Global, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS), and appropriate academic leadership can take several weeks to finalize. As such, it is important to start the process as early as possible.

 

What is International SOS?

International SOS (ISOS) is the University’s International Risk Management provider. The University has partnered with ISOS to offer our students medical, safety and security expertise and help when traveling or living abroad.

What are the services provided by SOS?

As an International SOS member, you receive extended security assistance 24/7. No issue is too small. Consider ISOS your reliable, virtual advisor for both critical and routine questions. ISOS provides the following services before travel and from your destination(s):

  • Destination specific information. Visit our Member’s Portal  (external link, opens in new window) for access to travel, medical and security information on 220 countries and more than 330 cities.  
  • Regular email updates and ISOS Assistance App (external link, opens in new window)  notifications on the latest travel security developments and advice in response to significant travel security incidents
  • Advice before your trip from a regional expert or medical professional
  • A referral for a local doctor, dentist or other care
  • Routine or urgent medical care, including medical evacuation;
  • Counseling sessions while abroad either via phone or in-person (where available). Your membership allows you to have 5 free counseling sessions per trip. 
  • Assistance with lost passport  
  • Translation services 
  • Urgent and non-urgent travel security assistance and advice
  • When in doubt, call International SOS for compassionate, reassuring support.

How do I register with International SOS?

  1. Register a New User/Login using your @torontomu.ca email address at International SOS MyTrips (external link, opens in new window) .
  2. Add a “New Trip”. Must include both:
    1. Housing Accommodations Information (For entire length of activity abroad),
    2. Flights (Return & Departure)
  3. Read carefully through the “Pre-trip Advisory” email that is sent from ISOS within 24 hours of successfully adding a “New Trip”. This email contains important security and medical information relevant to your travel.
  4. Download your  (PDF file)  (PDF file) PDF file International SOS Membership Card (opens in new window)  to keep with you at all times while traveling abroad. In the event of an emergency, call one of the phone numbers listed on the card or call via the International SOS Assistance App. 
  5. (OPTIONAL) We highly encourage you to download the International SOS Assistance App  (external link, opens in new window) for wifi enabled calling or texting to the closest International SOS Assistance Centre, for immediate help while abroad. The app also provides travel alerts/notifications and country specific medical and security information. 
    • Login Information: When logging into the App for the first time you will need to create a new account. You should use the same first name, last name, and email address as you used to create your International SOS MyTrips account (See step 1 above). This will enable the trip details you entered in your MyTrips account to sync with your International SOS Assistance App. 

What are travel advisories?

The university uses Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Travel Advice and Advisories (external link, opens in new window)  to assess the risk associated with a particular country. The GAC travel advice and advisories have four levels (external link, opens in new window)  under which countries, and sometimes regions within countries, fall:

  • Level 1 - Exercise normal security precautions
  • Level 2 - Exercise a high degree of caution
  • Level 3 - Avoid non-essential travel
  • Level 4 - Avoid all travel

The university’s international travel risk management partner, International SOS, also compiles detailed information and provides risk ratings by country. In addition to the GAC travel advisories, the university uses  (google doc)  International SOS’ risk ratings and country profiles (external link)  as an additional source of information.

  • ISOS Security Risk Rating (Insignificant, Low, Medium, High, Extreme)
  • ISOS Medical Risk Rating (Low, Medium, Variable, High, Very High)

How do I identify travel advisories and risk ratings for my destination?

To identify the GAC Travel Advice and Advisories for your destination(s), visit the GAC website  (external link, opens in new window) and select the destination under consideration.

Through our risk management partner, International SOS’s Members Portal (external link, opens in new window) , you can search additional detailed risk assessments by country. Simply select the “Know My Risks” tab in the top banner and then select a country from the “please select location” drop down menu on the top left (directly under the “Learn About Your Risks” header). Once the country profile is loaded you will be able to find all risk ratings on the main “Overview” page. For a step-by-step guide for reviewing this information on our ISOS Membership portal, please review:  (google doc) ISOS’s Membership Portal Step-by-Step Guide: Accessing Country Profiles & Risk Ratings (external link, opens in new window) .