Security Requirements
Some locations require and/or suggest completion of security training as a condition to the Department of State's approval.
The table outlines training you may need to complete before traveling. The trainings apply to all U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens traveling for SLAC business. The travel team will contact any impacted travelers and facilitate the application process as part of our pre-trip request procedure.
| REQUIREMENT | INFORMATION | REGISTRATION AND PROCEDURES |
Security Briefing | - Required for travel to China. - Required for travel to France for 10 business days or longer. - Meet with local DOE Counterintelligence Officer (CO) to complete the briefing. - Travel @ SLAC will reach out to the CO for the briefing set up. - China briefing valid for one year. - France briefing valid for two years. | Travel will reach out to help set up the briefing with the CO and the traveler after a travel request has been submitted in Concur. |
Smart Travel Enrollment Program (STEP) | - Required for travel to France. - Recommended for all travelers. - One time registration | Register online at |
Serving Abroad for Families & Employees (S.A.F.E.) | - Required for travel to the United Kingdom - Recommended for travel to any foreign location for 30 business days or more in one country. - Online course. - Valid for 5 years | Complete the online registration and training course for S.A.F.E. After completing the course, send a copy of the Course Completion Certificate to travel@slac.stanford.edu, as it is necessary for submission to the U.S. Department of State to complete the country clearance approval process, if required by the U.S. embassy. |
The training listed below are not required to be taken by SLAC travelers. However, it is strongly encouraged by the DOE that travelers take these trainings, as they can provide travelers with threat and situational awareness against criminal and terrorist attacks while working or traveling in high-threat regions.
TRAINING | INFORMATION | REGISTRATION AND PROCEDURES |
Counter Threat Awareness Training (CTAT) | - Recommended for travel to any foreign country for less than 45 days in a calendar year. - Required if the U.S. embassy location requests the training be completed. - 4.5 hrs online course. - Registration cost: Free - Valid for 5 years | - Apply for admission to FSI to register for CTAT. - After completing the training, email a copy of the Course Completion Certificate to travel@slac.stanford.edu. Evidence of course completion is necessary for submission to the U.S. Department of State to complete the country clearance approval process, if required by the U.S. embassy. |
Foreign Affairs Counter Threat Course (FACT) | - Recommended for travel to any foreign country for more than 45 days in a calendar year. This can be a combination of different countries. - If you complete the FACT course, you will not have to complete CTAT. - Five-day practical, hands-on training provided by the | - Apply for admission to FSI to register for FACT. - After admittance, email travel@slac.stanford.edu requesting registration to FACT and provide a P-A for the registration fee. - The Travel Office will obtain DOE approval and remit payment to FSI. - FSI will confirm training registration with the traveler. - After completing the training, email a copy of the Course Completion Certificate to travel@slac.stanford.edu. Evidence of course completion is necessary for submission to the U.S. Department of State to complete the country clearance approval process, if required by the U.S. embassy. |
Although not required, travelers are recommended by DOE to complete HTSOS and FACT (if applicable) training before traveling.
Individual U.S. embassies granting country clearance have the discretion to withhold country clearance for employees if they have not completed training. Should any U.S. embassy location require training to be completed prior to country clearance, we will advise the traveler to take the appropriate training. U.S. embassies located in the countries listed below are known to require HTSOS training before granting Country Clearance.
All countries below are included as part of the High Threat Country list by the U.S. State Department.
Argentina, Croatia, Israel, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa
Additional Information Required by U.S. State Department Posts
Individual U.S. embassies granting country clearance have the discretion to gather additional information as a requirement for their approval of country clearance for travelers. The table below lists the additional information required to be provided. To avoid delay to a trip request approval, please include the listed information in your Concur request.
| France | Spain |
- An accurate internationally enabled cell phone number - Complete Airline Information: includes details on all designated flights and transit cities - Train details (if any) - Host (name/phone number/title) - All meeting/venue information in France: (address/venue phone) - Emergency contact in the US: (name/email/office phone/mobile phone) - Traveler’s Work Supervisor: (name/email/office phone/mobile phone) | - Traveler information: (international cell phone number /personal and work email addresses) - Complete Airline Information: includes details on all designated flights and transit cities - Hotel Information: (name/address/phone number) - Emergency Contact Information: (name/email/contact number) |
For more details and up-to-date information, visit the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories page.
