Travel Ban

I. Relevant Security Council resolutions and Guidelines of the Committee

The exemptions to the travel ban are provided for by the following:

  • Security Council Resolution 1596 (2005), paragraph 13
  • Security Council Resolution 1649 (2005), paragraph 3
  • Committee Guidelines: Section 9

II. Who is entitled to submit the request for exemptions from the travel ban?

The State(s) of which the listed individual is a national or resident may submit a request through their Permanent Mission to the United Nations, or through the relevant UN office.

III. What should be included in the request for exemption from the travel ban?

Each request for exemption should include the following information, with accompanying documents to the extent possible:

  1. the name, designation, nationality and passport number(s) of the person(s) undertaking the proposed travel;
  2. the purpose(s) of the proposed travel, with copies of supporting documents furnishing details connected to the request such as specific dates and times of meetings or appointments;
  3. the proposed dates and times of departure from and return to the country from which the travel commenced;
  4. the complete itinerary for such travel including the ports of departure and return and all transit stops;
  5. details of the mode of transport to be used, including where applicable, record locator, flight numbers and names of vessels;

Each travel ban exemption request shall be received by the Committee Chair as early as possible but not less than five working days before the date of the proposed travel, except in cases of emergency.

IV. How to make requests for exemptions from the travel ban?

Please send the requests for exemptions from the travel bans to:

  • The Chair of the Committee, His Excellency Mr. Michael Imran Kanu (Sierra Leone) through the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations

With copies to:

V. Decision Making of the Committee:

In cases where the Committee approves requests for exemptions to the travel restrictions, the Chair will write to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the State of which the listed individual is a national or resident or to the relevant UN office, informing them of the approval. Copies of the approval letter will also be sent to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of all State(s) to which the listed individual will be traveling and transiting in the course of the approved exemption.

VI. Request for an extension of the exemption from the travel ban

Any request for an extension of the exemption is subject to the procedures set out above and shall be received by the Chair in writing, with a revised itinerary, no less than five working days before the expiry of the approved exemption, and circulated to Committee members.

VII. Changes to the approved exemption from the travel plan

Any changes to the required travel information previously submitted to the Committee, particularly the points of transit, shall require the prior approval of the Committee and shall be received by the Chair and circulated to the Committee members no less than five working days prior to the commencement of the travel, except in cases of emergency, as determined by the Chair.

The Chair shall be informed immediately in the event of advancement or postponement of travel for which the Committee has already issued an exemption.

Written notification will be sufficient in cases where the time of departure is advanced or postponed no more than 48 hours and the previously submitted itinerary remains otherwise unchanged. If travel is to be advanced or postponed by more than 48 hours before or after the date previously approved by the Committee, then a new exemption request needs to be submitted.

For exemption requests based on medical or other humanitarian need, the Committee will determine whether the travel is justified within the provisions of paragraph 14 of resolution 1596 (2005), or paragraph 3 of resolution 1649 (2005), once informed of the name of the listed individual traveler, the reason for travel, the date and time of evacuation, along with flight details, including transit points and destination(s). In cases of emergency medical evacuations, the Chair shall also be promptly provided with a doctor’s note containing details of the nature of the medical emergency and the facility where treatment was received by the patient, as well as information regarding the date, time and mode of travel by which the patient returned or will return to his/her country of residence.

VIII. After the travel

The Committee shall receive written confirmation from the State in whose territory the listed individual resides or from the relevant UN office, with supporting documents, confirming the itinerary and date on which the listed individuals travelling under an exemption granted by the Committee returned to the country of residence.

All requests for exemptions and extensions thereto, which have been approved by the Committee pursuant to paragraph 14 of resolution 1596 (2005), or paragraph 3 of resolution 1649 (2005), shall be posted on the Committee’s webpage until confirmation of the return to the country of residence of the listed individual is received by the Committee.