Arrival, Travel & Return Testing Guide

Here are more details about our approach to supporting a healthy return to campus, on initial arrival and post-travel, including picking up university-provided rapid tests.

Travel Testing During the Academic Year 

Student groups traveling on behalf of Stanford are required to follow all university policies. Here's where you can connect with general policies on Stanford-sponsored travel. 

What to do BEFORE you return to campus

• Take a rapid test before you return. 
• If you test positive, do not travel. Follow CDC and campus guidelines before you return to campus. You will need to isolate for 5 full days, and you can leave isolation on day 6 or later with a negative rapid test, improved symptoms, and no fever for 48 hours. 
• Contact the Financial Aid Office if travel disruptions present a financial hardship.
  • All students can email financialaid@stanford.edu or call 650-723-3058 during business hours.
  • Graduate and professional students will be asked to submit an Emergency Grant in Aid application.

What to do UPON RETURNING to campus

• If you test negative, return to campus. Test twice with Color during your first week back. 
• Students who tested positive for COVID in the past 90 days should not test with Color and should instead take a rapid test. Here’s more information.

Picking up rapid and Color tests 

All students

• Color tests are available to all students at these locations.
  • 8 rapid antigen tests are available to all students, each month, for pickup at the AFDC Color site. You can pick up 4 tests at a time, and can come twice in each calendar month.
• You’ll need your Stanford ID and cell phone. You’ll be asked to scan a QR code while in line to display your pick-up authorization badge on your phone. Staff will check your badge before giving you the tests. If you don’t have a phone, a staff member will manually check your records to verify eligibility. Once you pick up your four kits, your authorization badge will expire. You will not be able to pick up more kits until the next calendar month.
• Tests will be available from graduate housing service centers only for spouses and partners living in Stanford housing.

Do not submit a new Color test until you receive the previous test result.