Paying for Travel

Please note, some departments may have more restrictive internal policies. Travelers should always consult their department’s specific guidelines and procedures before making travel purchases. 

Travel and Expense Card

The Travel and Expense Card, also known as the T&E Card, is the preferred method of payment for all employee-initiated travel, meals, and entertainment expenses for the following reasons:

• Does not incur international fees, cash advance fees, or sales tax on goods and services that are exempt from sales tax
• VISA provides cardholder assistance, insurance, and services
• More efficient than processing a travel reimbursement
• Cash Advance option on the Travel and Expense Card

See T&E Card for details on how to obtain a card to pay for travel expenses.

See Expensing & Reimbursements for information on the expensing process.

See Also: Can I use my T&E Card for International Travel?

Reimbursement 

Expenses paid with personal funds should not be submitted until after the completion of the trip. Employees have 30 days from the completion of travel to submit an expense report in Workday Expenses. Expense reports submitted later than 30 days after the last day of travel require justification which describes why late submission was unpreventable. Please Note: Expenses paid with airline miles, credit card points, personal unused ticket credits, gift cards, or similar are not reimbursable. See more info here. 

See Expensing & Reimbursements for information on the reimbursement process.

For Non-Employees, see Travel and Expenses for Non-Employees.

Cash Advance/Withdrawal 

Cash Withdrawals can be made on the Travel and Expense Card for cash-related travel expenses such as traveling to countries with a cash-based economy. Employees may obtain a cash withdrawal when it is the only means of paying for travel expenses. A T&E card and direct payment to service providers should be used before requesting a cash withdrawal. Cash withdrawals are allowed on the travel card only while you are in travel status, or within seven days of an official University business trip. If you do not have a T&E card, we can assist you with obtaining a card within three to five business days. 

• Cash Withdrawals are granted for business travel only and must be approved by the cardholder's Authorizer.
• There are no international or ATM fees from Bank of America; however, it is recommended that travelers locate a Bank of America ATM or international partner ATM to avoid fees from other banking institutions.  For more information, visit https://locators.bankofamerica.com/international.html; or refer to our ATM and Credit Card FAQ. Note: Participation in this program is subject to change, please review participating Financial Institutions prior to travelling internationally and using International Partner ATMs.
• Please keep all receipts when spending money from a cash withdrawal. You will be required to itemize all expenses when you return in Workday Expenses. 
• Expensing a Cash Withdrawal
  • When expensing, use the T&E Cash Withdrawal expense item and itemize all expenses to the relevant expense items with receipts attached.
  • A cash withdrawal cannot be paid from sponsored program funds.
  • Any unused portion of a cash withdrawal should be retained by the cardholder, itemized in the expense report under the Residual Balance expense item, and marked as "personal" in Workday Expenses so that it will be deducted from your next paycheck. The unused portion must be repaid to the University within 30 days from the last date of travel. Failure to repay within 30 days will result in collection which could include payroll deduction. If you have a cash withdrawal that you cannot repay within 30 days from the last date of travel, please contact askfinance@virginia.edu immediately. Payroll deduction could occur as soon as 35 days after the last date of travel.

To Request a Cash Withdrawal on the T&E card, please complete the Card Change Request form: Request Cash Withdrawal.

Launch TravelUVA     Travel Contracts