Step 1 – Consider travel-free alternatives

Before booking travel, you must always assess whether the travel can be replaced by digital meetings.

Read more about digital meetings and video conferences at Lund University

As of 1 January 2019, new regulations apply to all travel paid for by Lund University (for staff and external guests as well as students). They apply both to modes of transport and accommodation.

Regulations for business travel at Lund University (PDF 41 kB)

General guidelines for business travel at Lund University (PDF 49 kB)

Step 2 – Manager approval

Travel must be approved by your line manager who has responsibility for ensuring you follow the regulations and for approving any deviations.

Step 3 – Consider the environment, safety and cost

If travel is approved, consideration must be given to the work environment and environment, as well as to cost efficiency.

Fossil-free modes of transport should be the first option. Trains should be the first option for domestic travel. Flights may be considered if the time saved is at least two hours on both the outbound and inbound journeys. The total travel time shall be compared (including connecting transport and waiting times).

Consider cost efficiency and pay attention to all aspects of the trip: transport to and from train stations/airports, accommodation, working hours, allowances etc.  

Step 4 - Book

Travel must be booked via the travel agency with which Lund University has a procured agreement regardless of the mode of transport. This way, safety requirements and insurance are automatically included.

Read more about booking travel via a travel agency, including hotels and accommodation

For travel in the immediate area, read about local travel

Cars shall be used restrictively for financial, environmental and safety reasons. Our procured rental cars shall always be green vehicles.

You can hire a plug-in hybrid car via LU Service. Bookings are made through Lupin.

Read more about the framework agreement for rental cars and the use of private cars

Things to consider before and while travelling

There are also some practical things to consider and prepare before travelling, such as vaccinations and visas.

More information on travel preparations from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Swedish)

You will be covered by travel insurance via the procured travel agency. As an employee, you are also insured via Kammarkollegiet’s business travel insurance.

Read more about business travel insurance

For travel-related expenses while travelling, it is recommended you apply for a charge card.  

Read more about charge cards

Subsistence allowance

You are eligible for subsistence allowances and travel cost reimbursements for business travel.

Read more about this on the Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) website

Extend a business trip

If the traveller, for personal reasons, wishes to travel earlier or stay longer in connection with a business trip the line manager must approve this. The prolonged duration of the stay must be in reasonable proportion to the length of the business trip. You are responsible for the additional costs that occur due to the extension of the trip.  

Accommodation

Accommodation shall be booked via the University’s procured travel agency. Hotel rooms should be of good middle-class standard (three or four star).   

Link to the booking page of the procured travel agency Egencia

When it is not possible to book accommodation in advance or when the hotel is allocated for an external conference, you will have to report the expense through the University travel expense report system after returning home.

When you return home from your trip

Tickets and other travel-related expenses shall be invoiced whenever possible. If this is not possible, you may report expenses in the travel expense report system.  

Information about how to do a travel expense report and receive reimbursement for expenses

Complaints

If you are unhappy with your trip or booking, it is important that you file a complaint. Below is a complaints form to be sent to customer_service [at] egencia [dot] se and evelina [dot] kelvgard [at] eken [dot] lu [dot] se.

Complaints form (Word 75 kB, new window) (in Swedish)

Booking for visitors

If you have a guest whose travel and accommodation is to be covered by the University, bookings shall be processed in the same way as above via the procured travel agency.

Read more about booking travel via a travel agency, including hotels and accommodation

For short-term and long-term accommodation with cooking facilities in Lund, Lund University has some guest accommodation to offer. Hotel bookings shall be booked according to the public hotel agreement.

Read more about Lund University’s guest accommodation, University Guest House

Information on hotels, via public agreements, can be found in Lupin