The Bureau of Public Affairs of the Department of State offers a subscription service that permits individuals to receive notices when Foreign Travel Per Diem rates are updated.
The Chapter 925 Per Diem Supplement to the Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians, Foreign Areas) lists all foreign areas alphabetically. Where a country or island is listed it is intended to include all territory within the boundaries of that country or island including any off-shore islands in the same general vicinity. It will not include territories or possessions located elsewhere even though considered an integral part of the parent country or island. In such cases, no cost data pertinent to such territories and possessions were used in determining the established rates. When a political subdivision smaller than a country is named, such as states, provinces, departments, cities, towns, villages, etc., it will include the corporate limits of such political subdivision or the limits of territory within the normal boundary thereof if it is not incorporated. Any further clarification of the area covered by a specific listing is contained in associated footnotes which can be viewed by selecting Foreign Per Diems By Location.
NOTE: Any location not listed for per diem under a country takes the "Other" rate we administer and publish for that country. An unlisted suburb of a listed location takes the "Other" rate, not that of the location of which it is a suburb.
If you have questions regarding the per diem rates, please contact the Office of Allowances.
Office of Allowances
Bureau of Administration
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC 20522-0104
Telephone: (202) 663-1121
E-mail: AllowancesO@state.gov
All travelers are advised to request information on hotel discounts for U.S. Government employees when arranging for hotel reservations. They should also seek information on the possible avoidance of taxes or their refund upon return to the United States or their post of assignment.
Separate amounts are established for lodging and meals plus incidental travel expenses (M&IE). The maximum lodging amount is intended to substantially cover the cost of lodging at adequate, suitable and moderately-priced facilities. The M&IE portion is intended to substantially cover the cost of meals and incidental travel expenses such as laundry and dry cleaning. The maximum per diem rates for foreign countries are based on costs reported in the Hotel and Restaurant Survey (Form DS-2026) submitted by U.S. government posts in foreign areas. This report includes prices for hotel rooms and meals at facilities representative of moderately priced and suitable hotels and restaurants most frequently used by typical Federal travelers. The lodging portion of the allowance is based on average reported costs for a single room, including any mandatory service charges and taxes. The meal portion is based on the costs of an average breakfast, lunch, and dinner at facilities typically used by employees at that location, including taxes, service charges, and customary tips. The M&IE rate is based on these meal costs plus an additional amount, equal to 10% of the combined lodging and meal costs, to cover incidental travel expenses.
In order for the Department of State to maintain appropriate travel per diem rates in foreign areas, employees of the Federal Government who believe that the per diem rate authorized for a particular area is inappropriate for expenses normally encountered while on temporary duty are encouraged to notify their respective agency travel officials. Those agencies that receive complaints about a per diem rate for a locality where there is frequent travel may submit a request to the Department of State for review. This request should include cost data on lodging and meals using Form DS-2026. This information must be submitted in accordance with instructions in section 074 of the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR).