What is it?
A travel advance is a payment made to a traveller prior to departing on a business trip. The travel advance must be accounted for within 10 days of his or her return by submitting a travel expense report.
There are two types of travel advances:
- Pre-paid Expenses Advance: The traveller has pre-paid elements of the trip (e.g. airfare, conference fees, accommodations) and can provide evidence of payment. A reservation is not a pre-paid expense. A pre-paid advance can only be issued if requested at least of 21 days prior to the return date of the trip or end of your event.
- Cash Advance: A cash advance will only be paid out 2 weeks prior to departure. A traveller is eligible for a cash advance if one or more of the following apply:
• The traveller will be away for more than 14 consecutive days
• The destination is outside of Canada or the US
• The destination is in a rural or northern region of Canada where it is unlikely that credit card payments can be made
Why is it important?
Requesting a pre-paid travel advance allows you to pay charges on your credit card before they become due, and therefore you avoid any associated interest.
How do I request a Travel Advance?
Step by step instructions can be found in the ‘Requesting a Cash Advance Request’ how-to sheet.
Where do I find more information?
To request an advance, log into the SAP Concur Travel and Expense Reimbursement System.