FY27 GSA Per Diem Rates Take Effect October 1
Beginning October 1, 2026, the U.S. General Services Administration’s FY2027 per diem rates will take effect, replacing the current FY2026 rates.
VCU follows the GSA per diem schedule for university travel reimbursement and business meal purposes. For most travelers, the transition will be seamless, but there are a few rate changes to be aware of.
What’s Changing?
| Location Type | Lodging | Meals & Incidentals (M&IE) |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond (23298) | $161/night, up from $157 | $80/day, unchanged |
| Standard CONUS* | $113/night, up from $110 | $68/day, unchanged |
| Other locations | Varies by destination | Varies by destination |
Travelers should continue to check the applicable rate for their destination when planning university travel.
Traveling Outside the Contiguous United States?
Travel outside the lower 48 states follows a different per diem structure.
Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories use rates established by the U.S. Department of Defense. Travelers can use the Defense Travel Management Office Per Diem Rate Lookup to determine the applicable rate.
International destinations use per diem rates established by the U.S. Department of State. Rates can be found through the State Department Foreign Per Diem Rates Portal.
What Does This Mean for VCU Travelers?
There is no additional action required for travelers or approvers.
For travel dates on or after October 1, 2026, Emburse Enterprise will automatically apply the updated FY2027 rates.
For trips that cross the fiscal year boundary, the system will calculate the appropriate rate by travel date. For example, a trip beginning September 29 and ending October 3 will use FY2026 rates for eligible dates before October 1 and FY2027 rates beginning October 1.
Travelers are encouraged to review the applicable per diem rate when planning upcoming trips.
Questions about how the new rates apply to your travel? Contact the VCU Travel & Expense team at [email protected].
*Standard CONUS applies to locations that do not have a specific GSA-established rate.
Categories Procurement Services, Uncategorized