Furlough is required for international employees. There are three main purposes for it:

  1. Strengthening ministry financial support with individuals and churches by visiting and casting vision to ministry partners.
  2. Promoting international ministry needs.
  3. Physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation, time with family, and reconnection with American culture.

Because furloughs are temporary work assignments away from your field of service, furlough expenses such as lodging, travel, and meals are reimbursable.

Our guiding principle is to take approximately 6 weeks of furlough per year overseas.

1 year overseas*2 years overseas3 years overseas4 years overseas
6-week furlough3-month furlough4.5-month furlough6-month furlough

*Reliant recommends staying overseas 18-24 months during your first term before coming back for a furlough. Coming back within the first year may disrupt your transition and make it more difficult to acclimate to your host country.

These timeframes are meant to provide a healthy framework. We understand every ministry and missionary's needs are different and entrust you and your ministry to come to an agreement on furlough frequency and duration.

If you plan to be on furlough for more than 6 months, please see Extended Furloughs (6+ Months) for additional information. 

Details to Know


During furlough years, international missionaries are entitled to 5 extra days of PTO. Thus 20 days is the minimum in a furlough year, even if their tenure with Reliant would normally allow for only 15 days. These extra days are intended to support travel and adjustment needs during furlough.

We understand that while on furlough, it may be difficult to separate "working days" and "PTO days" since many locations you visit will serve dual purposes. Remember, Reliant does not track your PTO, whether on a furlough year or a non-furlough year. It is between you and your supervisor to determine how closely you will track your PTO. Keep in mind that time off is a vital part of furlough and should not be neglected. This will enable you to return to the field ready for a new term, rather than returning more depleted than when you left.



International employees must consult with their supervisors to determine an appropriate time for furlough in order to minimize disruptions to the ministry. All furlough requests must be approved by a supervisor at least one month prior to the home-service departure date. Reliant recommends that furloughs are scheduled at least six months in advance. 


It is incredibly important to understand how furlough, or any time in the United States, affects your insurance coverage. If you are enrolled in the Aetna plan, your coverage will continue uninterrupted. However, while you are not subject to a deductible overseas, you will have to meet a deductible for any medical expenses incurred within the United States. Additionally, Aetna has different rates of coverage for in-network and out-of-network expenses. Please confirm with Aetna and/or your medical provider that they are in-network before receiving treatment. If you decide to use an out-of-network provider, make sure to understand the costs upfront. You can review the details of the Aetna plan here.

Because medical treatment may be more expensive in the US than overseas, if you plan to have a major medical procedure while in the U.S., it is best practice to notify Aetna ahead of time for approval, even if pre-approval is not explicitly stated or required.


If you are not covered under the Aetna plan, but have a national plan through your country of service, you are responsible for knowing what your plan covers while you are in the US and obtaining additional insurances as necessary.

See also: Travel Assistance insurance for ACE International Travel Assistance information


In preparing for furlough, International employees should review of the MTD recurring giving and account balance. If missionaries are below 85% of their monthly support goal, they should make a plan for MTD while on furlough. Missionaries who have a higher percentage should still consider how their monthly expenses might change during their next term and plan to raise additional funds as needed. Reliant has many options to help missionaries with sustaining MTD as it becomes a need. Missionaries can request to be connected with a coach or to a cohort of fellow missionaries for mutual encouragement and support. Contact international@reliant.org for more information.


Notify Reliant of your travel plans for furlough using the Travel Notification form. Please include your "home base" and up-to-date contact information. You do not need to list out every city within the US that you plan to visit. Unless you inform us otherwise, we will assume you have returned to your country of service on the date noted on the form. Please send an email to international@reliant.org if your travel plans change from what you originally submitted.


Expenses incurred during home assignments are considered work-related and are eligible for reimbursement according to Reliant's reimbursement policies. Such expenses include airfare to and from the United States, transportation costs, lodging and food expenses (see Per Diem - U.S.). Some expenses (such as those for family members not employed by Reliant) may be reimbursed, but are considered taxable according to Reliant's reimbursement policies.


If you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you will need to report any days that you spend in the US when filing Form 2555. For a standard 3-month furlough, you may not see a noticeable impact on your taxes. However, if your furlough extends beyond three months, we strongly recommend talking to a tax professional to understand your tax obligations correctly. See also Extended Furloughs (6+ Months).

Most states base taxation on residency in the state, and generally exempt income if it would qualify for the federal foreign earned income exclusion. When residing and working in the United States for longer than 3 months, please seek counsel from the International Program team regarding your ministry role and location, to determine if it's appropriate to withhold state taxes for a portion of your time in the US. We also advise that you consult your tax advisor regarding applicable tax laws in your home state. 




International missionaries are requested to schedule a Professional Debrief with a member of the International Team during furlough. This is best done between the second and fourth week of furlough and lasts approximately one hour. The professional debrief allows missionaries to share with the Reliant team about successes, challenges, and needs they have experienced during their prior term. We encourage non-employed or associate spouses to join the professional debriefs.


You do not have to wait until you are returning from the field permanently to attend a debrief retreat. Many workers choose to attend one during furlough. In fact, it may be incredibly helpful in order to prepare for your next term. We recommend the DAR program from MTI, but you are welcome to explore options from different centers.



Are you a part of a country that has a totalization agreement? If you are a missionary in one of the countries listed in the Furlough Request, you may need to plan a 6-month exit from the host country every 5 years to comply with the agreement, Please contact international@reliant.org if you have questions. 



Forms to Complete

The furlough form and the travel notification form must be completed with all expected travel.


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