Wed, 26 Jun 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Bhutan.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Bhutan.
If you decide to travel to Bhutan:
Mon, 21 Oct 2024
Updated to reflect new information on poliovirus and new recommendation in “If you decide to travel” section.
Exercise normal precautions in Senegal. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Exercise Increased Caution in:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level Two Health Notice for Senegal following the detection of poliovirus in sewage water in the Dakar region.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Senegal.
If you decide to travel to Senegal:
Casamance Region – Level 2: Exercise Increased CautionBandits sporadically commit armed robbery in the Casamance region.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Casamance region. U.S. government employees are required to coordinate all travel to the area with security officials, and any travel off the main routes generally requires additional security measures (e.g., driving in a caravan of multiple vehicles, consulting local security officials, or carrying tracking locators). U.S. government employees are also prohibited from travelling after dark anywhere in the Casamance region.
Wed, 27 Nov 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor updates and information about dual nationality.
Exercise increased caution in Tajikistan due to terrorism, unexploded landmines, occasional violence near the border with Kyrgyzstan, and limited ability to assist U.S.-Tajik dual nationals. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Reconsider travel to:
Country Summary: Terrorist organizations are known to have a presence in the region and have targeted foreigners and local authorities in the past.
Terrorist attacks can happen with little or no warning, with terrorists targeting public areas such as tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, restaurants, places of worship, school campuses, and government facilities.
Unexploded landmines and cluster munitions are a hazard along the Afghan-Tajik and Uzbek-Tajik borders, as well as in the Vakhsh and Rasht valleys. Heed land mine warning signs. Do not venture off the road into areas marked with red and white plastic tape. Avoid roadside ditches, shoulders, and unmarked trails in these regions. Never touch anything resembling unexploded munitions.
Be cautious when traveling near and along the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border. There have been several instances of armed skirmishes between Tajik and Kyrgyz border guards over the past five years, particularly in the Isfara area and the Vorukh enclave.
Tajikistan does not recognize dual nationality with the United States. Dual U.S.-Tajik citizens and U.S. citizens of Tajik descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment from local authorities and may be denied access to U.S. consular officials while in detention.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Tajikistan.
If you decide to travel to Tajikistan:
Border Areas with Afghanistan – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel in proximity of Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan due to terrorism. The current political situation in Afghanistan creates a challenging and unpredictable environment in the border areas due to evolving security conditions. Travel in the mountainous region along the Afghan border can be dangerous due to the proximity of militant groups across the border. U.S. citizens should remain alert and avoid activities that develop predictable patterns of movement. If documenting travel on social media, please ensure your privacy settings are appropriately set.
Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO)– Level 3: Reconsider Travel
The challenging and unpredictable environment in northern Afghanistan has the potential to spill over insecurity into neighboring Tajikistan’s GBAO region. GBAO is a restricted region for non-Tajik citizens, requiring a travel permits from Tajik authorities. Violent clashes with security forces erupted in GBAO in recent years, and the government of Tajikistan can suspend travel permits for non-Tajik citizens on short notice.
Please visit our website for information on Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Iceland.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Iceland.
If you decide to travel to Iceland:
Wed, 27 Nov 2024
Updated to reflect a shift to Level 2 “Exercise increased caution” for Mainland China.
Summary: Exercise increased caution when traveling to Mainland China due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans.
Exercise increased caution when traveling to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
Reconsider travel to the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services. Exercised increased caution when traveling to the Macau SAR due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.
See specific risks and conditions in each jurisdiction.
Mon, 31 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise normal precautions in Zambia.
Read the country information page for additional information about travel to Zambia.
If you decide to travel to Zambia:
Tue, 09 Apr 2024
Updated to reflect changes in the Do Not Travel section.
Exercise increased caution in Armenia due to areas of armed conflict. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel To:
U.S. Embassy Employees and their families remain prohibited from any non-essential travel to the following areas:
Country Summary: U.S. citizens should exercise increased caution in Armenia. Further military activity could occur in the region.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Armenia.
If you decide to travel to Armenia:
Border with Azerbaijan – Level 4: Do Not Travel
There is the potential for armed conflict near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. U.S. citizens should avoid the area. Exercise caution on roads near Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan. Be aware that some portions of the road may cross international boundaries without notice. Roads may be controlled by checkpoints or closed to travelers without notice. The U.S. embassy has prohibited embassy employees and their families from non-essential travel to the border region, as well as other areas of Armenia listed above.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 03 Mar 2025
Updated to reflect the risk of unjust detention and updates to the Syrian conflict.
Do not travel to Syria due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage taking, armed conflict, and unjust detention.
Country Summary: The U.S. government suspended operations in 2012. The Czech Republic serves as the protecting power for the United States in Syria. The U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Syria. Do not travel to Syria for any reason.
On December 8, 2024, the Assad regime fell, and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) assumed control over much of Syria. Syria has experienced active armed conflict since 2011. No part of Syria is safe from violence. Hostage taking by armed groups, unjust detentions, the use of chemical warfare, shelling, mine fields, and aerial bombardment of civilian centers pose significant risk of death or serious injury. The destruction of infrastructure, housing, medical facilities, schools, and power and water utilities has also increased hardships inside the country. The interim entities in Syria currently cannot provide even the most routine public services.
The U.S. government strongly warns private U.S. citizens against traveling to Syria to engage in armed conflict. The U.S. government does not support this activity. U.S. citizens who undertake such activity face extreme personal risks, including hostage taking by armed groups, unjust detentions, injury, or death.
Terrorist groups are active in Syria. Parts of Syria have experienced recent increases in incidents of bombings, IEDs, and assassinations. Fighting on behalf of or providing other forms of support to designated terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al-Qa’ida (AQ) affiliates, can constitute the provision of material support for terrorism or a foreign terrorist organization, which is a crime under U.S. law that can result in penalties including prison time and large fines. The United States continues to designate Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a terrorist group.
There is an ongoing risk of hostage taking of U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals throughout the country. U.S. citizens continue to be targets of abduction and unjust detention by interim entities and other armed groups. Those in detention may not have access to fair judicial process or medical attention. Former Assad regime detention centers were known to be unsanitary facilities where widespread cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of detainees had been documented, as well as torture and extrajudicial killings. Detention center conditions under interim entities are unclear but could be harsh and unsanitary. Only Syrian diplomatic missions abroad can issue a valid entry visa to Syria. Failure to obtain a legitimate entry visa directly from the Syrian diplomatic missions could result in detention.
Due to risks of operating civilian aircraft within or in the vicinity of Syria, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Syria.
If you decide to travel to Syria:
Thu, 06 Jun 2024
Reissued after annual review.
Exercise increased caution in Bolivia due to civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Demonstrations, strikes, and roadblocks can occur at any time in Bolivia. Demonstrations can result in violence. Roadblocks and strikes may cut off traffic and restrict the flow of goods and services around the country. Domestic and international flights may be delayed or unexpectedly cancelled.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Bolivia.
If you decide to travel to Bolivia:
Chapare Region: Do Not Travel
Due to a high level of violent crime, the U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in the Chapare region. U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel there.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Wed, 31 Jul 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Taiwan.
Read the Taiwan International Travel Information page for additional information on travel to Taiwan.
If you decide to travel to Taiwan:
Wed, 26 Feb 2025
Updated to remove Marburg Virus Disease language and health indicator due to end of outbreak, and to increase the Burundi and DRC border areas to Level 4-Do Not Travel.
Exercise increased caution in Rwanda due to the potential for armed violence. Some areas are Level 4- Do Not Travel due to a significant risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Level 4 Do Not Travel to:
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Rwanda.
Country Summary: Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other in neighboring countries. The ongoing violence in these areas increases the likelihood for spill over into Rwanda.
If you decide to travel to Rwanda:
Rwanda-Burundi Border — Level 4: Do Not Travel
The Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda borders Burundi. Borders may not be clearly marked. A permit from the Rwanda Development Board is required for entry to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Relations between Burundi and Rwanda remain tense, with reported incidents of cross-border incursions and armed violence.
Rwanda-Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Border – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Armed groups operate in the DRC’s North and South Kivu provinces and Virunga Park, which is next to Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park. The area has seen rising armed conflict that could spill across poorly marked borders. A permit from the Rwanda Development Board is required for entry to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 17 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise increased caution in Uruguay due to crime.
Country Summary: Crime is most prevalent in the Montevideo, Canelones and Rivera departments. Violent crimes, such as homicides, armed robberies, car jackings, and thefts occur throughout the country and in urban areas frequented by U.S. government personnel, day and night. Criminals commonly travel in pairs on motorcycles to approach unsuspecting victims with a weapon and demand personal belongings. Armed criminals also target grocery stores, restaurants, financial centers, and small businesses, in which innocent bystanders are often victimized.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Uruguay.
If you decide to travel to Uruguay:
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Barbados.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Barbados.
If you decide to travel to Barbados:
Mon, 24 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Do not travel to North Korea due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of U.S. nationals. Exercise increased caution to North Korea due to the critical threat of wrongful detention.
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North Korea as it does not have diplomatic or consular relations with North Korea. Sweden serves as the protecting power for the United States in North Korea, providing limited emergency services. The North Korean government routinely delays or denies Swedish officials access to detained U.S. citizens.
Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of North Korea, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to North Korea.
If you receive a special validation to travel to North Korea:
Tue, 18 Mar 2025
Updated to reflect additional information about violent crime and travel to border areas.
Reconsider travel to Chad due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
Country Summary: Violent crime such as armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, rape, homicide, and muggings, occur in Chad.
Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting foreigners, local security forces, and civilians.
Demonstrations occur sporadically and have on occasion resulted in violence or use of tear gas by authorities. Outside of N’Djamena, the U.S. Government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chad. Due to risks, U.S. Government employees working in Chad must obtain special authorization to travel outside of the capital.Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Chad.
If you decide to travel to Chad:
Lake Chad Region – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Terrorists and armed non-governmental groups may attack with little or no warning. They target foreigners, local security forces, and civilians. Terrorists and armed non-governmental groups can easily cross borders. Government security forces may restrict civilian movement and engage in military operations with limited warning. Do not travel to this area for any reason.
Outside of N’Djamena, the U.S. Government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chad including the Lake Chad Basin.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Borders of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Armed non-governmental groups operate along Chad’s borders with Cameroon, Central African Republic, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and in Libya and northern Chad. Do not travel to this area for any reason.
There are unmapped and undocumented minefields along the borders with both Libya and Sudan.
Outside of N’Djamena, the U.S. Government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Chad, particularly in border areas.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Wed, 21 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Hungary.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Hungary.
If you decide to travel to Hungary:
Wed, 26 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise normal precautions in Malta.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Malta.
If you decide to travel to Malta:
Thu, 06 Jun 2024
Updated Country Summary, to include information about implementation of a conscription law, and changes to the “If you decide to travel to Burma” section.
Do not travel to Burma due to civil unrest, armed conflict, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Reconsider travel to Burma due to limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources, and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnances. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions.
COUNTRY SUMMARY: The Burma military regime detained and deposed elected government officials in a February 2021 coup d'état. Protests and demonstrations against military rule continue, often on significant dates. The military has responded to those protests by arbitrarily detaining individuals and with the indiscriminate use of deadly force against protesters and bystanders.
The Department of State has determined that the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the military regime exists.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Burma due to security concerns amidst the ongoing armed conflict. This may be of particular concern to crime victims outside of Rangoon.
To mitigate safety and security risks, U.S. government employees’ dependents, under the age of 21, cannot reside in Burma with their U.S. government parent assigned to work in Burma.
Civil unrest and armed conflict occur throughout Burma. The level of civil unrest and armed conflict varies significantly between and within states and regions and may change at any time.
Civil unrest and armed violence due to fighting between the military regime and various ethnic groups and militias occur particularly in parts of Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine, and Shan States, as well as in Sagaing and Magway regions.
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used in the ongoing armed conflicts, including within the greater Rangoon area. From January to December 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon calculated an average of fifteen IEDs per month detonated against regime targets, while an average of eight unexploded IEDs were discovered and safely disposed of per month by security authorities. Outside of Rangoon, there have been IED attacks against checkpoints and other critical infrastructure.
While land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) exist throughout Burma, NGOs working on this issue state the greatest concerns are in Shan, Chin, and Kachin State. The locations of landmines and UXO are often not marked or otherwise unidentifiable.
The military regime arbitrarily enforces local laws, including often detaining individuals without respect for their fair trial guarantees or other applicable rights. Foreigners, including U.S. citizens, are not excluded from this practice. U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Burma may be detained and regime authorities could deny access to U.S. consular services or information about the alleged crime.
Local law enforcement officials may detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for speaking out or protesting against the military regime, including on their personal social media accounts, and for sending private electronic messages critical of the military regime. Facebook and X (Twitter) are banned in Burma. Police have sought bribes from individuals using a virtual private network (VPN) to access social media sites even though VPN use is legal.
Burma has limited and/or inadequate healthcare and emergency medical resources due to critical staffing shortages in the public sector health workforce. Importation of medical supplies, including medicine, into Burma is not consistent and medical prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine may not be available.
Burma’s military conscription law was first introduced in 2010 but historically was not widely implemented. The military regime officially implemented the law in April 2024. In general, Burmese males aged 18 to 35 and Burmese females aged 18 to 27 will need to register for military service and report for duty if ordered by regime authorities. Burmese males aged 18 to 45 and Burmese females aged 18 to 35 in specific expert/professional occupations must serve if called upon by the regime. For more information, please refer to the Myanmar People’s Military Service Law (State Peace and Development Council Law No. 27/2010), also known as the Public Military Service Law. The military regime may refuse to acknowledge U.S.-Burmese dual nationals’ U.S. citizenship, prevent their departure from Burma, and/or conscript them into the military. U.S.-Burmese nationals should consider this issue before traveling to Burma.
Read the Country Information page for additional information on travel to Burma.
If you decide to travel to Burma:
Thu, 13 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise normal precautions in Qatar.
Due to risks to civil aviation operating within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Qatar, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Qatar.
If you decide to travel to Qatar:
Mon, 09 Sep 2024
Updated to reflect current security conditions and other minor edits.
Exercise increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to the threat of missile and drone attacks from Yemen and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Be aware of risks concerning social media activity and importation of prohibited items.
Do not travel to the following locations due to the threat of missile and drone attacks and terrorism:
Country Summary: U.S. Embassy and Consulate personnel must adhere to the above travel restrictions. The U.S. government has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in the above locations.
The Houthis have perpetrated missile and drone attacks in Saudi Arabia. Attacks have been rare since the announcement of a truce between Saudi Arabia, the Houthi rebels, and the internationally recognized Government of Yemen. Recent Houthi attacks have focused on vessels in Red Sea shipping lanes. The Houthis have also threatened to renew attacks against Saudi Arabia. Past attacks have been aimed at targets throughout the country. Cities, infrastructure, airports, military bases and energy facilities have all been targeted.
Debris from intercepted drones and missiles has also been a risk. U.S. citizens living and working near infrastructure and military bases and infrastructure are at increased risk if attacks reoccur. The risk is most pronounced near the border with Yemen.
Terrorism continues to be a concern in Saudi Arabia. Attacks can occur with little or no warning. Terrorists have targeted Saudi and international interests. Religious sites and other places frequented by U.S. citizens have been targeted. Globally, terrorists are using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles. Targets often include tourist locations, large gatherings, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and government facilities. Terrorists are also known to time attacks around major holidays and/or in response to military operations.
Social media activity Saudi authorities deem critical, offensive, or disruptive to public order, could lead to arrest. U.S. citizens have been arrested for past social media activity and comments made while outside of Saudi Arabia. This may include posting, re-posting, or liking comments critical of Saudi institutions, policies, or public life. Saudi laws on cybercrime and terrorism are used to prosecute these cases. Punishment for social media activity has included prison sentences of up to 45 years. Saudi courts do not necessarily consider the timeframe of the posts, or the location from which they were made, to be material.
It is illegal to bring drugs (including marijuana), drug paraphernalia, or alcohol into Saudi Arabia. Importing gambling-related items, weapons, or pork is prohibited. Bringing materials that could be considered obscene or suggestive into Saudi Arabia is also prohibited. Penalties are severe by U.S. standards. For more information, please see the Saudi Arabia Customs Authority website.
Due to risks to civil aviation operating within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Saudi Arabia, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Saudi Arabia.
If you decide to travel to Saudi Arabia:
Travel within 20 miles of the Yemen Border and Qatif in the Eastern Province, including Awamiyah – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Militants in Yemen have attacked Saudi border towns and other sites in Saudi Arabia with armed drones, missiles, and rockets. Civilians that are near the border with Yemen are especially at risk. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Saudi Arabia, including in Qatif.
U.S. Embassy and Consulate personnel and their families are restricted from traveling within 20 miles of the Saudi-Yemen border. The U.S. government has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in this area.
Visit our website for information on travel to high-risk areas
Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Estonia.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Estonia.
If you decide to travel to Estonia:
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in the British Virgin Islands.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the British Virgin Islands.
If you decide to travel to the British Virgin Islands:
Mon, 31 Mar 2025
Updated to reflect crime, swimming-related risks, and information on traveling with firearms and ammunition.
Exercise increased caution due to crime.
Country Summary: Violent crime—like armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults—can occur anywhere in The Bahamas.
Most crime occurs in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence and Grand Bahama islands. Stay alert in the "Over the Hill" area in Nassau, south of Shirley Street, where gangs have killed residents.
Stay alert in vacation rental properties, especially where private security is not present.
Jet skis and boating
Beach safety
Weapons and ammunition
Firearms and ammunition are illegal—including small quantities brought by mistake in carry-on bags or luggage. Police strictly enforce these laws—even at the airport when travelers are leaving.
Travelers with firearms or ammunition can face arrest, jail time, and fines.
Authorities have detained U.S. citizens for several days or more after finding firearms or ammunition, preventing them from leaving.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to The Bahamas.
If you decide to travel to The Bahamas:
Tue, 26 Nov 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Montenegro.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Montenegro.
If you decide to travel to Montenegro:
Fri, 20 Sep 2024
Reissued with updates to crime information.
Exercise normal precautions in Argentina. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Exercise increased caution in:
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Argentina.
If you decide to travel to Argentina:
City of Rosario – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Criminal and narcotics trafficking elements are active in Rosario (Santa Fe province) resulting in increased crime and violence.
U.S. Embassy personnel are required to give advance notice before traveling to Rosario.
Wed, 26 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise increased caution in Belgium due to terrorism.
Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Belgium. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting, music, and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Belgium.
If you decide to travel to Belgium:
Thu, 12 Sep 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise increased caution in Jordan due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk.
Do not travel to:
Reconsider travel to:
Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue to plot possible attacks in Jordan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. While Jordan itself is relatively stable, due to high tensions in the region, the security environment remains complex and can change quickly.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Jordan.
If you decide to travel to Jordan:
The Border with Syria and Iraq – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to Jordan's border with Syria and Iraq given the continued threat of cross-border violence, including the risk of terrorist attacks.
All U.S. government personnel must adhere to U.S. Embassy travel restrictions for all official travel within 3.5 km of the Jordan-Syria border, and all travel must occur during daylight hours only. U.S. government personnel must adhere to U.S. Embassy travel restrictions for official travel east of the town of Ruwayshid towards the Iraq border, and all travel must occur during daylight hours only.
Personal travel by U.S. government employees to these border areas is not authorized.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Refugee Camps – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to Syrian refugee camps in Jordan due to Government of Jordan restrictions on entry into these camps.
All U.S. government personnel on official travel to the four designated Syrian refugee camps listed below (formerly all refugee camps in Jordan) must adhere to U.S. Embassy travel restrictions.
Personal travel by U.S. government personnel to these refugee camps is not authorized.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Zarqa, Rusayfah, and the Baqa’a Neighborhood of Ayn Basha – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to Zarqa, Rusayfah and the Baqa’a neighborhood of Ayn Basha due to terrorism and crime.
All U.S. government personnel on official travel to Zarqa, Rusayfah and the Baqa’a neighborhood of Ayn Basha must adhere to U.S. Embassy travel restrictions, and all travel must occur during daylight hours only. U.S. government personnel may transit through these cities on major highways during daylight hours only.
Personal travel by U.S. government personnel to these cities is not authorized.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Ma’an City and some areas of Ma’an Governorate – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Reconsider travel to Ma’an city, all areas of Ma’an Governorate east of Highway 15 (“The Desert Highway”), and all areas of Ma’an Governorate within two kilometers to the west of Highway 15 due to terrorism and crime.
All U.S. government personnel on official travel to these areas must adhere to U.S. Embassy travel restrictions. When traveling at night, U.S. government personnel on official travel must use major highways.
Personal travel by U.S. government personnel to these areas is permitted during daylight hours only, with the exception of direct transit through these areas, which may also occur during hours of darkness.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Sat, 22 Apr 2023
Reissued with updates to the security situation and post departure status.
Do not travel to Sudan due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping.
On April 22, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum suspended its operations, and the Department of State ordered the departure of U.S. direct hire employees and eligible family members from Embassy Khartoum due to the continued threat of armed conflict in Sudan. The U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan, due to the current security situation.
Armed conflict is ongoing throughout Sudan and includes heavy fighting between various political and security groups. The situation is violent, volatile, and extremely unpredictable, particularly in the capital city Khartoum. Electrical and communication disruptions, including internet and cell phone service, can occur at any time. Khartoum International Airport and Sudan’s border with Chad are currently closed.
Country Summary: Armed conflict, crime, such as kidnapping, armed robbery, home invasion, and carjacking occur.
Members of known terrorist groups and individuals sympathetic to these groups in Sudan could attack with little or no warning, targeting foreign and local government facilities, and areas frequented by Westerners.
Violence continues along the border between Chad and Sudan and areas that border South Sudan (including the disputed Abyei area). Armed opposition groups are active in Central Darfur state and parts of Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. Intercommunal clashes can occur throughout the country and can result in the declaration of localized States of Emergency.
Read the country information page for additional information about travel to Sudan.
If you decide to travel to Sudan:
Fri, 22 Nov 2024
On November 21, 2024, the Department ended the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. direct hire employees and their eligible family members due to the restoration of power to Havana and other clean up and restoration efforts from Hurricane Rafael.
Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to crime.
Country Summary: Petty crime, such as pick pocketing, purse snatchings, and car break-ins, is a threat for tourists in Cuba. Also, violent crime, including armed robbery and homicide, sometimes occurs in Cuba.
Travel outside of the Havana area for U.S. Embassy employees requires a special notification process which may affect the Embassy’s ability to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens in Cuba.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Cuba.
If you decide to travel to Cuba:
U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad:
Thu, 14 Nov 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Slovakia.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Slovakia.
If you decide to travel to Slovakia:
Mon, 24 Mar 2025
Updated to reflect addition of health risk indicator and update to “If you decide to travel” section.
Reconsider travel to Guinea-Bissau due to civil unrest, crime, and health.
Country Summary: The country has had periods of political instability for decades. Past demonstrations have escalated into violence. Access to health care is limited.
Crime is common in Guinea-Bissau:
Health care in Guinea-Bissau is limited. Facilities may not have adequate supplies of basic medications, especially outside of larger cities. It is highly recommended to have medical evacuation insurance for travel to Guinea-Bissau. Travelers should carry a supply of any needed prescription medicines, along with copies of their prescriptions and include the generic names of medicines, as well as a supply of over-the-counter medications (such as anti-diarrheals and pain medication).
Read the country information page for more information on travel to Guinea-Bissau.
If you decide to travel to Guinea-Bissau:
Mon, 13 Jan 2025
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits
Exercise normal precautions in Cyprus. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Country Summary: Do not attempt to enter the United Nations buffer zone at any place other than a designated crossing point. Police and UN peacekeeping forces strictly enforce this restriction.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Cyprus.
If you decide to travel to Cyprus:
Turkish Cypriot-Administered Area – Exercise increased caution
Since 1974, the southern part of Cyprus has been under the control of the internationally recognized Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The northern part of Cyprus, administered by Turkish Cypriots, proclaimed itself the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” (“TRNC”) in 1983. The United States does not recognize the “TRNC,” nor does any country other than Türkiye. A buffer zone, patrolled by the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, separates the two sides. For U.S. citizen travelers:
Mon, 31 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise increased caution in Eritrea due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions.
Country Summary: The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea, as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Asmara.
U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Eritrea, including dual U.S.-Eritrean nationals, have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges. The Department has determined that the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Eritrean government exists.
Eritrean law enforcement officials routinely block access by U.S. government officials to U.S. citizens in detention. The U.S. Embassy therefore may not receive notification of your arrest or be allowed access to you if you are detained or arrested.
There are landmines in many remote areas in Eritrea, particularly in Nakfa, AdiKeih, Arezza, the 25 mile-wide region (40 km) between the Setit and Mereb Rivers, and in areas north and west of Keren, areas near Massawa, Ghinda, Agordat, Barentu, Dekemhare, and south of Tessenae.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Eritrea.
If you decide to travel to Eritrea:
Thu, 13 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise increased caution in Morocco due to terrorism.
Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Morocco. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Morocco.
If you decide to travel to Morocco:
Wed, 01 May 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits
Exercise increased caution in Germany due to terrorism.
Country Summary: Terrorist groups keep planning attacks in Germany. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. They target tourist locations and transportation hubs. They also target markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. They target hotels, clubs, and restaurants. They also attack places of worship, parks, and major sporting and cultural events. They target schools, airports, and other public areas.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Germany.
If you decide to travel to Germany:
Thu, 25 Jul 2024
Updated to reflect additional information on crime and health care.
Reconsider travel to Jamaica due to crime. Exercise increased caution regarding medical services. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Country Summary: Violent crime occurs throughout Jamaica. Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country. The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common.
The U.S. Embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts. U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents. When arrests are made, cases are infrequently prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence.
U.S. citizens should not expect the same level of health care available in Jamaica as is available in the United States. This includes generally lower levels of emergency service response times or routine care for illness or injury. Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care. Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs or always readily available, especially in rural areas. U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication as common medications such as insulin can be difficult to obtain.
We strongly encourage you to obtain traveler’s insurance, including medical evacuation insurance, before traveling. The Department of State does not pay medical bills.
U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance. Air ambulance service to the United States can range from $30,000-50,000. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Jamaica.
If you decide to travel to Jamaica:
U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Jamaica due to crime. Additionally, U.S. embassy personnel are prohibited from using public buses and from driving outside of prescribed areas of Kingston at night. The off-limits zones for U.S. embassy personnel within each parish are listed below.
Off-limits locations for U.S. embassy personnel throughout Jamaica – Level 4: Do Not Travel
St. Ann’s Parish - Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios
St. Catherine’s Parish - Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford
Clarendon Parish - all of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
St. Elizabeth’s Parish - Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth
Hanover Parish - Logwood and Orange Bay
St. James Parish/Montego Bay - Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park
Kingston and St. Andrew Parish - Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
Manchester Parish - Green Vale, Gray Ground, Red Ground, and Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville
St. Thomas Parish - Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.
Trelawny Parish - Clarks Town
Westmoreland Parish - Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril
If you do decide to travel to the above-listed Do Not Travel areas, please visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Thu, 26 Sep 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise increased caution in Algeria due to terrorism and kidnapping.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Terrorists continue plotting possible attacks in Algeria. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and have recently targeted the Algerian security forces. Most attacks take place in rural areas, but attacks are possible in urban areas despite a heavy and active police presence.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens outside Algiers province due to Algerian government restrictions on travel by U.S. government employees.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Algeria.
If you decide to travel to Algeria:
Eastern and southern borders — Level 4: Do Not Travel Avoid travel to rural areas within 50 km (31 miles) of the border with Tunisia and within 250 km (155 miles) of the borders with Libya, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania due to terrorist and criminal activities, including kidnapping.
Visit our website for High-Risk Travelers.
Overland travel to the Sahara Desert — Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel overland in the Sahara Desert due to terrorist and criminal activity, including kidnapping.
Visit our website for High-Risk Travelers.
Mon, 17 Jul 2023
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise normal precautions in Paraguay. Some areas have increased crime risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Exercise increased caution in:
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Paraguay.
If you decide to travel to Paraguay:
Departments of Amambay, Alto Paraná, Canindeyu, San Pedro, and Concepcion – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Transnational criminal elements are active and engage in illicit trafficking of arms, narcotics, and goods in these departments, which are located along Paraguay’s northeastern border with Brazil. Police presence is limited.
U.S. government personnel must provide advance notice when traveling to these areas.
Tue, 25 Mar 2025
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions when traveling to Andorra.
Country Summary: Travelers can enter Andorra only via Spain and France.
Read the country information page for more information on travel to Andorra.
If you decide to travel to Andorra:
Tue, 17 Sep 2024
Reissued after periodic review with changes to overall Travel Advisory level from level 1 to level 2 due to an increase in crime.
Exercise increased caution in Lesotho due to crime.
Country Summary: Crime is common in Lesotho and sporadic armed robberies and carjackings occur. Local police may lack the resources to respond in a timely manner to criminal incidents.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Lesotho.
If you decide to travel to Lesotho:
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Dominica.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Dominica.
If you decide to travel to Dominica:
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in the French West Indies, which includes the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the French West Indies.
If you decide to travel to the French West Indies:
Wed, 16 Oct 2024
Reissued after periodic reviews with minor edits.
Exercise increased caution when traveling to Türkiye due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel To:
Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Türkiye. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations. Be cautious in transportation hubs, markets, malls, and government buildings, as well as hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, and parks. Be careful in airports and at major events.
Security forces have detained tens of thousands of people, including U.S. citizens, for alleged ties to terrorist groups based on scant or secret evidence and grounds that appear to be politically motivated. U.S. citizens have also been subject to exit bans that prevent them from departing Türkiye. Protests not approved by the Turkish government can lead to arrest, as can criticizing the government, including on social media.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Türkiye.
If you decide to travel to Türkiye:
Sirnak Province, Hakkari Province, and Any Area within six miles (ten kilometers) of the Syrian Border – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to Sirnak province, Hakkari province, or any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Turkey/Syria border due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, and civil unrest. Terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, ambushes, car bombs, and explosive devices, as well as shootings and illegal roadblocks leading to violence have occurred in these areas. U.S. government employees are subject to travel restrictions in the entire provinces of Sirnak and Hakkari, and any areas within 10 km of the Syrian border.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 03 Mar 2025
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Portugal.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Portugal.
If you decide to travel to Portugal:
Mon, 13 Jan 2025
Reissued after periodic review with updates to reflect the security environment, immigration information, and availability of medical care.
Do not travel to Afghanistan due to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and limited health facilities.
Country Summary: The U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspended operations in 2021. The U.S. government is not able to provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan.
Multiple terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan and U.S. citizens are targets of kidnapping and hostage-taking. The Taliban have harassed and detained aid and humanitarian workers. The activities of foreigners may be viewed with suspicion, and reasons for detention may be unclear. Even if you are registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business, the risk of detention is high.
The Department has determined there is a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Afghanistan. Additionally, Afghan-U.S. citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) who previously supported the United States (for example, as an interpreter) in Afghanistan may be targeted for detention.
The Taliban do not regularly permit the United States to conduct welfare checks on U.S. citizens in detention, including by phone. Detention can be lengthy. While in detention, U.S. citizens have limited or no access to medical attention and may be subject to physical abuse.
U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan for any reason, including to accompany eligible family members for relocation. U.S. citizens or LPRs do not have to be physically present in Afghanistan for their qualifying family members to receive such assistance. For further information on how to assist your family members with the immigrant visa application process or to request relocation assistance for family, please refer to our website.
U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible. U.S. citizens who are seeking U.S. government assistance to depart should email complete biographic details and contact information (email and phone number), as well as U.S. passport number, to AfghanistanACS@state.gov.
Basic medical care is available in major Afghan cities such as Kabul but is limited in rural areas.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Afghanistan.
If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Afghanistan:
Fri, 13 Dec 2024
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.
Exercise normal precautions in Suriname.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Suriname.
If you decide to travel to Suriname:
Mon, 30 Dec 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Reconsider travel to Guatemala due to crime. Some areas have higher risks. Please read the full Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Some areas of Guatemala have problems with gangs, robbery, carjacking, drug trafficking and violence. Local law enforcement may not always respond well to serious crimes, leading to low arrest and conviction rates. While tourists are not usually targeted, they can still be victims of opportunistic crimes.
Guatemala has a program called the Tourist Assistance Program (ASISTUR) that helps protect tourists. ASISTUR works with tourist police (DISETUR) in popular areas like Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Quetzaltenango, Puerto Barrios, and Coban. They also have an emergency call center that speaks both Spanish and English. Tourist groups can request a security escort if they have safety concerns. You can call them anytime by dialing 1500 from a Guatemalan phone number or (502) 2290-2810, and you can also reach them on WhatsApp at +502-5188-1819.
U.S. government employees and their families cannot travel to the San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, or Villa Nueva. They can travel to other parts of Guatemala and visit popular places like Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the Pacific coast areas in the Santa Rosa and Escuintla. However, they should avoid driving outside Guatemala City at night because of poor lighting and safety risks. They may not use white car taxis or public transportation, like “chicken buses” due to the high chance of crime and injury.
Check the country information page for helpful information about traveling to Guatemala. This includes information on entry and exit rules, safety, local laws, health, and getting around. Also, visit the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City’s website for local resources, like legal help, medical services, driver’s licenses, and information on residence and work permits, as well as rules about bringing weapons into Guatemala.
If you decide to travel to Guatemala:
San Marcos Department – Level 4: Do Not Travel
U.S. government personnel and their families may not go to the San Marcos Department for personal travel, except for the city of San Marcos itself. There is a lot of drug trafficking in this area, and many parts are controlled by drug gangs. Some towns do not have enough police, and local officers may not have the resources to handle serious crimes.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Huehuetenango Department – Level 4: Do Not Travel
U.S. government personnel and their families may not go to Huehuetenango Department for personal travel, except for the city of Huehuetenango itself. There is a lot of drug trafficking in this area, and many parts are controlled by drug gangs. Some towns do not have enough police, and local officers may not have the resources to handle serious crimes.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva – Level 4: Do Not Travel
U.S. government personnel and their families are not allowed to travel to or through Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva due to increased risk of crime and significant gang activity. Aside from Zone 18 and Villa Nueva, U.S. government personnel and their family members are permitted to travel throughout Guatemala City, even at night.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 19 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Curaçao.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Curaçao.
If you decide to travel to Curacao:
Mon, 04 Nov 2024
Updated to include additional information in country summary and other minor edits.
Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Due to risks to civil aviation operating within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Oman, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Terrorism Summary: Residents and visitors generally find Oman to be safe, and protests have been rare, peaceful, and closely monitored by the government. However, threats – including terrorism – remain possible. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, and targets may include tourist locations, transportation hubs, places of worship, markets, shopping malls, or any place where large crowds gather. The Embassy advises U.S. citizens to avoid protests and to always remain vigilant.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Oman.
If you decide to travel to Oman:
Yemen Border Area
Terrorist attacks and armed conflict continue in Yemen. Crossing the Oman-Yemen border can be dangerous. U.S. citizens who attempt to cross the border, from either Oman or Yemen, may be detained by Omani authorities.
Visit our website for High-Risk Travelers.
Thu, 19 Oct 2023
Reissued with updates to Country Summary.
Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common in urban areas, day and night. Gang activity and organized crime is widespread. Assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common. U.S. government personnel are discouraged from using municipal buses in all parts of Brazil due to an elevated risk of robbery and assault at any time of day, and especially at night.
If you decide to travel to Brazil:
International Borders – Level 4: Do Not Travel
U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to areas within 150 km/100 miles of the international land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay without advance approval from security officials due to crime. Travel to the Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park is permitted.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Informal Housing Developments (commonly known as “Favelas”) – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to informal housing developments (commonly referred to in Brazil as favelas, vilas, comunidades, and/or conglomerados), even on a guided tour. Neither the tour companies nor the police can guarantee your safety when entering these communities. Even in these communities that the police or local governments deem safe, the situation can change quickly and without notice. While some informal housing developments have clear boundaries or gates, or even names such as “favela”, “vila”, “comunidade”, or “conglomerado”, other such developments may be less obvious, and may be identified by crowded quarters, poorer conditions, and/or irregular construction. In addition, exercise caution in areas surrounding these communities, as occasionally, inter-gang fighting and confrontations with police move beyond the confines of these communities. Except under limited circumstances and with advance approval, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to enter any informal housing developments in Brazil. Read the Safety and Security Section on the country information page and consult the maps on the Embassy’s website for further information regarding favelas.
Visit our website for Travel High-Risk Areas.
Brasilia’s Administrative Regions (commonly known as “Satellite Cities”) – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Without advance approval from security officials, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to Brasilia’s Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (non-daylight hours) due to crime.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Fri, 23 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Austria.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Austria.
If you decide to travel to Austria:
Thu, 02 Nov 2023
Reissued after periodic review with general security updates.
Exercise increased caution in Azerbaijan due to terrorism concerns and areas of armed conflict. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Terrorist groups that continue to plot attacks pose a risk in Azerbaijan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.
Until September 2020 the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding territories were under Armenian control. Following armed hostilities in the fall of 2020 and fall of 2023, Azerbaijan took control of these seven territories and Nagorno-Karabakh. Further military activity could occur in the region.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Azerbaijan.
If you decide to travel to Azerbaijan:
Border with Armenia– Level 4: Do Not Travel There is the potential for fighting along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border as part of the ongoing armed conflict. U.S. citizens should avoid the area. Exercise caution on roads near Azerbaijan’s border with Armenia. Be aware that some portions of the road may cross international boundaries without notice. Roads may be controlled by checkpoints or closed to travelers without notice. The U.S. embassy has prohibited embassy employees and their families from non-essential travel to the border region.
Nagorno-Karabakh – Level 4: Do Not Travel The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in and around Nagorno-Karabakh due to landmine contamination and restricted access.
Wed, 18 Dec 2024
Updated to reflect the addition of health and civil unrest indicators.
Exercise increased caution in Cameroon due to armed violence, civil unrest, crime, health, kidnapping, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
Country Summary: Violent crime, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common throughout Cameroon, especially in the regions listed above. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.
Civil unrest is common, with the potential for political violence.
Access to health care is limited.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in North, Far North, Northwest, Southwest, and parts of Adamawa and East Regions of Cameroon due to current official travel restrictions..
Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to Cameroon.
If you decide to travel to Cameroon:
North, Far North, Northwest, and Southwest Regions, and parts of East and Adamawa Regions – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Violent crime, including kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, assault, and carjacking is a serious concern in Cameroon, especially in these areas.
In the Adamawa Region north of the capital, Ngaoundere, and East Region, there is a heightened criminal threat within 20 kilometers of the border with the Central African Republic.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Far North Region– Level 4: Do Not Travel
In the Far North Region, terrorists may attack with no warning, targeting local facilities and places frequented by Westerners.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Northwest and Southwest Regions – Level 4: Do Not Travel
In Northwest and Southwest Regions, armed clashes between separatists and government forces, and other acts of violence, including violent criminality, kidnapping for ransom, sexual assault, arson, roadside ambushes and robberies, use of improvised explosive devices, illegitimate detentions, and murder have occurred. Security force operations, curfews and movement restrictions, and attacks by armed militants can take place at any time throughout these regions, including in urban areas. Ongoing violence has led to a breakdown in order and a significant decline in public services, including medical resources in large areas of both regions.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Thu, 17 Apr 2025
Updated information on civil unrest and kidnapping.
Reconsider travel to Colombia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have an increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
Country Summary: Violent crime, like murder, assault, and robbery, is common in many areas in Colombia. In some places, organized crime is rampant. This includes extortion, robbery, and kidnapping.
There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity, in Colombia. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.
Terrorists and criminal organizations in Colombia may attack with little or no warning and target:
Political demonstrations are common throughout Colombia and can:
Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Colombia are prohibited from:
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Colombia.
If you decide to travel to Colombia:
Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayán), and Norte de Santander departments – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to these areas for any reason. Violent crime, like armed robbery and murder, is common in these locations. Terrorist groups are active in some areas here.
The Colombia-Venezuela border region – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to this area for any reason. Crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict are common here. Do not cross the border into Venezuela from Colombia. You may be detained by Venezuelan authorities.
Thu, 13 Mar 2025
Last Update: Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Georgia. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel To:
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Georgia.
If you decide to travel to Georgia:
South Ossetia and Abkhazia – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Russian troops and border guards occupy both South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. The precise locations of administrative boundary lines are difficult to identify. Entering these areas could lead to arrest, imprisonment, or a fine. Violent attacks and criminal incidents occur in the region. Landmines are a danger to travelers near the boundary lines of both territories.
Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Georgia are prohibited from traveling to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Do not travel to these areas for any reason.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Fri, 06 Dec 2024
Updated to add Petit Saint Vincent to the list of islands affected by Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.
Exercise normal precautions in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The islands of Canouan, Mayreau, Palm Island, Petit Saint Vincent, and Union Island are in varying stages of recovery from Hurricane Beryl.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
If you decide to travel to St. Vincent and the Grenadines:
Canouan, Mayreau, Palm Island, Petit Saint Vincent, and Union Island In July 2024, Hurricane Beryl damaged many buildings on these islands. Until repairs are complete, fewer hotels and transportation options may be available.
Thu, 16 Jan 2025
Exercise increased caution in Chile due to crime and civil unrest.
Country Summary: Street crime (e.g., muggings, pick-pocketing, theft) is common in Chile. Rates of violent crime, such as assaults, homicide, carjackings, and residential break-ins, are increasing.
Large-scale demonstrations periodically occur in Santiago and other cities in Chile. Demonstrations can take place with little or no notice, and often result in disruptions to transportation, including public bus and Santiago metro services.Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Chile.
If you decide to travel to Chile:
Fri, 04 Oct 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Canada.
Read the Country Information page for additional information on travel to Canada.
If you decide to travel to Canada:
Wed, 18 Dec 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes to Level 4: Do Not Travel status.
Do not travel to Belarus due to the Belarusian authorities’ arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the risk of detention, the continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the potential of civil unrest, and the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens residing in or traveling to Belarus. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.
On February 28, 2022, the Department of State ordered the departure of U.S. government employees and the suspension of operations of the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. All consular services, routine and emergency, are suspended until further notice. U.S. citizens in Belarus who require consular services should try to leave the country as soon as possible and contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country.
Belarus does not recognize dual nationality. Belarusian authorities may refuse to acknowledge dual U.S.-Belarusian nationals’ U.S. citizenship, and may deny or delay U.S. consular assistance to detained dual nationals.
Due to Belarusian authorities’ arbitrary enforcement of local laws and the risk of detention, continued facilitation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the heightened volatility and unpredictable nature of the regional security environment, do not travel to Belarus.
U.S. citizens are advised to avoid public demonstrations. Authorities have used force to disperse demonstrators, including those peacefully demonstrating. Bystanders, including foreign nationals, may face the possibility of arrest or detention.
Reconsider bringing electronic devices into Belarus. U.S. citizens should assume all electronic communications and devices in Belarus are monitored by Belarusian security services. Belarusian security services have arrested U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals based on information found on electronic devices, including information that was created, transmitted, or stored while in another country.
U.S. citizens should regularly reevaluate possible departure plans in the event of an emergency. Border crossings with neighboring states are sometimes closed with little notice. Additional closures of crossing points along Belarus’ borders with Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine are possible.
Country Summary: Belarusian authorities have detained tens of thousands of individuals, including U.S. citizens and other foreign citizens, for alleged affiliations with opposition parties and alleged participation in political demonstrations, even if there is evidence this affiliation took place outside of Belarus. Approximately 1,300 prisoners are currently jailed for politically-related acts that may not be considered crimes in the United States. The Belarusian government has denied prisoners access to their Embassy and lawyers, restricted communication with family outside prisons, and limited access to information. Conditions in Belarusian detention facilities are extremely poor. U.S. citizens in the vicinity of demonstrations have been arrested. Some have been victims of harassment and/or mistreatment by Belarusian officials. Belarusian officials unevenly enforce laws and regulations. Belarusian authorities have targeted individuals associated with independent and foreign media.
On May 23, 2021, Belarusian authorities forced the landing of a commercial aircraft transiting Belarusian airspace in order to arrest an opposition journalist who was a passenger. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. air carriers and commercial operators, U.S. pilots, and U.S. registered aircraft from operating at all altitudes in the Minsk Flight Information Region (UMMV) subject to limited exceptions. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Belarus.
If you decide to travel to Belarus:
Mon, 23 Sep 2024
Updated information on health-related issues.
Exercise increased caution in Angola due to crime and health. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Violent crime, such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, and homicide, is common. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.
Health facilities are under-resourced and may not have adequate facilities or supplies of basic vaccines or medications, especially outside of large cities. Always travel with required medicines, including a written prescription for any prescription medicine; most medicine is unavailable, and healthcare is inconsistent.
Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to Angola.
If you decide to travel to Angola:
Fri, 19 Jul 2024
Last Update: Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions when traveling to Luxembourg.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Luxembourg.
If you decide to travel to Luxembourg:
Mon, 02 Dec 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Tuvalu.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Tuvalu.
Commercial transportation to/from Tuvalu is sporadically available.
If you decide to travel to Tuvalu:
Mon, 02 Dec 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Kiribati.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Kiribati.
Commercial transportation to/from Kiribati is sporadically available.
If you decide to travel to Kiribati:
Tue, 27 Jun 2023
Reissued after periodic review with updates to crime and civil unrest information.
Exercise increased caution in Zimbabwe due to crime and official harassment of U.S. citizens.
Country Summary: Opportunistic crime, such as pickpocketing, theft, and smashing of car windows with intent to steal, is common. Violent crime, such as assault, carjacking, and home invasion, also occurs. Criminals often target foreigners and residents suspected of having large sums of cash.
Demonstrations may occur and increase in frequency around political events, such as elections. Large gatherings are often restricted by the government and can quickly escalate to violence.
Foreigners, journalists, and non-governmental organizations may be subject to heightened scrutiny in Zimbabwe.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Zimbabwe.
If you decide to travel to Zimbabwe:
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in Anguilla.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Anguilla.
If you decide to travel to Anguilla:
Tue, 14 Jan 2025
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to North Macedonia.
If you decide to travel to North Macedonia:
Mon, 08 Jan 2024
Japan – Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Japan.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Japan.
If you decide to travel to Japan:
Wed, 11 Sep 2024
Updated to reflect the Travel Advisory Level, Level 4 area, information on civil unrest, and the removal of Ordered Departure information.
Reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Since the July 2024 civil unrest, violent clashes have largely ended, but conditions may change on short notice. U.S. citizens are reminded to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, that could turn violent with little or no warning.
Travelers should be aware of petty crimes such as pickpocketing in crowded areas. Crimes such as muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking constitute most criminal activity in Bangladesh’s major cities, but there are no indications foreigners are being targeted because of their nationality. These crimes tend to be situational, based on time and location.
Terrorist attacks can happen with little or no warning, with terrorists targeting public areas such as tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, restaurants, places of worship, school campuses, and government facilities.
Because of security concerns, U.S. Embassy personnel in Bangladesh are subject to some travel restrictions. The U.S. government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh, particularly outside of Dhaka, due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Bangladesh.
If you decide to travel to Bangladesh:
Level 4: Do Not Travel - Chittagong Hill Tracts Region
The Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts) experience occasional communal violence, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and other security risks. Kidnappings have occurred in the region, including those motivated by domestic or familial disputes, and those targeting members of religious minorities. Separatist organizations and political violence also pose additional threats to visitors to the region, and there have been instances of IED explosions and active shooting. Prior approval from the Government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety is required if you plan to travel to these areas.
Please visit our website for information on Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Tue, 08 Apr 2025
Updated to reflect threats against women travelers and increased risks in specific regions.
Exercise increased caution in Ghana due to crime and violence against women travelers and lesbian, gay, and bisexual travelers. Some areas of Ghana have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Reconsider Travel to:
Country Summary: Violent crimes, such as carjacking, street mugging, assaults, and rape do occur. These crimes often happen at night and in isolated locations. Sexual assault, such as rape, is significantly underreported and remains a serious problem. While domestic violence is criminal under Ghanian law, police rarely respond to reports of domestic violence.
Ghanaian law contains prohibitions on “unnatural carnal knowledge” – generally interpreted as any kind of sexual intimacy – between persons of the same sex, though in practice, the law is largely used to target men. Punishments can include fines and/or incarceration of up to three years. Rhetoric and violence targeting individuals on the basis of sexual orientation have increased in recent years. Individuals have reported safety incidents that include targeted assault, rape, mob attacks, and harassment due to their sexual orientation.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ghana.
If you decide to travel to Ghana:
Areas Near the Northern Border in the Upper East Region, Upper West Region, and western area of the Savannah Region – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
U.S. citizens in Ghana should reconsider travel to the northern border areas near Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire due to civil unrest and crime. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Ghana must obtain special authorization to travel to the Upper West Region, the Upper East Region, the North East Region, and the western area of the Savannah Region. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas. Be sure to read the Burkina Faso Travel Advisory here.
Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to more serious crimes.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 19 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Aruba.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Aruba.
If you decide to travel to Aruba:
Wed, 24 Jul 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes
Exercise increased caution in Sweden due to terrorism.
Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sweden. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Sweden.
If you decide to travel to Sweden:
Thu, 16 Jan 2025
Exercise normal precautions in French Guiana.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to French Guiana.
If you decide to travel to French Guiana:
Thu, 22 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise normal precautions in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to St. Kitts and Nevis.
If you decide to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis:
Wed, 18 Dec 2024
Updated after periodic review to include an H indicator for health.
Exercise increased caution in Gabon due to crime, civil unrest, and health. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire travel advisory.
Exercise Increased Caution in:
There is an increased military presence throughout Libreville and other areas of Gabon. Demonstrations may occur with little or no warning. A nighttime curfew is in effect and U.S. citizens should confirm and follow instructions of local authorities.
Access to medical care is limited. Medical facilities are limited in the quality and standard of care they can provide. They may not have adequate supplies of basic medications, especially outside of large cities.
Read the Country Information Page for additional information about travel to Gabon.
If you decide to travel to Gabon:
Wed, 22 Jan 2025
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Mongolia.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Mongolia.
If you travel to Mongolia, you should:
Tue, 08 Apr 2025
Updated due to change in travel advisory level to reflect changes in crime.
Country Summary: Exercise normal precautions in El Salvador. Gang activity has decreased over the last three years. This has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders.
U.S. government employees working in El Salvador are allowed to travel throughout the country during daylight hours. However, due to the risks, U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling between cities or departments at night.
There are exceptions. U.S. government employees are allowed to travel at all hours between San Salvador and:
U.S. government employees are prohibited from using public buses.
State of Exception
In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador declared a “State of Exception” in response to an increase in gang murders:
The State of Exception is still in place.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to El Salvador.
If you decide to travel to El Salvador:
Tue, 05 Nov 2024
Updated to reflect information on reconsider travel to select areas.
Exercise increased caution in Madagascar due to crime and civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Reconsider travel to the following areas due to violent crime and banditry:
Country Summary: Violent crime, such as armed robbery and assault, occurs throughout Madagascar, particularly after dark, in remote areas, and along major national roads in the south and western areas of the country.
Strikes and other protest activity related to political and economic conditions occur regularly, particularly in periods near elections.
Violent confrontations between the dahalo (criminal gangs that steal cattle) and security forces have increased in several regions of Madagascar, particularly in areas south and west of the capital.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Madagascar.
If you decide to travel to Madagascar:
Select Areas – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Violent crime, such as armed carjacking, banditry, mugging, home invasion, and kidnapping can occur at any time. Local police often lack the resources and training to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents in these areas:
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk.
Wed, 01 May 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Poland.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Poland.
If you decide to travel to Poland:
Fri, 30 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Mauritius.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Mauritius.
If you decide to travel to Mauritius:
Fri, 29 Nov 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise increased caution while traveling to Moldova. This is due to unresolved conflict between the breakaway region of Transnistria and the central government. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Country Summary: There have been reports of debris from airborne projectiles landing in Moldova, however there is no indication that Moldova is being targeted in Russia's war against Ukraine. The Chisinau airport is operating normally although there are no flights available to or from Belarus, Russia or Ukraine.
Read the Moldova country information page for additional information on travel.
If you decide to travel to Moldova:
Transnistria – Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Transnistria. There is also military conflict in nearby Ukraine.
Transnistria is a region that is not under the control of the Moldovan government. Visitors must show identification to cross into Transnistria. Those without a Moldovan government-issued identification document will have to show a passport. Visitors may also have to show ID such as a passport at checkpoints. This is at roads leading into and out of the region. Ukraine has closed its border crossing points into the Transnistrian region. Taking photographs of military facilities and security forces is not allowed and may result in trouble with authorities.
The U.S. government’s ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens traveling in Transnistria maybe be limited or delayed since Transnistria’s de facto authorities control access to the region.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 23 Dec 2024
Updated to include a risk indicator for health and updates to crime.
Exercise increased caution in Namibia due to crime and health risks.
Country Summary: Potentially violent crimes, such as home invasions, break-ins, muggings, and “smash and grabs” from vehicles stopped at intersections, parked near common tourist areas, or located in shopping mall parking lots are increasingly common. Crimes of opportunity, primarily the theft of money, cell phones, and personal property, are common.
Namibia is sparsely-populated and many visitors travel to remote areas far from emergency services and medical facilities. Health facilities are limited and may not have adequate supplies of basic medications, especially outside of large cities.
Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to Namibia.
If you decide to travel to Namibia:
Wed, 20 Sep 2023
Updated with return to full operational status, removal of obsolete COVID-19 page links, and updates to Do Not Travel Areas.
Reconsider travel to Nigeria due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do Not Travel to:
Country Summary:
Violent crime – such as armed robbery, assault, carjacking, kidnapping, hostage taking, roadside banditry, and rape – is common throughout the country. Kidnappings for ransom occur frequently, often targeting dual national citizens who have returned to Nigeria for a visit, as well as U.S. citizens with perceived wealth. Kidnapping gangs have also stopped victims on interstate roads.
Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting shopping centers, malls, markets, hotels, places of worship, restaurants, bars, schools, government installations, transportation hubs, and other places where crowds gather. Terrorists are known to work with local gangs to expand their reach.
There is civil unrest and armed gangs in parts of Southern Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta and Southeast regions. Armed criminality and gangs, including kidnapping and assaults on Nigerian security services is also pervasive in this region.
Violence can flare up between communities of farmers and herders in rural areas.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Nigeria due to security conditions.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Nigeria.
If you decide to travel to Nigeria:
Borno, Yobe, Kogi, and Northern Adamawa states – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The security situation in these states is fluid and unpredictable due to widespread terrorist activity, inter-communal violence, and kidnapping. Security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning.
Terrorist groups based in the Northeast routinely target humanitarian camps, security forces, churches, schools, mosques, government installations, educational institutions, entertainment venues, and road travelers.
Approximately two million Nigerians have been displaced as a result of the violence in Northeast Nigeria.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The security situation in these states is fluid and unpredictable due to widespread inter-communal violence and armed criminality, especially kidnapping and roadside banditry. Security operations to counter these threats may occur without warning.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states (with the exception of Port Harcourt) – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Crime is rampant throughout Southern Nigeria, and there is a heightened risk of kidnapping, violent civil unrest, and armed gangs.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Wed, 23 Oct 2024
Reissued to update information to high-risk areas, country summary, and the “If you decide to travel” section, and Level 4 “Do Not Travel” areas.
Exercise increased caution in Tunisia due to terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Do not travel to:
Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Tunisia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, museums, resorts, hotels, festivals, nightclubs, restaurants, religious sites, markets/shopping malls, government facilities and security forces. A country-wide state of emergency, which grants security forces more authority to maintain civil order and enables the government to focus on combating terrorism, is in effect.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in some areas of Tunisia.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Tunisia.
If you decide to travel to Tunisia:
Border with Algeria – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel within 16 km of the Algerian border due to terrorism, except for the cities of Tabarka and Ain Draham.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Border with Libya – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Developments in Libya continue to affect the security situation along the Tunisian-Libyan border in areas such as Ras Jedir and Dehiba along with the cities of Ben Guerdan and Medenine. The border with Libya is frequently closed to all traffic with short notice for extended periods. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens not to travel to Libya.
Visit our webpage for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
The Mount Chaambi National Park, Mount Salloum, Mount Sammamma, and Mount Mghila in Kasserine governorate due to terrorism – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Terrorist groups continue to operate in mountains of Western Tunisia near the Algerian border.
Visit our webpage for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Orbata Mountains in Gafsa in West-Central Tunisia – Level 4: Do Not Travel
Terrorist groups continue to operate in the mountainous areas of Western Tunisia near the Algerian border.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
The Desert South of Remada – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The desert south of Remada is designated as a military zone by the Government of Tunisia. Special authorization is required for travelers wishing to enter the military zone.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Thu, 11 Jul 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Exercise increased caution in Maldives due to terrorism.
Country Summary: Terrorist groups may conduct attacks with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Attacks may occur on remote islands which could lengthen the response time of authorities.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Maldives.
If you decide to travel to Maldives:
Thu, 15 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Greece.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Greece.
If you decide to travel to Greece:
Thu, 26 Dec 2024
Updated with additional detail about multiple risks and addition of the health indicator.
Do not travel to the Central African Republic (CAR) due to armed conflict, crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping, as well as Embassy Bangui’s limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.
Country Summary: Although there have been no specific incidents of violence or threats targeting U.S. citizens, there is a continuing risk of civil unrest, demonstrations, and election-related violence (including renewed outbreaks of armed conflict) occurring throughout the country, including the capital of Bangui.
Violent crime, including homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated battery, and larceny, is common.
Armed groups and opposition forces control large areas of the country, and they regularly kidnap, injure, and/or kill civilians. In the event of unrest, airport, land border crossings, and road closures may occur with little or no notice.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in CAR; U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of the capital. Family members cannot accompany U.S. government employees who work in CAR.
Access to medical care is limited. Medical facilities are limited in the quality and standard of care they can provide, and they may not have adequate supplies of basic medications,Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to CAR.
If you decide to travel to CAR:
Tue, 23 Jul 2024
Updated with changes to security information.
Do not travel to Somalia due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, piracy, and lack of availability of routine consular services.
Country Summary: Violent crime, such as kidnapping and murder, is common throughout Somalia. Illegal roadblocks are widespread.
The U.S. government has extremely limited ability to help U.S. citizens in Somalia because there is no permanent consular officer in Somalia, including the Somaliland region. If a traveler’s passport is lost, stolen, or expires, or the traveler becomes destitute the U.S. government may be unable to assist.
Some schools and other facilities act as “rehabilitation” centers and “de-westernization” camps. These facilities exist throughout Somalia with little or no licensing and oversight. Reports of physical abuse are common. People also report being held against their will in these facilities.
There are frequent reports of U.S. citizens who have their passports taken by family members, leaving them unable to depart Somalia. This often occurs when U.S. citizens travel to Somalia to visit family or attend an event. Some adult U.S. citizens are then unable to leave the international airport without explicit consent from their family.
Terrorists continue to plot kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks in Somalia. They may attack with little or no warning, targeting airports, seaports, and government buildings. Terrorists also target hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, and other places that attract large crowds and tourists. Government, military, and other convoys, including those carrying tourists are also targets. Methods of attack can include car bombs, suicide bombers, individual attackers, and rocket fire, among others. While some areas have experienced less severe terrorist activity, such as the Somaliland region, terrorist attacks involving the indiscriminate use of explosive devices and other weapons can take place anywhere in Somalia at any time without warning. The U.S. Embassy imposes strict limits on employee movement in Mogadishu based on the critical threat environment.
Civil unrest, including protests and demonstrations, occurs throughout Somalia and can sometimes be violent.
Medical facilities in Somalia have limited capacity and are often absent in rural areas.
Pirates are active in the waters off the Horn of Africa, especially off the coast of Puntland.
Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Somalia, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Somalia.
If you decide to travel to Somalia:
Tue, 12 Nov 2024
Updated to reflect Hurricane Beryl's July 2024 impact on Carriacou and Petite Martinque.
Exercise normal precautions in Grenada. The islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinque are in varying stages of recovery from Hurricane Beryl.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Grenada.
If you decide to travel to Grenada:
Carriacou and Petite MartinqueIn July 2024, Hurricane Beryl damaged buildings on these islands. Restaurant and other food options were affected. Until repairs are complete, fewer hotels may be available. Internet service was severely impacted by the hurricane and may be unreliable or unavailable.
Mon, 03 Feb 2025
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits
Exercise normal precautions in Norway.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Norway.
If you decide to travel to Norway:
Thu, 05 Sep 2024
Reissued after period review with minor edits.
Exercise increased caution in Tanzania due to crime, terrorism, and targeting of LGB persons. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Reconsider Travel To:
Country Summary: Violent crime such as assault, sexual assault, robberies, mugging, and carjacking, is common. Police forces have limited resources to respond effectively to serious crime.
Terrorist groups could attack in Tanzania with little or no warning, targeting embassies, police stations, mosques, and other places frequented by tourists. Please see the information below regarding the increased threat of terrorism in Mtwara Region.
Members of the LGB community have been arrested, targeted, and harassed. Due to their sexual orientation and identity LGB individuals may experience a higher likelihood of being targeted by police. People detained under suspicion of same-sex sexual conduct could be subject to invasive physical exams such as forced anal exams.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Tanzania.
If you decide to travel to Tanzania:
Mtwara Region in southern Tanzania – Level 3: Reconsider Travel There is a rise in extremist activity along the southern border, which has led to attacks on both government officials and civilians.
Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.
Mon, 02 Dec 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Tonga.
Read the Country Information page for additional information on travel to Tonga.
If you decide to travel to Tonga:
Sat, 08 Mar 2025
Updated to reflect ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel due to continued security threats in South Sudan.
Do not travel to South Sudan due to crime, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Country Summary: Due to the risks in the country, on March 08, 2025, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees from South Sudan.
Armed conflict is ongoing and includes fighting between various political and ethnic groups. Weapons are readily available to the population. In addition, cattle raids occur throughout the country and often lead to violence.
Violent crime, such as carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, and kidnappings are common throughout South Sudan, including Juba. Foreign nationals have been the victims of rape, sexual assault, armed robberies, and other violent crimes.
Reporting in South Sudan without the proper documentation from the South Sudanese Media Authority is considered illegal, and any journalistic work there is very dangerous. Journalists regularly report being harassed in South Sudan, and many have been killed while covering the conflict.
The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan. U.S. government personnel working in South Sudan are under a strict curfew. They must use armored vehicles for nearly all movements, and official travel outside Juba is limited. Due to the critical crime threat in Juba, walking is also restricted; when allowed, it is limited to a small area in the immediate vicinity of the Embassy and during daylight hours only. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). This is due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of South Sudan. For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to South Sudan.
If you decide to travel to South Sudan:
Thu, 14 Nov 2024
Reissued with updates after periodic review.
Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise U.S. citizens to not travel to frontline regions of Ukraine and areas along Ukraine’s border with Belarus due to presence of Russian and Belarusian military and security forces on the Belarusian side of the border, proximity to active ground combat, frequent shelling, missile and drone attacks on populated areas and civilian infrastructure, and limitations on the Embassy’s ability to provide assistance to U.S. citizens in those areas. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Some regions may have lower level of risk due to air defense capabilities and distance from active combat zones.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel to the regions of Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and Zhytomyr. Russia’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, and even non-frontline regions remain subject to Russian missile and drone attacks. Travelers should react to air alerts and seek appropriate shelter. The security situation can change quickly, and travelers should be prepared to depart immediately with little to no warning. Closed airspace restricts travel options, and non-frontline regions are still subject to martial law restrictions, such as a nationwide curfew. U.S. government employees are subject to movement, curfew, and activity restrictions that may be more limited than Ukrainian government restrictions under martial law.
All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable.
U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness in the event of military attacks. Download and turn on notifications for free mobile applications – which U.S. government personnel in Ukraine are required to have and monitor – that announce air alerts in real time, such as Air Raid Siren and Alarm Map. The U.S. Embassy does not have the ability to provide real-time alerts to the general U.S. citizen community of air threats. Know the location of your closest shelter at all times. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.
On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each region (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.
Ukrainian law does not recognize dual nationality, and Ukraine will not recognize your U.S. citizenship if you are also a citizen of Ukraine. Dual citizens will be treated as Ukrainian citizens while in Ukraine and will be required to use a Ukrainian passport upon entry and exit of the country. Men aged 18-60 with Ukrainian citizenship are also subject to exit restrictions and possible mobilization during the period of martial law. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has received numerous reports of dual U.S.-Ukrainian citizens encountering significant difficulties both entering and exiting Ukraine. Travelers with family ties to Ukraine should consult the nearest Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate regarding potential citizenship obligations before entering Ukraine. For more information on traveling with dual nationality, please visit our Travelers with Dual Nationality page.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices.
U.S. citizens seeking assistance, including routine services, should email KyivACS@state.gov. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas.
The Embassy is open and operating in Kyiv; however, Embassy personnel are subject to movement, curfew, and activity restrictions, which may cause delays in provision of consular assistance to U.S. citizens outside of Kyiv.
Occupied Territories:
Most of the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in many parts of these oblasts. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.
There are instances of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.
Although Russia’s occupation severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.
Travel to High-Risk Areas:
If you choose to travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:
If you are currently in Ukraine:
Wed, 28 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Ireland.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ireland.
If you decide to travel to Ireland:
Tue, 06 Aug 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes
Exercise normal precautions in Palau.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Palau.
If you decide to travel to Palau:
Thu, 27 Jun 2024
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
Do not travel to Russia due to the consequences of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces. U.S. citizens may face harassment or detention by Russian security officials, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, limited flights into and out of Russia, and the possibility of terrorism. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia. The Department has determined that there is a continued risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by Russian authorities. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should leave immediately.
The U.S. government has limited ability to help U.S. citizens in Russia, especially outside of Moscow. The U.S. Embassy is operating with reduced staffing, and the Russian government has restricted travel for embassy personnel. Furthermore, all U.S. consulates in Russia have suspended operations, including consular services.
There have been reports of drone attacks and explosions near the border with Ukraine as well as in Moscow, Kazan, and St. Petersburg. In an emergency, you should follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter.
Russia may refuse to recognize your U.S. citizenship if you are a dual U.S.-Russian citizen or have a claim to Russian citizenship. Russia has denied consular officers visits to detained dual U.S.-Russian citizens. The Russian government has forced citizens with dual nationality to join the Russian military and prevented them from leaving the country. In 2022, the Russian government mobilized citizens for its invasion of Ukraine. Military conscription continues.
In Russia, the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech are not always protected. U.S. citizens should avoid protests and taking photos of security staff at these events. Russian authorities have arrested U.S. citizens who joined protests. Moreover, there are many reports of Russians being detained for social media posts.
U.S. citizens should know that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia. Due to sanctions, sending electronic money transfers from the U.S. to Russia is nearly impossible.
Commercial flight options are minimal and are often unavailable on short notice. If you wish to depart Russia, you should make independent arrangements. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in leaving the country, and transportation options may suddenly become even more restricted.
Click here for Information for U.S. Citizens Seeking to Depart Russia.
U.S. Embassy staff generally are not allowed to fly on Russian airlines due to safety concerns. Recently, the FAA downgraded Russia's air safety rating from Category 1 to Category 2. Additionally, the FAA banned U.S. flights in some Russian areas, including the Moscow Flight Information Region (FIR), the Samara FIR (UWWW), and the Rostov-na-Donu (URRV) FIR within 160NM of the boundaries of the Dnipro (UKDV) Flight Information Regions. Check the FAA's Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices for more information.
Country Summary:
Russian officials have interrogated and threatened U.S. citizens without cause. This includes former and current U.S. government and military personnel and private U.S. citizens engaged in business. U.S. citizens may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion.
Russian authorities may not notify the U.S. Embassy about the detention of a U.S. citizen and may delay U.S. consular assistance. Russian security services also target foreign and international organizations they consider “undesirable.”
Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on false charges, denied them fair treatment, and convicted them without credible evidence. Furthermore, Russian authorities have opened questionable investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Russia.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has destabilized security in southwestern Russia. In October 2022, the Russian government declared martial law in the following border areas with Ukraine: Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, and Krasnodar. Under martial law, authorities can set curfews, seize property, and restrict movement. The Russian government may detain foreigners, forcibly relocate residents, and limit public gatherings. U.S. citizens should avoid all travel to these areas.
Russian authorities have questioned, detained, and arrested people for “acting against Russia's interests.” Local authorities have targeted people for posting on social media or supporting "anti-Russian" groups and punished individuals for criticizing the government or military. The Russian government's current "LGB propaganda" law bans discussion of LGB related topics. In November 2023, the Supreme Court labeled the so-called "international LGB movement" as extremist. This decision effectively made it a crime to support the human rights of LGB persons in Russia.
Terrorists continue to plan attacks in Russia. The March 2024 Crocus City Hall incident proved they can strike suddenly. Terrorists may target tourist areas, transport hubs, and markets. They may also target government buildings, hotels, clubs, restaurants, and places of worship. Parks, events, schools, and airports are also potential targets. U.S. government employees under Embassy (Chief of Mission) security responsibility are not permitted to travel to the North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mt. Elbrus. U.S. citizens should avoid travel to those areas.
The international community does not recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea and does not acknowledge Russia’s purported annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya. Russia staged its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in part, from occupied Crimea and there is a heavy Russian military presence in these areas. There is intense fighting across these regions and Russian authorities there have abused both foreigners and locals. Authorities have specifically targeted individuals who are seen as challenging Russia’s authority.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv administers consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya. However, the conflict limits the Embassy's ability to help U.S. citizens in these areas.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Russia.
If you decide to travel to Russia:
Wed, 25 Sep 2024
Reissued after periodic review without changes.
Exercise normal precautions in Sao Tome and Principe.
Read the Country Information Page for additional information on travel to Sao Tome and Principe.
If you decide to travel to Sao Tome and Principe:
Wed, 29 May 2024
Reissued with updates to information.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Antarctica.
If you travel to Antarctica:
Wed, 29 Jan 2025
Updated to reflect the Ordered Departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and eligible family members and overall Travel Advisory Level from 3 to 4.
Do not travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo due to Armed Conflict, Crime, Civil Unrest, Kidnapping, and Terrorism.
Country Summary: Due to risks in the country, on January 28, 2025, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and all eligible family members.
Violent crime, such as armed robbery, armed home invasion, kidnapping, murder, rape, and assault, is common and local police lack resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Assailants may pose as police or security agents.
Armed groups, individuals, and military forces routinely clash with each other. Civilians are frequently targeted in attacks in Eastern DRC. Terrorists and other armed groups have attacked military and civilian targets and represent an ongoing threat to humanitarian aid workers and other NGO personnel operating in DRC.
Demonstrations are common in many cities and some have turned violent. Police have at times responded with heavy-handed tactics that resulted in civilian casualties and arrests.
The U.S. government has extremely limited ability to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens outside of Kinshasa due to poor infrastructure and security conditions.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
If you decide to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo: