smart traveller level 4 countries

The CDC's 'Level 4' Travel Advisory List Now Includes 140 Countries

More than half of the world's destinations are on the CDC's list

Jalyn Robinson is the assistant travel editor at Dotdash Meredith, working for both Travel + Leisure and TripSavvy. She started at TripSavvy in 2021 and joined Travel + Leisure in 2023, where she writes, edits, and assists with other editorial operations. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has moved even more countries to its "very high risk" travel list. Since Feb. 22, the organization has added four more countries to its "Level 4" advisory—Bhutan, Brunei, Iran, and Malaysia—bringing the total number of countries on the list to 140, more than half of the world's destinations.

The CDC changed its three-level advisory system to a four-level system in November 2020. According to the system, a "Level 1" advisory signifies a low level of COVID-19, and the CDC recommends that all travelers to these locations be vaccinated; "Level 2" indicates a moderate level of COVID-19, and the CDC warns unvaccinated travelers to avoid nonessential trips to these destinations; "Level 3" indicates a high level of COVID-19 and the CDC recommends unvaccinated travelers avoid travel under any circumstance, and finally, "Level 4" indicates a very high level of COVID-19 and the CDC recommends that everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should avoid travel to any country under this advisory. To receive a "Level 4" advisory, a country must have more than 500 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past 28 days.

The advisory lists are updated weekly, and the agency notes on its website, "additional information such as new variants of concern, vaccination rates, hospitalizations, and imported case counts may be considered when determining a Travel Health Notice level."

The United States Department of State has followed suit with the CDC; it moved the same countries—except Brunei—onto its "Level 4" advisory list on Feb. 22.

Despite the high-level advisories, many countries are still planning to open their borders and take travelers in. Thailand is set to reopen its borders to vaccinated tourists on March 15.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "COVID-19 Travel Recommendations." Accessed February 24, 2022.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "How CDC Determines the Level for COVID-19 Travel Health Notices." Accessed February 9, 2022.

Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism. "MOCST Proposed the Prime Minister to Full Reopen Tourism From March 15, Applying the Same Visa Policy As Before the Pandemic." February 16, 2022.

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Is it safe to go there? The U.S. travel advisory system, explained

If you’re planning an international trip, here’s how to use the State Department’s country-by-country guide to minimize your risk of encountering crime, violence, or civil unrest.

On October 19, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare advisory that Americans overseas “exercise increased caution” due to heightened tensions and chances of terrorism around the world, spurred by the Israel-Hamas war. It’s part of a system of travel warnings that’s been around in some form since 1978, designed to help citizens assess how safe a destination might be at a given time.

The current version of the system, which launched in 2018, gives fluid rankings from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel), indicating how risky countries (and in some cases, regions) are for Americans to visit. Rankings are based on factors such as crime rates, civil unrest, and the threat of terrorism. They are meant to give “clear, timely, and reliable information about every country in the world so they can make informed travel decisions,” says a State Department spokesperson.  

Not surprisingly, on October 14, the State Department moved Israel and the West Bank to Level 3 (reconsider travel) and Gaza to Level 4.  

Here’s how the advisories work and how to use them.

What is a travel advisory?

The U.S. State Department inaugurated the travel advisory system in 1978, initially aiming warnings at airlines and travel companies. The system was scrutinized after the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight from London to New York , which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland , killing all 259 passengers and crew plus 11 people on the ground.  

Investigations found U.S. authorities had been aware of a credible threat to a Pan Am flight but hadn’t informed the public. In response, the media and consular offices began issuing travel warnings. In 2018 the U.S. introduced its current four-tier advisory system. There are near-identical versions in Canada , Australia , and New Zealand .

To determine rankings, the State Department considers a nation’s political volatility, crime trends, medical care standards, and the threat of kidnappings or terrorism. (Politics also ends up playing an unspoken role.) Some countries, such as Russia , receive a Level 4 ranking partly because the U.S. government may have limited ability to assist citizens there. Others rise to Level 4 due to a crisis, such as the military coup that recently rocked Niger .  

When the travel advisory system relaunched in 2018, it also included state-by-state evaluations for Mexico , which draws more than 11 million American travelers a year. “Some Mexican states are quite safe for U.S. tourists, while others are riskier due to narco-trafficking violence,” says Ryan Larsen , executive director of the Institute for Global Engagement at Western Washington University. Yucatán and Campeche states are currently at Level 1, while six other Mexican states are at Level 4, including Sinaloa.

( Solo female travelers share tips for staying safe on the road .)

Epidemics and natural disasters also can prompt a travel advisory number to rise. Americans may be prompted to reconsider visiting a country recovering from a tsunami or major wildfires, since their presence could hinder rehabilitation efforts. This occurred after the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey . Such advisories can remain in place for weeks or months.

The strictest-ever advisories came in April 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic , says Larsen, who did a thesis   on U.S. travel warnings. At that time, about 80 percent of the world’s countries were at Level 4.

At press time, about 70 percent of the world’s countries were rated Level 1 or Level 2 by the State Department, indicating they’re relatively safe. There are currently 21 countries at Level 3 and 21 at Level 4.

How to use travel advisories

Before booking an international trip, consult the State Department website to see where your destination ranks. While Level 1 and 2 countries are considered relatively safe, you should still register with the U.S. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) . This lets Americans overseas use their smartphone to receive travel advisory updates and alerts about emerging dangers in their destination (protests, extreme weather).

Level 3 countries are considered more dangerous for foreign visitors, who should “reconsider travel,” according to the State Department. If you are headed to a Level 3 country, which currently includes Pakistan and Colombia , do wider research on its safety and on the places you’ll visit there, advises Jun Wen , a professor of tourism at Australia’s Edith Cowan University. For instance, while some remote areas in the Colombian Amazon still suffer from drug-related violence, cities such as Cartagena and Medellín are relatively safe. Going on a fully guided group or individual tour can also help you navigate destinations where political unrest or crime might impact your safety.

Travelers should study not only the advisories provided by their own country, but also by the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia to broaden their understanding of the risks in Level 3 countries, Wen says. As for Level 4 countries, that “Do Not Travel” advice couldn’t be any clearer.

Other countries also issue warnings to their citizens about visiting the U.S. Canada recently informed its LGBTQ travelers they may be affected by laws in certain U.S. states. Australia, meanwhile, cautions its citizens visiting the U.S. to be wary of higher crime rates and gun violence, and even to learn safety strategies for active shooter scenarios.

People who visit countries with Level 3 or Level 4 travel advisories don’t just risk their safety. They also may have travel insurance complications, says Linchi Kwok , tourism management professor at California State Polytechnic University Pomona.

( How travel insurance can—and can’t—help when your plans change .)

They must pay much higher premiums, and their insurance can be invalidated if the advisory for their destination is elevated. “Medical coverage can be minimal, too, particularly if the travel advisory is put up against a disease or an outbreak,” says Kwok. “I encourage Americans to think twice before they travel to Level 3 and especially Level 4 destinations.”

Warnings and their impact on tourism

Travel advisories can be biased, Larsen argues. His research found that, while the U.S. didn’t often overstate the risk of travel to countries with which it had poor relations, it did often understate the danger of visiting nations that were its close allies. Elevating a travel advisory can stoke diplomatic tensions between two countries. Once a country is raised to Level 3 or 4, many tourists will avoid visiting, and many American universities won’t let students join study abroad programs.

The economic ramifications of a level change impact individual businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies. For instance, J 2   adventures , a Jewish-focused tour company, saw most of its fall group trips to Israel canceled after the start of the Israel-Hamas war (and the higher advisory level), says cofounder Guy Millo. “This is not just because of the violence on the ground, but because of practical considerations like accessibility of commercial airline flights,” he says. “Most tourists from North America and places around the globe simply couldn’t get here even if they wanted to.”  

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Everything you need to know about State Department travel advisories

When traveling abroad, the top concern for many Americans is safety.

Whether it is due to ongoing conflict, special events such as the 2024 Paris Olympics , natural disasters like a volcano currently erupting in Iceland or an uptick in crime , conditions of countries can change rapidly, affecting both travelers and locals.

To help keep American travelers safe, the U.S. Department of State issues and maintains travel advisories for U.S. citizens based on current circumstances.

These advisories can be particularly helpful for first-time and younger travelers, though the agency encourages all people to review them for their desired destination ahead of travel.

What are travel advisories based on?

Although travel warnings originate from the State Department and live on its website , they are a joint effort between the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services and U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide.

"We've got our diplomats and consular officers on the ground in all those places, who have more up-to-date information than anyone in Washington could have," said Angela Kerwin, deputy assistant secretary for Overseas Citizens Services, during a Zoom interview Thursday. "But we use a variety of information in order to look at the criteria that go into our travel advisories around the world."

In addition to crime reports, nongovernmental organization reports and those from international organizations such as the United Nations, the government considers nine risk factors in determining the level at which each country's advisory should be set:

• C — Crime : Widespread violence or organized crime is present in areas of the country. Local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
• T — Terrorism : Terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups or other targets may exist.
• U — Civil Unrest : Political, economic, religious and/or ethnic instability exists and may cause violence, major disruptions and/or safety risks.
• H — Health : Health risks, including current disease outbreaks or a crisis that disrupts a country's medical infrastructure. The issuance of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Health Notice may also be a factor.
• N — Natural Disaster : A natural disaster, or its aftermath, poses danger.
• E — Time-limited Event : Short-term events, such as elections, sporting events or other incidents that may pose safety risks.
• K — Kidnapping or Hostage Taking : Criminal or terrorist individuals or groups have threatened to and/or have seized or detained and threatened to kill, injure or continue to detain individuals in order to compel a third party (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain from doing something as a condition of release.
• D — Wrongful Detention : The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals exists.
• O — Other : Potential risks are not covered by previous risk indicators. Read the country's travel advisory for details.

Although the most recently added category, Wrongful Detention, only applies to a handful of countries, it's an important criterion for travelers to note when a country has detained a U.S. citizen without cause.

Level 1 to 4 tiered warning system

Based on that nine-rubric system, plus reports and input from U.S. consulates and embassies in these countries, the agency assigns each country a Level 1 to 4 tiered warning , with 1 being the lowest level, indicating relative safety, and 4 being the highest, meaning travelers should not visit.

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions

This is the lowest level a country can achieve, making it among the safest for Americans to visit. As with any travel, there is always some risk, so every country will always have at least a Level 1 advisory.

Level 2: Exercise increased caution

Under a Level 2 designation, a country has increased safety or security risks, but they likely won't preclude you from traveling there.

Level 3: Reconsider travel

A Level 3 advisory tells travelers to potentially defer trips to the country in question, as serious potential risks exist.

Level 4: Do not travel

The most serious advisories are Level 4 recommendations, which alert you to avoid travel to designated countries and areas due to a greater threat of potentially life-threatening risks and limited resources to help Americans.

What else to know about travel advisories

In addition to the State Department's general travel advisory, a country's information page will also provide any timely alerts from the corresponding U.S. embassy and/or consulate to consider.

There are also certain countries where the agency can provide "carve-outs" to communicate information related to specific areas or regions within a particular country.

"Perhaps the country itself is a Level 3 country, but there is one particular border area that has ongoing kinetic activity of some sort, and we'd say that would be a Level 4," Kerwin explained.

These carve-outs are most often found in Mexico , as the U.S. shares a border with the country and more Americans travel to Mexico for tourism than elsewhere.

"Mexico is a special case. We also have more U.S. consulates than we do in any other country in the world, and for that reason, we are able to provide state-by-state travel advisory levels in Mexico," Kerwin said. "[With] other countries around the world, [we] just simply don't have the ability to have that level of detail; the specificity is greater for Mexico."

Because data is the main source of information for crafting these advisories, not all alerts can be created equally.

"It is impossible to say that we can apply all nine criteria exactly the same in country A as we do in country B. You're going to have more statistical data of a reliable type for ... Germany than you would Chad," Kerwin explained. "So to compare the exact same report for Germany with the exact same report for Chad is not something that makes sense because it's generally not going to be available."

In those cases, the government relies on its embassies and consulates, which are present in most of these countries, to help inform its alerts.

"We've got people on the ground who are often best positioned to help us evaluate the number of kidnappings, the level of civil unrest, how many terrorist attacks reported or not reported," she said.

Note that a lack of readily available or accurate data doesn't make the country inherently riskier or more dangerous for travelers.

"It just means that we don't have the exact type of data that we would have in another country," Kerwin said. "We would have to rely more heavily on embassy reporting and our folks there, but it does not necessarily mean it is a more dangerous country."

Does a Level 4 alert mean I should avoid traveling there?

In short, the answer is yes.

At the time of publication, there were 19 countries with Level 4 alerts, per the State Department.

"These are the places we deem as the most dangerous for U.S. citizens to travel to, and we would really like U.S. citizens to look at other destinations," Kerwin said. In part, that's because of the limited consular or embassy services available in these places should an American need help.

"Every U.S. citizen gets to make up their own mind on where they want to travel. That's all we can do as a government," she continued. "If a U.S. citizen finds themselves in a situation where they need to travel to one of these countries for whatever reason, we would ask that they look at our travel advisories in advance, read our country information sheet. We would certainly recommend if we have a functioning embassy, that they save that information on their phone so they can contact the embassy if necessary."

But overall, travelers should avoid traveling to Level 4 countries if possible.

"Each of these Level 4 countries will tell you what our concerns are with these countries and [that] our criteria has been met," Kerwin said. "We believe it is quite dangerous to go there."

How often are State Department travel advisories updated?

When viewing a travel advisory, you'll note at the top the date it was last updated, as alerts are updated on a rolling basis.

Generally speaking, Level 4 and Level 3 alerts are updated at least once every six months, while Level 1 and Level 2 alerts are examined at least once per year, pending evolving circumstances.

"If something changes or some precipitating event, we would do it earlier as needed," Kerwin said.

For example, on Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik issued its own alert regarding a volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland that morning. When embassy alerts are issued for isolated events in a particular region of a country, it does not necessarily reflect the overall level of the country as a whole.

Despite the volcano warning, Iceland remained at Level 1 , as it has since July. If it had been a more widespread eruption affecting general European air travel, that would have prompted the agency to update the travel advisory as a whole.

"Right now, by sending out that security alert, we're saying stay away from the volcano, but if you wanna go have dinner in Reykjavik, follow our regular information we have on our travel advisory," Kerwin said.

That volcano alert also went out via the agency's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program , which sends relevant security updates from the nearest U.S. Consulate, and which Kerwin advised travelers to enroll in as another way to stay safe abroad.

"So anybody who is registered in STEP traveling to or who is living in Iceland would've gotten an email to say, 'Hey, be aware the volcano erupted again today, we're watching it closely; pay attention,'" she explained. "We have those various security alerts that we can send out at any time in a country based on late-breaking events."

Special events, such as the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, will also trigger additional and/or more frequent alerts.

"We will be paying special attention to that. We expect there will be a large number of U.S. citizens that are headed in that direction to cheer on our team, and we want to make sure that we are giving them the best information we can about their time when they're traveling," Kerwin said.

Other things to consider when traveling abroad

As with travel in general, the State Department advises Americans heading overseas to prepare in advance.

"We have a slogan we've been using, and I like it; it's called 'travel smart from the start,' and that starts even before you decide what destination," Kerwin said. That slogan applies to details like checking that you have enough validity on your passport (most countries require six months at the time of entry) and buying travel insurance.

Kerwin also advises procuring the contact information for the nearest U.S. government presence (i.e., the embassy or consulate) via the State Department's list of U.S. embassies and consulates .

"Jot down on paper, take a picture on your phone and save the U.S. Embassy/Consulate phone number or email address so you can get in contact with us if there's a problem," she said. "And always be aware of your surroundings ... a heightened level of awareness ... is important for travelers no matter where they're going."

Bottom line

With travel comes an inherent risk, and the government aims to help travelers remain safe domestically and abroad.

While the decision to travel is ultimately up to the traveler, these travel advisories should be taken seriously.

"Our goal is to always provide the best advice and information we can for U.S. citizens so they can make their decisions as to where they wish they travel," Kerwin said.

Therefore, heed these travel warnings from the State Department via U.S. embassies, consulates and the department's STEP program.

"The final thing — and this is an important one — is to have fun," Kerwin added. "Travel is fantastic — you get to see new cultures, and you get to experience new languages and beautiful countries and beautiful cities. We want U.S. citizens to travel and have fun on their adventures around the world."

Related reading:

• Cancun travel advisory: State Department issues warning to US travelers heading to Mexico
• The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
• US issues worldwide travel advisory — here's what you should know
• Finally: US passport processing back to pre-pandemic time frame

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What Are Smartraveller Travel Advisories?

What are Australian Government travel warnings and what do they mean?

• Smartraveller Travel Advisories Explained

What are Smartraveller travel advisories?

The Australian Government uses a rating system with four levels to represent the potential dangers of travelling to a particular country or region.

• Level 1 - Exercise normal safety precautions
• Level 2 - Exercise a high degree of caution
• Level 3 - Reconsider your need to travel
• Level 4   - Do not travel

The purpose of the scale is to assist travellers to stay safe by making them aware of the threats they may face at that destination, as well as highlighting areas that are clearly not safe for travel.

E XERCISE NORMAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Level one indicates no current significant threats in these regions. Travellers can generally expect a stable and secure environment similar to Australia with functioning law and order, comparable healthcare and responsive emergency services.

Will travel insurance cover me in an ‘Exercise normal safety precautions’ region?

Yes, travel insurance will cover you for travel in these regions, subject of course to the terms and conditions of the individual policy.

Health and safety tips for ‘ Exercise normal safety precautions ’ travel destinations:

• Respect local laws and customs which may be very different to home.
• Use your common sense and exercise standard safety precautions.
• Be aware you may still be at risk of petty crime such as theft and scams.
• Keep in mind   terror attacks   and other threats can still occur anywhere and at any time.
• Monitor media and   Smartraveller   for any changes to local conditions.
• Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers medical expenses and all of the   activities   you want to do on your holiday.

EXERCISE A HIGH DEGREE OF CAUTION

Travelling to a country with a cautionary level warning is still considered relatively safe, but indicates a higher level of risk than what you would typically expect at home.

This could be due to a temporary event such as a political protest or a short-term increase in the region’s domestic security threat. It could also indicate a higher risk of crime, unreliable law enforcement and/or a lower standard of healthcare and emergency services.

Will travel insurance cover me in an ‘Exercise a high degree of caution’ region?

Most travel insurance policies will still cover travel to destinations at this level, subject of course to the terms and conditions of the individual policy.

Health and safety tips for ‘ Exercise a high degree of caution ’ travel destinations:

• Research specific threats and take extra precautions.
• Seek medical advice about   vaccinations   and general health risks in this region.
• Pay close attention to your personal safety at all times.
• Be vigilant and monitor local media as the level may indicate instability in the region.
• Be aware that security conditions may change quickly with little warning.
• Consider purchasing an   international travel insurance   that covers medical evacuation and repatriation if you need to be transported home for emergency treatment.

level three

Reconsider your need to travel.

A level three travel warning means that there are dangerous and potentially life-threatening risks in these regions. These could include an ongoing threat of terrorism, current civil unrest, a high occurrence of violent crime or other serious health and safety concerns. It may also be due to a temporary but significant event such as a natural disaster.

If a country is listed as ‘reconsider your need to travel’, it means the Australian Government considers the destination to be unsafe for most travellers and recommends cancelling or deferring your trip if possible.

Will travel insurance cover me in a ‘Reconsider Your Need to Travel’ region?

Some travel insurance policies will still cover travel to destinations at this level, subject of course to the terms and conditions of the individual policy.

Health and safety tips for ‘ Reconsider Your Need to Travel ’ destinations:

• As the warning says: reconsider any non-essential travel to these regions.
• Research the specific threats and dangers you may encounter.
• Consider the location and security of your planned accommodation.
• Consider how you will travel within the region as public transport may not be the safest option.
• Discuss contingency arrangements and have an emergency response plan.
• Ensure that you’re able to depart independently and that your travel documentation is up-to-date.
• You’ll likely require a specialised insurance policy for travel to these destinations.

DO NOT TRAVEL

If a country is on the ‘Do Not Travel’ list it means the Australian Government believes it to be extremely dangerous and you should   NOT   travel to that destination.

This may be due to a very high risk of terrorist attacks, ongoing armed conflict, or critical levels of violent crime or violent unrest. It is often also a combination of these factors.

While it’s not illegal to travel to a country on the ‘Do not travel’ list, it’s certainly   not   advisable. The Australian Government doesn’t issue these warnings lightly, so if you travel against the advisory you are knowingly putting yourself at a very high level of risk.

If you’re already in a country that is upgraded to a ‘Do Not Travel’ status, you should consider leaving immediately.

Will travel insurance cover me in a ‘Do Not Travel’ region?

Most travel insurers will   not   cover you for travel to countries listed as ‘Do Not Travel’.

If a region you intend to visit is upgraded to this level   after   you have purchased a policy, you may have provision to claim for   cancellation   expenses or the costs involved in delaying your holiday until it’s safe to travel again.

Refer to your travel insurance Product Disclosure Statement so you know exactly what is and isn’t covered before making a purchase.

Health and safety tips for ‘ Do Not Travel ’ destinations:

• The safest option is to avoid travelling to these regions at all costs.
• If you choose to travel despite the advisory, exercise extreme caution and consider seeking professional security advice and hiring personal protection.
• Make contingency arrangements and have a detailed emergency evacuation plan in place.
• Know that the Australian government is unlikely to be able to assist your evacuation if a crisis occurs.
• Check if you will require a special visa or permission to enter or leave the country.
• Keep in mind it may be very difficult and dangerous to cross borders in or out of these areas.

How do travel warnings affect my travel insurance?

Your policy may exclude cover for regions that have a “Do Not Travel” or “Reconsider Your Need To Travel” rating. Visit Smartraveller.com.au to check the rating level of the country you intend to travel to, and ask your travel insurer what they cover.

Keep in mind that travel warning levels may vary across different regions within the same country.

A country may have an overall travel warning of Level 1 or Level 2 but some specific regions within the country may have a higher travel warning of Level 3 or 4. Ensure that you check the travel warning for all the regions that you’ll be travelling to, and ask your travel insurer if you’ll be covered should you travel to those regions.

It's also important to check for any terrorism-related exclusions or limits for:

• Medical benefits
• Evacuation and repatriation
• Cancellation
• Travel delays
• Alternative transport
• Accidental death and disability

Each travel insurance policy will have different exclusions and benefits, so make sure you consider the Product Disclosure Statement carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered before you make a purchase.

What events can affect the levels of travel advice?

Travel warnings are issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) , who consider any potential risks which might affect a traveller’s health, safety and security overseas.

These can include potential dangers such as:

• Threat of terrorist attack
• Violent crime
• Cyclone, hurricane or tornado
• Epidemics and pandemics
• Political unrest
• Riots and civil unrest

While your safety is ultimately your own responsibility when travelling overseas, the advisory may assist travellers to make informed decisions and avoid, minimise or prepare for potential threats overseas.

Why do travel warnings affect my travel insurance?

Travellers pay a premium upfront to insure themselves against potential expenses if something unexpected happens. In a simplistic sense, this money all goes into a ‘pool’ which is then used to pay out claims if something unfortunate does happen to someone.

You may have never thought about it this way before, but if you’ve ever had a travel insurance claim paid then you were actually helped by other travellers who you’ve never met!

The reason that travel insurance companies take the Smartraveller advisories into consideration when paying claims is the same as the reason they consider other factors like dangerous activities or intoxication.

If a traveller knowingly puts themselves at a greater risk of injury or illness by participating in high-risk behaviour like drinking to excess or visiting an extremely dangerous location, it wouldn’t be fair to all the other travellers who have also contributed their premiums to the ‘pool’ and who do the right thing to avoid unnecessary risks. Those factors are therefore dealt with in the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the Product Disclosure Statement.

If none of these factors were considered when paying claims, the price of insurance premiums would skyrocket for everyone in order to account for all the extra claims needing to be paid.

How do I choose a safe travel destination?

Although you can never be sure that nothing will go wrong when you travel overseas, there are a few steps you can take when planning your trip to minimise your chances of running in trouble on your holiday.

Step 1: Choose a safe destination

A good starting point is to look at a large-scale report like the 2017 Global Peace Index to get an idea of which countries are generally considered to be the safest. Then consider which of those destinations are compatible with the type of trip you want to have or activities you want to do.

Planning a holiday around your priorities will help you to significantly narrow down your destination options. For example, if you want to laze around on the beach and soak up some rays, Portugal is ranked as a much safer option in the index than Greece or Thailand.

For a skiing or snowboarding holiday, Austria, Canada and New Zealand are great options that all made it into the top ten safest countries for 2017.

Check out our article on Terrorism and Travel Insurance to see which other countries made it into the top 10 safest travel destinations, and which are best to avoid.

Step 2: Research your trip

Once you have a few possible destinations in mind, you can do some research on the options that are available to you. Some good places to start include:

• Checking the advisory level on  Smartraveller.gov.au   and reading the travel guides for that destination.
• Reading travel blogs to get first-hand accounts from experienced travellers who have visited that location for advice and itinerary ideas.
• Browsing websites like   Lonely Planet   for more general information and advice.
• Checking reviews on forums like   TripAdvisor   to get an idea of which areas and attractions are safe to visit, accommodation recommendations, as well as places and things to avoid.

Step 3: Book your holiday

Once you have chosen your destination, it’s time to book!

Browse booking websites to see what accommodation options are available and compare prices. These are also generally safer and more secure than booking through small independent tour companies or websites.

Remember to also consider factors such as the location and security of your accommodation, the availability of transport (including how you will get to and from the airport) and only book with recognised and reputable tour companies.

Smartraveller tips to stay up to date with travel alerts:

Conditions can change suddenly no matter where in the world you travel.

To stay up-to-date with the latest travel warnings and advice, Smartraveller recommends that you:

• Download the app
• Register your travel plans
• Get the right travel insurance
• Follow Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter

Get an instant quote for travel insurance direct from our website now by clicking the button below!

About the author

Alex is a content writer at Fast Cover who inherited the family travel bug at an early age. When she’s not researching and writing guides to help travellers stay safe overseas, she can usually be found gazing out of the nearest window, daydreaming about her next adventure.

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Smartraveller Travel Warnings Explained

The australian department of foreign affairs and trade (dfat) provides travel advices for more than 170 countries on their smartraveller website., did you know that the level of the smartraveller advice may affect the cover provided by your travel insurance policy.

The smartraveller website is a great resource for travellers.  The travel advisories identify risks you might encounter at your destination and provide useful information about local laws and travel, health, safety, natural disasters and entry/exit requirements.  The advisories also provide contact information for emergency services and the local embassy.

These travel advisories are updated from time to time, usually if something happens which affects Australians travelling in the area.  Although the advisories aren’t updated for every incident that occurs, it is a good idea to sign up to receive updates by email.  This will help keep you informed in addition to information you can obtain locally via the media etc.

What are the levels?

There are four smartraveller advisory levels:

Level 1 – Exercise normal safety precautions

Level 2 – Exercise a high degree of caution

Level 3 – Reconsider your need to travel

Level 4 – Do not travel

The level selected by DFAT for a destination is based on its assessment of risks posed to Australians travelling to and in the destination country.

Level 1 generally means that overall, DFAT assesses the destination as similar to being located in a large Australian city.  This usually means the destination has a functioning law and order system and stable government.  DFAT recommends travellers exercise common sense, be alert to suspicious behavior and monitor local media etc.  Essentially, just like you would do if you were in a large Australian city.

Level 2 is higher than Level 1 and means the risk to travellers is greater than what you would encounter in a large Australian city.  This may be due to deficiencies in public services (eg law enforcement), a high level of violent crime or security threats such as civil unrest or terrorism potential.  It could also be due to a short term issue such as a passing cyclone, natural disaster or local election.

Level 2 smartraveller warnings usually recommend you research specific threats and take extra precautions for your personal safety while at the destination.

Level 3 means there are serious threats and potentially life threatening risks at the destination which make it unsafe for tourist and non-essential travel.  Reasons for a Level 3 advisory could include terrorism and kidnapping threat, violent crime, ongoing civil rest or disease.

When an advisory is at Level 3, the Australian government is recommending you reconsider your need to travel to the destination.  You should consider whether you need to go – perhaps you can defer your travel or choose another destination.  If you are at the destination and the warning level is lifted to “Reconsider your need to travel”, it’s a good idea to see if you can leave.

Level 4 is the highest warning level and in this case, the Australian government is advising travellers not to travel to the destination.  This means the destination is extremely dangerous.  According to DFAT, reasons for this warning level include ”a high threat of terrorist attack, ongoing armed conflict, violent social unrest or critical levels of violent crime”.   It could also be that more than one of these factors is at play.  If you are in a country and the warning level is lifted to “Do not travel”, consider leaving immediately if safe to do so.

Bear in mind too that sometimes the advisory for a country overall may be Level 1 or 2 but specific areas or regions within the country may be at Level 3 or 4.

What about travel insurance?

Most travel insurance policies carry an exclusion that says the insurer wont be liable for any claim that arises from you exposing yourself to needless danger.  More specifically though, many policies have an exclusion that says the insurer wont pay any claim which results from you travelling to an area or country that the Australian Government recommends you don’t visit.  Some policies specifically state that no claim will be payable if you travel to a country where the smartraveller warning level is Level 4 – Do not travel.  Others are more general in that they don’t specify the warning level but just reference travelling to countries where the Australian government recommends against travel.  In this case, the policy may not respond if you travel to a country where the smartraveller advisory level is Level 3 – Reconsider your need to travel or Level 4 – Do not travel.

If you are looking to cancel a pre-booked trip because the travel advisory level has been raised, this will usually need to have occurred after the trip and policy were purchased and remain in force within a set period prior to your planned travel to the destination.  If you purchase a policy to cover you for travel to a destination and the advisory at that time is Level 3 – Reconsider your need to travel and it is raised to Level 4 – Do not travel, it is unlikely the insurer will pay the claim.  This is because the government was already recommending you reconsider your need to travel at the time you booked your trip and/or purchased the policy.  For a claim to be payable in this circumstance, the warning level at the time of booking the trip and/or purchasing the policy would need to be Level 1 or Level 2.

Also, the warning advising against travel must remain in force at the time you were pre-booked to travel.  That is, the warning must apply at the time you were planning to be at the destination.  A warning level increase advising against travel many months in advance of your scheduled travel to the destination may not entitle you to make a claim.  This is because the reason for the warning against travel may resolve prior to your scheduled travel date.  The reason for the warning must still be valid at the time you plan to travel to the destination to entitle you to cancel the trip and make a claim against the policy.

As the Australian government slogan says – “be a smart traveller”.  Keep up to date with the advisory level for your chosen destination and check with your travel provider to make sure you understand how the government advice level may affect your travel plans and entitlement to claim.

Got questions?  Why not call us on  1300 819 888  or send an email to  [email protected]

What to Know About the State Department's New Travel Advisories for Europe

By Rachel Chang

Between pandemic outbreaks and unrest in much of the world, global travel inherently comes with more anxiety than before. On top of that, earlier in October, officials issued an updated U.S. State Department travel advisory for a slew of countries, ranging from Belize and Italy to South Africa and the U.K, putting them at a Level 2 status cautioning visitors to “exercise increased caution.” While the new batch of advisories captured travelers' attention, the reason they were issued is more complex than it might seem. Most of the updated bulletins were dated October 4 or 5, a few days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) removed COVID-19 Travel Health Notices from its site, a State Department spokesperson says. That change sparked the new advisories, but also drew attention to the warnings that had existed in each country.  Any time there is an alteration to the listed information, the travel advisory for each country will clearly note the reason for the update at the top. As with countries like Belize , Italy , France , and South Africa , the first line of the advisories read: “Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information”—noting that CDC change was the cause for the new advisory, as COVID-19 had been a major factor in these notices for the greater part of the last couple of years. For many of the nations, that was the sole reason for the update. But the State Department is constantly reviewing the information. Any country with a Travel Advisory at Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”) or Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”) is reassessed at least every 12 months, while any on Level 3 (“Reconsider Travel”) or Level 4 (“Do Not Travel”) are looked at again every six months, at a minimum.  Moving forward, the State Department’s Travel Advisories will no longer include the CDC’s Travel Health Notices, and the CDC will only issue a notice for a country if a concerning COVID-19 variant is identified that alters recommendations for traveling there.

Large-scale safety warnings

With the health warnings off of these pages, terrorist and civil unrest advisories now sit at the top of many of the countries' pages. The State Department says that if the latest update was related to one of these reasons, it would be clearly labeled up front. Still, the recent update exposed just how many nations are currently at elevated caution levels.

“Level 2 travel warnings are not normal for these countries at this scale,” Jukka Laitamaki of NYU School of Professional Studies ’ Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality says. “Currently, in Europe only Scandinavian countries and Finland have the lowest Level 1 advisory.”

The State Department doesn’t specify what threats are behind the warnings, so it does mean travelers should be aware of the state of affairs in each country. “Pay attention to [the advisories] and use them as an important part of your travel planning,” he says. “Supplement them with local news from the destinations you plan to travel to and consider your own level of risk tolerance.” It’s possible recent one-off incidents like the Monet painting being defaced in Germany or the upcoming enthusiasm around the World Cup in November could be causes, Rewaken Adventure travel consultant Lori Avirett-Mackenzie says. “So State Department increasing the levels makes sense in a broad and general way,” she says.

Knowing how to use that information for travel planning can be difficult to parse. “There are no universal answers as the decision to travel and where to go when is highly personal,” Sandra Weinacht of Inside Europe . “But from my perspective and experience, I say yes, come to Europe.”  Of course that doesn’t mean completely letting your guard down—it may just be digging deeper into the specifics of where you’re going. Often the travel advisories will caution about certain areas. For instance, while Peru is on a Level 3 warning , there are certain border regions on Level 4. 

“We advise clients to take these alerts seriously, but we also recommend that, together, we dig into the alert and in more detail before changing or cancelling their travel plans to determine if or how the alert affects their specific trip,” Jenny Mikkelson at Travel Beyond says. She reminds that the advisories are issued for entire nations and for a broad range of traveler types, so specifics are important. “The particular destinations a traveler may be visiting may not be anywhere near the points of concern,” she adds.  Even so, Level 4 warnings stating not travel to the country should be heeded, Laitamaki says. As of press time, that list includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Central African Republic, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tonga, Venezuela, Yemen, and Ukraine.

No matter what the advisory level is, it’s also just important to stay smart while on the road. Officials recommend signing up for the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) program with details of your trip in order to receive the latest safety and security alerts from the U.S. government.

While the advisories can be daunting, it shouldn’t prevent travelers from leaving home. “I believe the best option is to be well-educated and prepared,” Avirett-Mackenzie says. “International travel is key to changing and enlarging our perspectives, helping us all recognize that the vast majority of people everywhere have the same goals and are good and kind people at heart."

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Enrolling in STEP

Non-u.s. citizens traveling abroad, crime mitigation strategies, it security, protecting research data, u.s. and international law, changes in security environment, dos information.

The   U.S. Department of State (DOS)   is responsible for communicating important information about travel destinations that is relevant to U.S. citizens traveling abroad.

They communicate this information in two key ways: 

• Travel advisories
• Security messaging and STEP notifications

In January 2018, the DOS transitioned from a travel warning and alert-based system in which guidance was only provided for select countries or regions, to an all-encompassing advisory system in which each country is assigned a level based on a four-tier scale. 

• Exercise Normal Precautions
• Exercise Increased Caution
• Reconsider Travel
• Do Not Travel

About Levels

Level 1 cautions about universal risks.   Levels 2 though 4 have additional risk indicators assigned which help travelers understand the nature of the risks they may face in a given location.

• D - Wrongful Detention
• E – Time-limited Event
• K – Kidnapping
• N – Natural Disaster
• T – Terrorism
• U – Civil Unrest

Level 3: Reconsider Travel is the level at which the DOS begins to introduce strong language such as “avoid.” Level 4: Do Not Travel is the highest level advisory and contains very strong cautionary language. The DOS advises that U.S. citizens not travel to countries or regions with an active Level 4 designation or encourages those who are in a Level 4 area to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.

Travel guidance on the DOS advisory contains several standard sub-categories

• Embassies and Consulates
• Destination Description
• Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements
• Safety and Security
• Local Laws & Special Circumstances
• Travel and Transportation

Travel advisories can change at any time. Additionally, specific regions within a country may possess a higher level advisory than the assigned country-wide level. It is important to read travel advisory information carefully, as context and details matter.

Security alerts and messages are posted by the local U.S. embassy or consulate and are shared through STEP. 

All travelers are strongly encouraged to enroll in the   U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)   to receive important security updates during their international travels. Oftentimes this advice relates to planned protests, union strikes or other events which can impact logistics and travel itineraries.

Communications with headings such as “Message for U.S. Citizens” typically relate to administrative updates.

Communications with headings such as “Security Message for U.S. Citizens” alerts travelers to security situations to which they should be aware and provides specific guidance on areas to avoid. 

Communications with headings such as “Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens” warns of imminent threats to safety or security and contains instructions and specific actions travelers should take to remain safe.

Travelers who are not U.S. citizens or individuals who do not have a U.S. passport may still enroll in the Department of State  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)   in order to receive local security alerts and updates that may impact travel plans.

While you can receive security messages put forth by the local U.S. consulate or embassy in your destination, please be advised that U.S. embassies and consulates are unable to assist non-U.S. citizens in the event of an emergency. Instead, during your pre-departure planning please identify the nearest consulate or embassy of your country in your intended destination. You may also wish to register your travel with them if they offer a similar traveler emergency notification service. 

Note that assistance for U.S. lawful permanent residents is provided by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). U.S. embassies or consulates can only provide limited services for LPRs.

Prior to traveling abroad, Kennesaw State University international students and scholars  on an F-1 or J-1 visa and their dependents must comply with the   overseas travel requirements   outlined by the International Student and Scholar Services Office. Individuals with other visa statuses should contact their visa sponsor for travel advice. Failure to do so may result in issues at the port of entry including detention by Customs and Border Patrol or being refused entry to the United States.  The university will be limited in its ability to assist a traveler in the event of detention by Customs and Border Patrol.

Kennesaw State students, faculty and staff who have additional questions about international travel requirements or restrictions for non-U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact the   International Student and Scholar Services Office.

About Crime Mitigation Strategies

• Many crimes are a factor of three elements: Desire, Ability and Opportunity. By minimizing Opportunity through the employ of good crime mitigation strategies in conjunction with situational awareness, travelers can help promote their own personal safety and welfare while abroad.
• In many destinations, foreigners are assumed to be wealthy (Desire) and may pose a prime target for petty theft.  In addition to maintaining situational awareness, a good way to minimize your risk of theft is by avoiding public displays of wealth. Leave valuables at home, especially if you do not need them.  A simple wristwatch can easily function in lieu of a smartwatch for the purposes of telling time. Similarly, designer luggage may be a cue for opportunistic baggage handlers, taxi drivers or others targeting foreign arrivals at airports. Employ Situational Awareness and be cognizant of your belongings at all times.
• Also employ security measures when using ATMs. Criminals often target individuals using ATMs to withdraw funds, tamper with ATMs to receive information from ATM users or, in some countries, target the physical ATM machines themselves.  It is best to use ATMs in secure locations and always take precautions to prevent others from viewing PIN numbers or other important information.
• Separate your documents and keep duplicates of important paperwork, such as a photocopy of your passport and visa (if applicable). Leave a copy of your credit or debit card information with someone you trust at home in the event that you lose your cards and need to cancel them.  Similarly, keep cash, credit cards or transit cards in separate locations. If your hotel has a safe, use it to store valuables during the day while you are out and only take what you anticipate needing.
• Phone case wallets, while popular and convenient, are not well suited for use while traveling abroad.  Smartphones are very popular targets for thieves, and it is common in metro areas in some countries for individuals on mopeds to target exits or entrances to subways or other metro stations for individuals using these devices whilst emerging for drive-by grab-and-go opportunities.
• It is recommended to have a small wallet for day-to-day use for storing small amounts of cash and which can act as a “mugger’s wallet” in the event that you are approached by an assailant.  If approached by an assailant, do not assume that the individual is unarmed or rational; instead, comply with demands to hand over a bag or wallet. Do not resist or attempt to fight back. Items can be replaced and credit cards canceled; they are not worth the risk to your safety.  

Situational Awareness

Situational awareness consists of being aware of one’s own surroundings and environment, identifying and assessing potential threats or dangerous situations. It is a mindset that can be adopted by anyone who wishes to proactively mitigate their risks and take control of their safety and wellbeing. 

When traveling to a new environment, you may not have the some understanding of the resources or lay of the land as locals do. It takes a while to build up familiarity to be able to gauge what may be normal or unusual, or whom to trust.  During these times, it is best to keep your situational awareness higher than you might on a day-to-day basis at home.

Upon arrival, get to know the lay of the land and build an emergency action plan; that is, establish a plan for communicating with others and know local emergency resources.

• Do I know the local version of 911?
• Do I know how to contact my program leader/students/travel companions (if applicable)?
• Do I know how to contact CISI?
• Do I know where my nearest embassy or consulate is?
• Do I know where the local medical facilities are?  The pharmacy?
• Do I know where the local police station is?
• Do I have copies of my important documents (i.e. passport, visas, insurance card)?

A few key elements to employ while practicing situational awareness are as follows:

• Recognize that threats to your personal health, safety and security do exist. This is true even while traveling in locations considered “safer” than others.
• Understand that you are ultimately responsible for your own security. Resources of governments and first responders are finite, particularly during major events. Look out for yourself as well as engage in bystander intervention by looking out for the wellbeing of any travel companions.

Trust your gut.   Your subconscious can often notice subtle signs of danger that you may not be able to fully articulate or comprehend consciously in a given moment. It may be inconvenient to trust your intuition, but if you suspect you may be in danger following your instincts can help you avoid a more serious complication or situation.

Before You Go

• If you can do without it, leave it at home. This is especially true in the instance of smart watches that may be dependent on other devices to get the full scope of use and have separate charging requirements.
• Back up your data and leave it in a secure location prior to departure.
• Use OneDrive for all data storage.
• Make sure your software is up to date, especially antivirus and antimalware software.
• Make sure your passwords are strong (unique, complex, random, as needed).

Upon Returning

• Assume your credentials were compromised while you were abroad. Upon your return, reset all the passwords that you utilized while out of the country.
• Clear your browsing history.
• Return all borrowed/loaner equipment to the Help Desk.

Recommendations for Travelers

Specifically, if you are traveling to a country with a DOS Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution travel advisory or above, UITS recommends the following:

• Obtain a Duo Mobile key fob  - the UITS Service Desk will provide a key fob to use in lieu of a Duo push.
• Copy needed data to your KSU OneDrive share.
• Utilize the KSU Global Protect VPN software installed on the laptop. Never sign in to public Wi-Fi and connect without using a VPN.
• Keep your devices with you at all times. Do not leave them in your hotel room, even in a safe, unattended. You should use this precaution, regardless of your travel destination.

Related Policy Links

Travelers should familiarize themselves with the following policies prior to travel.

• Data Security
• Computer Usage
• Intellectual Property
• Some countries reserve the right to inspect or copy data from electronic devices from international travelers, including those returning to the United States. Make sure you know what to expect from your destination.
• Some countries do not permit the possession of material or media that might be politically or nationally critical of the government or country. Avoid storing such media on your electronic devices.
• It is not uncommon for government agents or officials to knowingly access or copy confidential information.
• Decide to retain the minimum necessary data, applications, or files on your electronic device. In addition, minimize the total number of devices you bring along.
• Consider the local telecommunications infrastructure and plan accordingly. For instance, if you use your phone for Duo authentication, and you are traveling to an area without reliable service, arrange for an alternative method (such as a Duo token) that does not rely on a cellular connection.
• Be aware of any restrictions related to the data for which you are entrusted.

Prior to Departure

• Create a new backup of all critical data and files to a university-approved backup device you plan to leave at home.
• Make sure the software (operating systems, virus protection apps) on your devices are patched and up to date
• Completely clear your history, passwords, and caches from the browsers that you use.
• Ensure that your device’s drive is encrypted.
• Consider using OneDrive to store data/documents while you are abroad.

While Abroad 

• Disable all unnecessary services (e.g. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, when not in use) on your device.
• Power off your device when not in use.
• If you are asked to surrender your credentials to search your device, change it as soon as possible afterwards.
• Always connect to the internet through the KSU Global Protect VPN.
• Never use your credentials on any public machine.
• Do not use storage devices given to you or found, such as a USB drive.

*Travelers should also be aware that they may encounter increased scrutiny and screening of electronic devices at ports of entry both in certain destinations as well as upon re-entry into the United States.

All travelers are expected to conduct research into and obey local laws of their destination county(ies).  When traveling abroad, individuals are subject the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Individuals found to be in violation of the host country’s laws, even unknowingly, can face deportation, fines or arrest and imprisonment. See Arrests Abroad for more information.

That said, there are certain U.S. laws which do apply to activities abroad.  These include:

Export Control

Economic Sanctions

Crime Reporting

Bribery and Corruption

Elicitation

The geopolitical sphere is dynamic and constantly changing. As such, travelers should always monitor local events in their destination in advance of departure as well as while abroad, being cognizant of any security concerns that may pose significant logistical challenges or safety issues to any upcoming or current international travel.

In the event of an incident, event or change impacting the security environment of a location, travelers may need to modify itineraries, change intended activities or relocate to a new destination, or cancel travel altogether. 

The Office of International Safety & Security does not restrict faculty or staff traveling for business purposes but may provide additional context or guidance to travelers advising of increased risk profile of reported location(s) of travel.  Faculty and staff traveling for business purposes are highly encouraged to enroll their travel with both On Call International for in-country alerts, as well as with CISI for medical as well as non-medical (political insecurity and natural disaster) emergency evacuation coverage.  Faculty and staff should respond to any and all check-in requests from the Office of International Safety & Security during their business travels abroad.

Student travel, particularly travel to high risk destinations, is subject to review at any time. The International Risk Management Advisory Board (IRMAB) retains the right to rescind approval to student travel due to deteriorating security conditions in-country. The university will work with the CISI insurance provider to assist students who are in-country regarding program relocation or evacuation.

For students participating in education abroad programs, please contact the   Education Abroad Office   with any questions related to program modification, relocation or cancellation and related policies.

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Covid-19 - travel advice level changes.

We know many of you might be seeking to make travel insurance claims due to COVID-19 related disruptions. You’ve asked us for information about when we raised our travel advice levels for different destinations and globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Below is a list of the changes we made to raise the advice level for a destination overall or part of the destination to Level 3 'Reconsider your need to travel' or Level 4 'Do not travel' . We have included moves up to Level 2 ' Exercise a high degree of caution' when we raised other parts of the destination to Level 3 at the same time.

See Travel advice explained for further information on advice levels.

If this doesn’t answer your question, please contact us .

Global level changes

Outbound travel ban, south korea.

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OMB Control No: 1405-0152, Estimated Burden: 20 minutes, Expiration Date: 6/30/2026.

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U.s. citizens in haiti, update january 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Are you traveling or living outside the U.S.? STEP is a free service that sends you emails with updates from the local U.S. embassy or consulate. If there’s an emergency where you are, it helps us contact you with instructions on what to do.

Why join STEP?

• Get real time updates about health, weather, safety, and security in the country.
• Plan ahead using information from the local U.S. embassy.
• Help the embassy or consulate contact you if there’s an emergency like a natural disaster, civil unrest, or a family emergency.

What kind of messages does STEP send? Currently, STEP sends emails only. STEP can send you several types of information:

• Routine Messages : News and updates about the country you picked.
• Alerts : Messages about short-term security, terrorism, health, weather, or disaster situations that could impact your travels.
• Travel Advisories : We re-evaluate the situation in each country every 6-12 months. Advisories include a simple 1-4 rating system, details about specific risks in the country, and clear steps U.S. citizens should take to stay safe.

Join the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

After you set up your account, you can pick what types of messages you want to get.

Stay in touch during an emergency.  Signing up for STEP helps the U.S. embassy get in touch with you if there’s an emergency. And, if your family or friends in the U.S. can’t reach you with urgent news while you’re traveling, we can use the information in STEP to try and contact you.

Become a Smart Traveler Now!   STEP is an easy first step to being a smart traveler. You should also always research your destination , and consider additional ways to get safety and security information from the U.S. Department of State, like on social media.

Enroll in STEP

Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad.

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Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.

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