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A travel advisory isn’t a ban, and a Level 1 destination isn’t risk-free. Reading the details, and enrolling in STEP, takes ten minutes.
The State Department publishes a travel advisory for every country on travel.state.gov. Each one has a level and, often, a list of specific risks and regions.
The four levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Exercise Normal Precautions |
| 2 | Exercise Increased Caution |
| 3 | Reconsider Travel |
| 4 | Do Not Travel |
A country’s overall level can hide big regional differences. Many advisories list specific states, provinces or border areas at a higher level than the country as a whole, so read past the headline.
The risk indicators
Advisories use letters to show why a level was set, including:
- C – crime
- T – terrorism
- U – civil unrest
- H – health
- N – natural disaster
- E – a time-limited event, such as elections
- K – kidnapping or hostage-taking
- D – wrongful detention
- O – other
STEP: the free sign-up most travelers skip
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program lets you register your trip with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. You’ll get safety alerts for your destination, and the embassy can contact you, or your family can reach you through it, in an emergency such as an earthquake or evacuation.
Travel tip
Before you leave, save the address and phone number of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in your phone and on paper, along with a photo of your passport’s photo page.
What an embassy can and can’t do
| Can | Can’t |
|---|---|
| Replace a lost or stolen passport, sometimes with an emergency passport | Pay your hotel, medical or legal bills |
| Help you contact family and arrange money transfers | Get you released from jail or override local law |
| Provide lists of local doctors and lawyers | Act as your lawyer or investigate crimes |
| Visit U.S. citizens who’ve been arrested | Guarantee an evacuation or provide free transportation |
Health and insurance
Check the CDC’s destination pages for vaccines and health notices. And because embassies can’t pay medical bills, look hard at medical coverage before you go; Medicare generally doesn’t pay for care outside the U.S. See travel insurance basics, and make sure your passport meets the destination’s validity rules.
Before you go
- The State Department rates countries from Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, to Level 4, Do Not Travel.
- Letter indicators explain the reasons, such as crime, terrorism, health or wrongful detention, and the details often differ by region.
- The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is free and lets the embassy send you alerts and reach you in an emergency.
- Embassies can replace a lost passport and help in emergencies, but they can’t pay your bills or get you out of jail.
Travelers also ask
Q: Does a Level 4 advisory mean I can’t go?
A: For most destinations it’s strong advice, not a legal ban. But travel insurance may not cover you, and the U.S. government’s ability to help you there may be very limited.
Q: Should I enroll in STEP for a short trip?
A: Yes. It’s free, takes a few minutes and is most useful exactly when you don’t expect it, such as during a natural disaster or civil unrest.
Q: Where do I find health requirements?
A: The CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages list recommended vaccines and health notices by destination. Some countries also have entry requirements for vaccines such as yellow fever.
Fees, processing times and agency rules change, and airline and hotel policies vary. This guide is general information for travelers in the U.S.; confirm the current rules with the agency, airline or hotel before you travel.
