Travel Advisories and STEP
The free government tools every international traveler should use.
Get Free Trip QuotesThe U.S. State Department publishes a travel advisory for every country in the world. It is the most useful single page you can read before an international trip, and it is free. Here is how to read it, and why STEP enrollment belongs on every travel checklist.
The Four Advisory Levels
Each country page on the State Department travel advisories site carries one of four levels. The level is a summary; the detail underneath is where the value lies.
| Level | Name | What it means for planning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exercise Normal Precautions | The lowest level. Some risk exists anywhere abroad; use the same common sense you would at home. |
| 2 | Exercise Increased Caution | Heightened risks to be aware of. Many well-visited countries sit here. Read the specific reasons and areas listed. |
| 3 | Reconsider Travel | Serious risks. Think carefully about whether the trip is necessary, and check your insurance before going. |
| 4 | Do Not Travel | The highest level. The government may have very limited ability to help you there. |
Two details are easy to miss. First, a country’s overall level can differ from the level for particular regions, so a country at Level 2 may have a Level 3 or Level 4 area — or the region you are visiting may be calmer than the headline suggests. Second, each advisory lists the reasons behind it, such as crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health or natural disaster. Those reasons tell you what to actually watch for.
Beyond the Level: The Country Information Page
Every country page also includes practical information that has nothing to do with danger and everything to do with a smooth trip: passport validity and blank-page requirements, visas, vaccination rules, currency limits, local laws that surprise visitors, and the address and phone number of the U.S. embassy and consulates.
Read the entry requirements early. Being refused boarding because a passport expires too soon after your trip is one of the most common, and most avoidable, travel problems.
What STEP Does for You
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service of the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs for U.S. citizens and nationals traveling or living abroad. When you enroll a trip, you register where you will be and how to reach you. In return:
- You receive email updates from the U.S. embassy or consulate for your destination, including security alerts and advisory changes.
- The embassy can contact you in an emergency such as a natural disaster or civil unrest.
- Your family or friends can be put in touch with you through the embassy if they cannot reach you.
Enrollment takes a few minutes online. Add every country on your itinerary, including places you are only passing through for a night or two. If you travel often, an account lets you add new trips quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Level 2 advisory mean I should not go?
No. Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, covers many popular destinations. Read the reasons given and the advice for specific areas, then plan around them.
Can an advisory change after I book?
Yes. Advisories are updated as conditions change, so check again shortly before you leave. STEP enrollment means updates for your destination come to your inbox automatically.
Is STEP only for long stays?
No. You can enroll a single trip of any length, or create an account and add trips as you go.
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