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As Americans gear up for summer vacations, the U.S. State Department has issued stark warnings, urging citizens to avoid travel to a growing list of international destinations due to serious safety and security concerns. The latest advisories place 21 countries under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” alert, the highest caution level, effectively telling U.S. nationals that their safety cannot be guaranteed.
These advisories are not issued lightly and reflect a range of dangers including widespread violent crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and the risk of wrongful detention. While some nations on this list have faced long-standing instability, making their inclusion unsurprising to seasoned travelers, officials are keen to ensure the public is aware that the list also includes countries that some might not immediately recognize as high-risk, or which have seen rapidly deteriorating conditions.
For many, countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and South Sudan are well-understood as danger zones due to ongoing conflicts and terrorism. The State Department continues to emphasize that U.S. citizens should not attempt to travel to these locations for any reason, and those currently present should depart immediately if they can do so safely. The capacity of the U.S. government to provide emergency services to its citizens in these countries is extremely limited or non-existent.
However, the “Do Not Travel” list isn’t solely comprised of nations in active war zones. The advisory for Venezuela, updated as recently as May 12, 2025, highlights risks of crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. This means Americans could face detention without due process. Similarly, Lebanon, with its advisory updated December 27, 2024, presents dangers from terrorism, armed conflict with neighboring countries, crime, and kidnapping. The situation there remains volatile, particularly near its borders.
Another country that might raise eyebrows is Belarus. Its Level 4 advisory, dated December 18, 2024, stems from the arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of detention, the Russian military attack on neighboring Ukraine and the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus along the border with Ukraine. The State Department warns that U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately.
The full list of 21 countries currently designated as “Level 4: Do Not Travel” by the U.S. State Department includes:
- Afghanistan (Advisory from January 13, 2025)
- Belarus (Advisory from December 18, 2024)
- Burkina Faso (Advisory from April 16, 2025)
- Burma (Myanmar) (Advisory from May 12, 2025)
- Central African Republic (Advisory from December 26, 2024)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (Advisory from January 29, 2025)
- Haiti (Advisory from September 18, 2024)
- Iran (Advisory from March 31, 2025)
- Iraq (Advisory from November 22, 2024)
- Lebanon (Advisory from December 27, 2024)
- Libya (Advisory from August 1, 2024)
- Mali (Advisory from July 31, 2023)
- North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) (Advisory from April 29, 2025)
- Russia (Advisory from May 8, 2025)
- Somalia (Advisory from May 14, 2025)
- South Sudan (Advisory from March 8, 2025)
- Sudan (Advisory from April 22, 2023)
- Syria (Advisory from March 3, 2025)
- Ukraine (Advisory from November 14, 2024) due to the ongoing full-scale armed conflict.
- Venezuela (Advisory from May 12, 2025)
- Yemen (Advisory from March 31, 2025)
Regions of Mexico Listed As ‘Do Not Travel’ By US State Department
Closer to home, and perhaps more unexpectedly for some American tourists looking for a quick getaway, the U.S. State Department has also placed specific regions within Mexico under the same “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory. While millions of Americans safely visit Mexico each year, the department stresses that certain areas are experiencing severe issues with crime and kidnapping, often linked to organized crime activity.
It’s important for travelers to understand that the U.S. State Department does not apply a single, country-wide travel advisory to all of Mexico. Recognizing the diverse conditions across its vast territory, the Department instead issues advisories on a state-by-state basis. This more approach means that while some regions may carry a high-level warning due to specific safety concerns, other popular tourist destinations within Mexico may have lower advisory levels, reflecting a different risk assessment. Therefore, prospective visitors should always check the specific advisory for the Mexican state or states they plan to visit.
U.S. citizens are specifically warned against traveling to the following six Mexican states:
- Colima state, which includes the popular Pacific coast city of Manzanillo.
- Guerrero state, home to well-known tourist destinations like Acapulco and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. The advisory for Guerrero notes that U.S. government employees may not travel to Guerrero state, with limited exceptions.
- Michoacan state, a diverse region with both cultural and natural attractions.
- Sinaloa state, where the popular beach destination of Mazatlán is located. U.S. government employees are limited to travel within specific areas of Mazatlán.
- Tamaulipas state, situated along the U.S. border. U.S. government employees have very limited ability to travel there.
- Zacatecas state, known for its colonial architecture.
The advisories for these Mexican states are due to rampant crime, including homicide, carjacking, and extortion, which are widespread and common. Violent battles between rival criminal organizations can occur in public places and at any time without warning.
The State Department strongly encourages all U.S. citizens planning international travel to first consult the latest advisories for their intended destinations on the official State Department website. They also recommend enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to be located in an emergency. Before any trip, it’s crucial to have a contingency plan for emergency situations and to leave copies of your passport, itinerary, and emergency contacts with someone at home. While the allure of exotic locales and sunny beaches is strong, traveler safety remains paramount.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.