Worldwide Health Alert for U.S. Travelers: Level 4 – Do Not Travel

The Department of State strongly advises all U.S. citizens to avoid international travel because of the worldwide effects of COVID-19. In countries where commercial flights are still running, U.S. citizens living in the United States should arrange to return home immediately, unless they are ready to stay abroad for an unknown time. U.S. citizens living in other countries should also avoid traveling internationally.

Many places worldwide deal with COVID-19 outbreaks and have established travel restrictions and quarantine rules. Some countries have closed their borders or are not allowing foreigners to enter, often with little warning. Many airlines have cancelled international routes, and some cruise lines have stopped their trips completely. If you decide to travel overseas, you might face serious disruptions to your plans and could end up stuck outside the United States with no clear return date.

On March 14, the Department of State approved that U.S. personnel and their families leave any U.S. embassy or consulate if they feel at higher risk from COVID-19 or request to leave for a valid reason. These departures might reduce the ability of U.S. embassies or consulates to assist U.S. citizens abroad.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to stay current on COVID-19 information.

You should also visit travel.state.gov for the most recent Travel Advisories and information on major safety or security threats. You can also check the U.S. embassy’s website or consulate in your country for updates on entry rules, quarantine policies, or other local health details.

It’s recommended that travelers enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP will keep you informed with the latest Alerts and make it easier to reach you in an emergency. These Alerts may include information about terrorism, security concerns, demonstrations, natural disasters, and more. If you need urgent help, contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or call: 1 (888) 407-4747 (from the U.S. or Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 (from other countries).

If you choose to travel abroad, or are already outside the U.S.:

• Consider returning to your home country as soon as possible using any commercial options available.
  Have a plan that does not depend on the U.S. Government for help.
• Follow the CDC’s advice on how to protect yourself from coronavirus.
• Stay in touch with your airline, cruise company, or travel provider for any new updates or restrictions.
• Go to travel.state.gov for the latest Travel Advisories and security alerts.
• Use the COVID-19 pages on embassy websites to learn about the situation in your current country.
• Check the Department of Homeland Security’s site for the most current travel rules for entering the U.S.
• Visit resources about keeping workplaces, homes, schools, and other spaces safe.