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Is it safe to travel there? How to read government travel advice

No website can promise a country is safe. The most reliable starting point is official travel advice: it is free, updated when things change, and usually covers specific regions, not just whole countries.

Links checked . This page explains how advisories work; it is not safety advice for any trip.

Four checks before you book

  1. Read the regional detail, not the headline. Advice often warns against one border area or city while the rest of the country is at normal risk.
  2. Compare two governments. Different governments assess the same country separately and update at different times. If they disagree, read why.
  3. Check entry requirements on the same page. Visas, electronic travel authorizations, passport validity and vaccination rules usually sit next to the safety advice.
  4. Check your travel insurance. Some policies do not cover trips to places your own government advises against. Read the policy wording before you buy.

What the warning levels mean

The three governments below use different wording for similar ideas:

Travel advisory levels compared
United States Canada United Kingdom
Level 1: Exercise normal precautions Take normal security precautions No travel warning; read the safety and security section
Level 2: Exercise increased caution Exercise a high degree of caution
Level 3: Reconsider travel Avoid non-essential travel Advise against all but essential travel
Level 4: Do not travel Avoid all travel Advise against all travel

Main pages: US Department of State, Government of Canada, UK Foreign Travel Advice. For health risks and vaccines, see CDC Travelers' Health.

Official advice by country

Direct links to UK and Canadian advice for every country on this site. Each country page also lists emergency numbers in its quick facts.