Classified by seats occupied, these international flight routes were the busiest in 2024
The United States Department of State recently revised advice for popular cruise destinations in Mexico, including a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for Manzanillo in Colima state due to elevated crime and kidnapping. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, Level 3: Reconsider Travel, and the highest Level 4. These travel advisory notices are updated regularly and serve to notify US citizens intending to travel abroad of any health and/or security risks pertaining to their destination.
So, where in the world are US passport holders warned to stay clear of, and what countries should one reconsider traveling to? Click through this gallery to find out.
Civil unrest, armed conflict, wrongful detention, and areas with land mines and unexploded ordnances are among the reasons the State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Myanmar.
A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is in place for Afghanistan due to terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, civil unrest, kidnapping, and crime, among other fears.
Since March 2024, Haiti has been under a State of Emergency. Gang violence is widespread, including robbery, carjackings, and kidnappings for ransom. A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory reflects Haiti's rapidly spiraling political and security crisis.
US citizens should not travel to Iran for any reason. A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory exists due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, the arbitrary arrest of US passport holders, and wrongful detentions.
Neighboring Iraq is also a no-go for US citizens, where they face numerous high risks, including violence and kidnapping. As such, a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is in place.
All US passports are invalid for travel to, in, or through the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the Department of State. A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory reinforces this decree due to the continuing serious risk of arrest and long-term detention of US nationals.
A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is in place for Libya. Reasons include high levels of crime and the risk of terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Violent crime, such as kidnapping and armed robbery, is common in Mali, and the US government is unable to provide emergency services to its citizens throughout much of the country. The threat of terrorism is another reason why a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is currently in force.
Unsurprisingly, the consequences of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces has compelled the State Department to issue a recommendation that all US citizens residing or traveling in Russia should leave immediately. This directive is over and above the existing Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory.
Crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, kidnapping, and piracy are among the reasons why a Level 4: Do Note Travel advisory remains in place in Somalia. Lack of availability of routine US consular services serves as another deterrent.
The continued threat of armed conflict in Sudan is reason enough why a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory has been issued by the State Department. The current security situation in the country also means the US government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to its citizens in Sudan.
The current situation in Syria is highly volatile after the overthrow of the Assad regime. A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory still warns of the risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and a high level of crime, especially looting.
A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory exists for frontline regions of Ukraine and areas along the country's border with Belarus due to the presence of Russian and Belarusian military and security forces, proximity to active ground combat, frequent shelling, and missile and drone attacks. A Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory has been issued for the regions of Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi and Zhytomyr.
A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is in place emphasizing the danger to US citizens living in or traveling to Venezuela. Civil unrest and poor health infrastructure are among the reasons given, as well as risk of kidnapping.
There is an elevated risk of terrorism and armed conflict in Yemen, high enough for a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory to be issued. The Department of State has designated Ansarallah, commonly referred to as the Houthis, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group. Other terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Islamic State affiliates, also operate across the country.
Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Burkina Faso. Targets can typically include hotels, restaurants, police stations, customs offices, places of worship, and schools. The precarious security situation in the country has been met with a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning.
US citizens have been advised to leave Belarus immediately due to the Belarusian authorities' arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the risk of detention, and the continued facilitation of Russia's war against Ukraine. A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is currently in place.
Lebanon remains at risk from armed conflict, especially near the frontier with Israel where cross-border exchanges of fire have occurred between Hezbollah and Israel. A Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory is in place warning US citizens not to enter the country.
Multiple risks including kidnapping and armed robbery, plus an inadequate supply of basic medications, are among the reasons the Central African Republic has a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory.
Guinea-Bissau (pictured) and the Democratic Republic of Congo, both African nations, have Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories issued against them.
The Central American country of Guatemala (pictured) and Guyana, in South America, are both considered Level 3: Reconsider Travel destinations.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories are in place for Honduras (pictured) and the northwest African nation of Mauritania.
The African country of Mozambique (pictured) and the Central American nation of Nicaragua are Level 3: Reconsider Travel destinations.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories are in place for Macau (pictured) and the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean.
Papua New Guinea (pictured) in the Southwest Pacific and the dual-island Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago both have Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories against them.
Sources: (Travel.State.Gov) (The Independent)
See also: Places to reconsider visiting in 2025
The African nations of Nigeria (pictured) and Niger are both listed by the US State Department as Level 3: Reconsider Travel destinations.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories are in place for Pakistan (pictured) and Uganda.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories are in place for Colombia (pictured) in South America and Chad, in Africa.
Bangladesh (pictured) and the African nation of Burundi are countries that have Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories set against them.
Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisories are in place for Egypt (pictured) and Ethiopia.
In December 2024, the State Department issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for the state of Colima, and specifically the port city of Manzanillo, a popular cruise ship destination, due to crime and kidnapping concerns. Level 4 warnings also exist in various other Mexican states.
The following countries have been issued with a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory by the State Department.
Countries the US government advises its citizens not to visit
US State Department travel advisory warnings
TRAVEL Geopolitics
The United States Department of State recently revised advice for popular cruise destinations in Mexico, including a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for Manzanillo in Colima state due to elevated crime and kidnapping. Travel advisory levels range from Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, Level 3: Reconsider Travel, and the highest Level 4. These travel advisory notices are updated regularly and serve to notify US citizens intending to travel abroad of any health and/or security risks pertaining to their destination.
So, where in the world are US passport holders warned to stay clear of, and what countries should one reconsider traveling to? Click through this gallery to find out.