BUT THERE'S NO REPUBLICAN REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

U.S. Has Issued 'Do Not Travel' Warning For 21 Countries

Do Not Travel to these 21 countries, the United States warns.

 

 

By Kevin Harrish

 

Men's Journal

Apr 29, 2025

 

 

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Summertime is fast approaching, which means that it is time that many individuals and families will begin planning their overseas vacations. But if you are looking to plan an exciting international trip, there are a few countries that you will absolutely want to avoid.

The United States has a "Travel Advisories" database that warns citizens about the potential dangers of traveling to an overseas country. Those "travel warnings" are split into four categories.

A Level 1 travel advisory means "Exercise Normal Precautions." These are in place in popular tourist destinations like Japan, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands simply to remind travelers to be safe and exercise caution while overseas even if there is no explicit threat.

A Level 2 travel advisory, on the other hand, warns travelers to "Exercise Increased Caution." This advisory applies where there is not an explicit threat or danger, but crime is prevalent, there is civil unrest or the country is often targeted with terrorist plots. The United States has warnings of this severity in place for countries like Saudi Arabia, China, and Spain. The idea is not to dissuade anyone from traveling to these places, but just to remind travelers to use caution when doing so.

A Level 3 advisory, meanwhile, warns travelers to "Reconsider Travel." This advisory applies to countries that the United States has deemed inherently dangerous for a number of reasons, such as heightened risks of crime, civil unrest, or terrorism. This warning is in place for 23 different countries including Chad, Niger, Egypt, Jamaica, and Colombia.

A Level 4 advisory is the most serious, warning travelers simply to "Do Not Travel" to the listed countries. This severe threat applies to countries with active armed conflict, dangerous crimes where foreigners are targeted, and enemies of the United States. The United States currently lists 21 different countries in its most severe "Do Not Travel Category.

These countries include: Burkina Faso, Yemen, Iran, South Sudan, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Lebanon, the Central African Republic, Belarus, Iraq, Ukraine, Venezuela, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Russia, Burma, Mali, North Korea, and Sudan.

Additionally, the United States Department of State has placed several parts of Mexico in the "Do Not Travel" category: the Colima state due to crime and kidnapping, the Guerrero state due to crime, the Michoacan state due to crime, the Sinaloa state due to crime, the Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping, and the Zacatecas state due to crime and kidnapping. The warning also applies to Gaza due to the armed conflict in the area.