Do Not Travel List 2026: Every Country at the Highest Advisory Level
Last updated: 29 October 2026. These lists can change several times a week. Always check the official advisory for your destination before you book and again before you leave.
Most "do not travel" lists online show one government's view. But the US, UK, Canada and Australia each publish their own advice, and they don't always agree. A country can be at the highest level for Canadians and Australians while the US rates it a step lower, or the reverse.
This guide puts all four side by side. For each country, you'll see who advises against all travel, the main reason it's there, and, where it's known, when that started. We also cover the regions with top-level warnings inside countries that are otherwise open to visitors, such as parts of Mexico, Turkey and Egypt.
What "do not travel" means in each system
Each government uses its own wording for its highest warning.
| Government | Highest warning | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| United States (State Department) | Level 4: Do Not Travel | Don't go for any reason. US help may be very limited or unavailable. |
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Advise against all travel | The UK doesn't use numbered levels. This is its strongest advice. |
| Canada (Global Affairs Canada) | Avoid all travel | Highest of four levels. If you're there, think about leaving. |
| Australia (Smartraveller) | Level 4: Do not travel | Highest of four levels. If you're there, consider leaving. |
Two things to keep in mind:
- Warnings can cover a whole country or only part of it. A country rated at a lower level overall can still have specific regions at the top level.
- The UK's "all but essential travel" is one step below. It's serious, but it isn't the UK's highest warning, so it's not counted as "do not travel" in this guide.
For a deeper explanation of how the levels work, see our guide to travel advisory levels explained.
Where all four governments agree
As of 29 October 2026, the US, UK, Canada and Australia all advise against all travel to the whole of these countries:
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Burkina Faso
- Haiti
- Iran
- Mali
- Niger
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
If all four governments say the same thing, that's a strong signal. Most of these have been at the top level for several years.
The full comparison
This table covers every country where at least one of the four governments advises against all travel to the whole country (or nearly all of it).
- All = advises against all travel to the whole country
- Most = advises against all travel to most of the country, with named exceptions
- Parts = top-level warning for some regions only
- — = no top-level warning
| Country | US | UK | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | All | All | All | All |
| Belarus | All | All | All | All |
| Burkina Faso | All | All | All | All |
| Burma (Myanmar) | All | Parts | All | All |
| Central African Republic | All | Most (except Bangui) | All | All |
| Chad | All | Parts | Parts | All |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | All | Parts | All | All |
| Gaza / Palestinian Territories | All (Gaza) | Parts | All | All |
| Haiti | All | All | All | All |
| Iran | All | All | All | All |
| Iraq | All | Parts | All | All |
| Lebanon | All | Parts | All | All |
| Libya | All | Most | All | All |
| Mali | All | All | All | All |
| Niger | All | All | All | All |
| North Korea | All | — | All | All |
| Russia | All | All | All | All |
| Saudi Arabia | Parts | Parts | Parts | All |
| Somalia | All | Most | All | All |
| South Sudan | All | All | All | All |
| Sudan | All | Most | All | All |
| Syria | All | All | All | All |
| Uganda | All | — | Parts | Parts |
| Ukraine | All | Most | All | All |
| Venezuela | Parts | Parts | All | All |
| Yemen | All | All | All | All |
Why each country is on the list
Some countries have been at the top level for over a decade. Others were added this year. Here's the main reason for each, and when it started where that's clear.
Armed conflict and war
- Ukraine: Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Fighting and missile and drone strikes continue, including in regions away from the front line. The UK excludes some western regions from its strongest warning.
- Russia: Governments cite the war in Ukraine, limited flights, and the risk that foreigners may be detained.
- Belarus: Governments cite the war in Ukraine and the risk of arbitrary detention. The US suspended operations at its embassy in Minsk in February 2022 and offers no consular services there.
- Sudan: War between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The US embassy in Khartoum suspended operations that month, and the British Embassy is also closed.
- South Sudan: Armed violence, crime, kidnapping and landmines. In May 2026 the US also cited the regional Ebola outbreak.
- Syria: Civil war since 2011. The US suspended its embassy operations in 2012 and has rated Syria Level 4 since its current advisory system began in 2018.
- Yemen: An ongoing civil war, plus Houthi missile and drone attacks in Yemen and across the region.
- Libya: Clashes between armed groups and rival authorities. There is no US embassy in Libya. The UK excludes some cities, including Tripoli and Benghazi, from its strongest warning.
- Somalia: Terrorism by al-Shabaab, kidnapping and piracy. The UK excludes three regions in the north-west.
- Central African Republic: Armed groups control large areas of the country. The UK excludes the capital, Bangui.
- Burma (Myanmar): Armed conflict and unrest since the military coup of February 2021.
The 2026 Middle East war
On 28 February 2026, US and Israeli strikes on Iran started a regional war. Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region, and governments raised their warnings for several countries in the Middle East.
- Iran: At the top level for years because of the risk of arbitrary arrest and wrongful detention. The 2026 war added active conflict. The US tells its citizens in Iran to leave immediately, and Canada tells its citizens to leave now if they can.
- Iraq: The US has rated Iraq Level 4 since 2018, citing terrorism and armed groups. The UK advises against all travel to parts of Iraq and all but essential travel to the rest, including the Kurdistan Region.
- Lebanon: The US first raised Lebanon to Level 4 in October 2023, lowered it in early 2024, and has kept it at Level 4 since July 2024. The UK advises against all travel to the south and to several other areas.
- Gaza / Palestinian Territories: War since 7 October 2023. The US lists Gaza as its own Level 4 advisory and can't provide routine or emergency consular services there.
- Israel: None of the four governments advises against all travel to the whole of Israel, so it isn't in the table above. All four warn against specific areas: around Gaza and near the northern borders, including parts of the occupied Golan Heights. Canada advises against all travel to Palestine.
- Saudi Arabia: On 10 October 2026, a missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Australia then raised Saudi Arabia to "Do not travel". Canada advises against all travel to the airports in Riyadh and Dammam, the provinces of Asir, Jazan and Najran, and areas near the Yemen border. The US rates Saudi Arabia Level 3, warns against the Yemen border area, and on 23 October ordered non-emergency staff and their families to leave. The UK advises against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border.
The Sahel: coups and insurgency
- Mali: Terrorism and armed groups, and military rule since the coups of 2020 and 2021.
- Burkina Faso: Terrorism and kidnapping, and an unstable political situation after two military coups in 2022.
- Niger: Terrorism and kidnapping of foreign nationals, and military rule since the July 2023 coup.
- Chad: The US raised Chad to Level 4 on 28 April 2026, citing crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, landmines and inadequate health infrastructure. The UK and Canada warn against border areas, the north and the Lake Chad region.
Disease outbreaks
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: An outbreak of Ebola caused by Bundibugyo virus was first detected in Ituri province. On 17 May 2026 the World Health Organization declared the outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, and the US raised the DRC from Level 3 to Level 4 the same day. The east has also seen long-running armed conflict.
- Uganda: The US raised Uganda from Level 3 to Level 4 on 17 May 2026 because of the same outbreak, and reissued the advisory on 4 June citing crime, health, terrorism and unrest. Canada and Australia warn against all travel only near the border with South Sudan. The UK doesn't advise against travel to Uganda.
Detention risk
- North Korea: The US, Canada and Australia all advise against all travel. The US cites the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention. Americans also face a legal restriction: US passports aren't valid for travel to, in or through North Korea without special validation. That restriction was renewed from 1 September 2026. The UK advises against all but essential travel.
Crime and collapse of public order
- Haiti: Governments cite violent crime, kidnapping and unrest, and the US also cites limited health care. US airlines are currently barred from flying to Port-au-Prince.
Where the governments disagree
- Venezuela: The US lowered Venezuela from Level 4 to Level 3 on 19 March 2026, the same month the US Embassy in Caracas resumed limited operations. The US still advises against all travel to the Colombian border region and to Amazonas, Apure, Guárico and Táchira states, among other areas. Canada and Australia still advise against all travel to the whole country.
- Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Chad and Uganda also have different ratings depending on whose passport you hold. See the table above.
Top-level warnings inside otherwise open countries
Many countries that welcome millions of tourists still have regions where at least one government advises against all travel. These are the ones travelers ask about most.
| Country | Area with top-level warning | Who warns | Main reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | States of Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas | US (Level 4) | Organized crime, kidnapping |
| Colombia | Arauca, Cauca (except Popayán), Norte de Santander and other border areas | US, Canada, Australia | Armed groups, kidnapping |
| Turkey | Within 10 km of the Syrian border | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Terrorism, conflict |
| Egypt | North Sinai; areas near the Libyan border | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Terrorism |
| Jordan | Areas along the Syrian border | US, UK, Canada | Conflict, terrorism |
| Israel | Areas around Gaza; areas near the northern borders, including parts of the occupied Golan Heights | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Armed conflict |
| Nigeria | Several northern and north-eastern states, including Borno and Yobe | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Terrorism, kidnapping |
| Armenia | Areas along the border with Azerbaijan | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Border tensions |
| Algeria | Border areas with Libya, Mali, Mauritania and Niger | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Terrorism, kidnapping |
| Pakistan | Balochistan, much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and areas near the Afghanistan border | US, UK, Canada, Australia | Terrorism, kidnapping |
The exact boundaries differ between governments. For example, the UK's zone near Egypt's Libyan border is 20 km wide, while Canada's is 50 km. A regional warning doesn't mean the rest of the country is risk-free, and it doesn't mean you have to cancel a trip to a different region. It does mean you should check exactly where your plans take you, including the roads between places.
What pushes a country to the top level
The reasons usually fall into a few groups:
- Armed conflict: active war, missile strikes, or fighting between armed groups.
- Terrorism and kidnapping: especially where foreigners are targeted.
- Arbitrary or wrongful detention: where foreign nationals risk being held without fair process.
- Disease outbreaks: such as Ebola, when health systems can't cope.
- Breakdown of public order: gang control, widespread violent crime, or civil unrest.
- Little or no consular help: when an embassy closes or evacuates staff, governments often raise the warning because they can't help their citizens there.
Major changes in 2026 so far
- 28 February: US and Israeli strikes on Iran start a regional war. Governments raise warnings across the Middle East.
- 3 March: The US raises Saudi Arabia from Level 2 to Level 3.
- 19 March: The US lowers Venezuela from Level 4 to Level 3.
- 28 April: The US raises Chad to Level 4.
- 17 May: The WHO declares the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The US raises both countries to Level 4.
- 17 June: Australia lowers Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE from "Do not travel" to "Reconsider your need to travel".
- 8 October: Australia lowers Qatar and the UAE again, to "Exercise a high degree of caution".
- 10 October: A missile strikes Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Australia later raises Saudi Arabia to "Do not travel".
- 23 October: The US orders non-emergency staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia.
For more on how outbreaks and natural disasters affect travel plans, see what to do if a natural disaster or disease outbreak hits while you're traveling.
Does "do not travel" mean you can't go?
In most cases, no. A travel advisory is advice, not a law. But going against it has real consequences:
- Your travel insurance may not cover you. Many policies exclude destinations where your government advises against all travel. Check your policy wording before you book.
- Your government may not be able to help. In many of these countries, embassies are closed, evacuated or working with minimal staff.
- Some restrictions are legal, not advisory. For example, US passports aren't valid for North Korea without special validation.
If you're already in a country when its warning goes up, follow the official advice for that country. That often means leaving by commercial means while flights are still running, if you can do so without putting yourself at greater risk. Registering with your government's traveler service (such as the US Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or Registration of Canadians Abroad) means you'll receive their alerts. See what your embassy can and can't do for you abroad for the limits of consular help in an emergency, and our list of emergency numbers abroad for local emergency numbers.
Why do the governments disagree?
It can be confusing to see one country rated so differently. A few reasons:
- Different consular footprints. A government with a working embassy and staff on the ground may rate a country lower than one that has none.
- Different risks for different passports. Detention risk, for example, can depend on diplomatic relations with your home country.
- Different timing. Governments review advice on their own schedules, so one may move days or weeks before another.
- Different scope. Some name whole countries; others prefer to list specific regions.
That's why it's worth checking more than one government's view, especially your own.
How to keep track before and during a trip
Advisories can change after you book. The simplest habit is to check the official advice when you book, again a week before you leave, and while you're away. Our pre-trip travel safety checklist covers what else to review.
Farhaven puts the US, UK, Canadian and Australian advisories for any country side by side, including regional warnings. You can save upcoming trips, and new advisory changes appear in the app's "What's new" list. It's a quick way to see all four governments' views in one place, but it doesn't replace reading the full official advisory for your destination.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are on the US "do not travel" list?
As of 29 October 2026, the US State Department rated 23 countries at Level 4: Do Not Travel, plus Gaza. The number changes often, so check travel.state.gov for the current list.
Is Mexico on the "do not travel" list?
Not as a whole. The US rates Mexico at Level 2 overall, but six states are at Level 4: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas. Popular destinations in other states carry lower ratings. The UK, Canada and Australia warn against travel to parts of Mexico, but not at their highest level.
Is Venezuela still on the US "do not travel" list?
No. The US lowered Venezuela to Level 3 on 19 March 2026, though it still advises against all travel to the Colombian border region and several states. Canada and Australia still advise against all travel.
Can I get travel insurance for a "do not travel" country?
Usually not through a standard policy. Many insurers exclude destinations where your government advises against all travel. Specialist insurers may offer cover for some high-risk destinations, but read the policy carefully.
Can Americans travel to North Korea?
Only with a specially validated US passport. Ordinary US passports aren't valid for travel to, in or through North Korea, and the State Department also rates it Level 4.
How often are these lists updated?
Whenever conditions change. The US reviews Level 3 and Level 4 advisories at least every six months, but any of the four governments can change its advice within hours of a major event.
