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See travel advisories and register in STEP

Find out about travel advisories abroad before you plan your trip. Learn about the benefits of the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and how to register.

Check for travel alerts in other countries

Before planning your trip abroad, you can find out if there are any travel advisories in your destination country. These advisories are issued by the U.S. Department of State and include 4 levels of increasing risk:

• Level 1 - Exercise normal caution. This is the lowest level of risk. But be aware there is some risk with international travel, and safe conditions in some countries may differ from the U.S.
• Level 2 - Exercise increased caution. A level 2 alert means you should be aware of heightened risk when you travel.
• Level 3 - Reconsider travel. There may be serious risks involved when you travel to countries under a level 3 alert. 
• Level 4 - Do not travel. In countries under a level 4 travel advisory, there is a higher chance you may encounter life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may also not have the ability to assist you if you experience an emergency.

These travel warning levels are determined by various factors, including:

• Civil unrest
• Disease outbreaks
• Natural disasters

To find out what travel advisories may affect your trip, enter your destination country’s name in the search bar.

Learn about STEP and how to register

What is step.

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service from the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. When you enroll, you will receive emails with news, alerts, and travel advisories about your destination country. With STEP, you can also:

• Be in direct contact during an emergency with the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting
• Stay in touch with family and friends during an emergency

How to register in STEP

To register for STEP, select “Create account” and enter your personal information, including:

• Date of birth
• Passport number
• Emergency contact information

You can also select your destination country or change it to customize the news and alerts you receive.

Register for STEP.

LAST UPDATED: August 2, 2024

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Emergencies abroad.

• 1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada.
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Travel Aware

Staying safe and healthy abroad

Advice for going abroad

Stick with your mates.

Going abroad with your mates is all about having fun. Lounging by the pool, catching the rays and partying into the early hours.   

It should be a trip you want to remember for the right reasons.

Sadly, for a small number of Brits, their holiday ends in a hospital ward or a police station.  

But we are here to share with you a few simple tips that can help you have a holiday to remember, not one to forget.  

Here are five things that can help prevent things going wrong on the strip:

Friends don’t leave friends behind.

Serious incidents often happen after drinking alcohol when you are alone and isolated.

◊ TIP: Stick with your mates throughout the night. Stay in contact and if you’re staying at the same accommodation, go home together.

Drinking abroad can be different than back in the UK. The quality and measurements of alcohol can be larger, cheaper and deals can result in you being drunk quicker than intended.

Drinks spiking can also take place on holiday. Spiking is adding alcohol or drugs to someone’s drink without them knowing.

S piking is commonly used to distract you from theft or impair you before an assault .

◊TIP: Do not leave your drink unattended and do not accept drinks from complete strangers. This is the best strategy to prevent the possibility of your drink being spiked.

◊TIP: Consume water in-between alcoholic drinks. This will help pace you throughout the night and help keep you hydrated.

◊ TIP: Drink at your own pace. Everyone’s tolerance to alcohol is different. Consider avoiding rounds or having a break from drinking alcohol if you are feeling uneasy.

Remembering where to go at the end of the night can be tougher than you think. It’s a new environment, a different climate, and drinking alcohol could make this harder.

TIP: Keep details of your accommodation on you. Consider taking a screenshot of the hotel’s address before going out. Or ask reception if they have an address card you can take and store in your wallet.

◊ TIP: Use messaging apps to set up a group chat. This way you can send your location to your friends if you get lost or check they are safe if you lose them.

It is easy to get lost in a foreign country. Add alcohol and sun and it’s now even easier to get lost.

◊ TIP: If you are on the strip, before your first big night, familiarise yourself with the area. Exploring your surroundings will help you remember where you are later.

◊ TIP: Agree a meeting place in case you lose your friends and cannot get in contact (e.g. phone out of battery or lost etc.)

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is important. It provides protection and coverage for unexpected events that can happen on holiday. Travel insurance can cover a range of scenarios, such as:

• medical emergencies and repatriation
• lost or stolen baggage
• trip cancellations or interruptions
• natural disasters

You must purchase insurance cover that is appropriate for your travel plans. Travelling without the right cover can be very expensive if things do go wrong while you are abroad.

There are many reasons why travel insurance may be invalidated.

If you buy a basic policy that does not provide enough medical coverage, you may get a big bill if you have an unexpected health issue on holiday.

You may buy a policy that does not cover your planned holiday activities such as water sports or quad biking; or does not cover cancellations or delays. If you’re injured doing activities, or your trip is disrupted, you may have a big bill to pay.

So, before you go on holiday, you can do some small things in only a few minutes which could save you a lot of money.

You must declare all pre-existing medical conditions when buying travel insurance. If you already have cover, you should check that your list of medical conditions is up to date before each trip abroad.

Failure to do this could mean your claim is rejected if you have a medical emergency while travelling.

Therefore you must be honest about any medical conditions you have, to avoid risking a big bill.

Check your policy to see what you need to declare. Medical conditions can include, but are not limited to:

• heart conditions
• high blood pressure
• respiratory conditions (such as asthma)
• mental health conditions
• any form of cancer

When buying travel insurance, consider the type of coverage you need. If you intend to engage in adventure activities, like quad-biking or water sports, you may need specific insurance cover. Check your policy before you travel to make sure all your activities are covered.

Make sure you buy travel insurance that covers the entire duration of your holiday. Some insurance policies have a limit on the amount of time you can be abroad; if you exceed it, your policy may be invalidated.

You may assume you will not need to be brought home for medical reasons whilst on holiday. But, if you become ill or injured while travelling, you may need to be transported to hospital, or back to the UK, for treatment. Medical evacuations can cost thousands of pounds.

Check your policy covers medical evacuation before travelling. This is especially important if your trip includes adventure activities like climbing, quad-biking or water sports.

Before you go on holiday, share your insurance policy details with travel companions, and friends or family at home. This can be helpful in case they need to contact your insurance company on your behalf, if you get into trouble abroad.

When you travel, take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you. If you lose your phone abroad, this paper copy will provide the information you need, including your policy number and insurer’s emergency 24 hour telephone number.

More information

Travel advice

More travel insurance info

Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

Travel checklist

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• Email form: www.cdc.gov/info

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Emergency or urgent patient care assistance (not intended for use by general public)

• 24/7: 770-488-7100

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• Formulary: www.cdc.gov/laboratory/drugservice/formulary.html
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• Email: [email protected]

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Assistance with diagnostic testing for these diseases and for questions about antibody response to yellow fever vaccination

• Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, 8 am to 4:30 pm Mountain, M–F: 970-221-6400
• Viral Special Pathogens Branch can also assist for tickborne encephalitis, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern, M–F: 404-639-1115

Dengue diagnostic testing assistance

• 8 am to 5 pm Atlantic (office in Puerto Rico), M–F: 787-706-2399
• Clinical/laboratory guidance: www.cdc.gov/Dengue/clinicalLab/index.html

Malaria Hotline

Assistance with diagnosis or management of suspected cases of malaria

• 9 am to 5 pm Eastern, M–F: 770-488-7788 or toll-free 855-856-4713
• Emergency consultation after hours/weekends/holidays: 770-488-7100, ask for a Malaria Branch clinician

Parasitic Diseases (other than malaria)

Hotline assistance with evaluation and treatment of patients suspected to have a parasitic disease

• 8 am to 4 pm Eastern, M–F: 404-718-4745
• Emergency consultation after hours/weekends/holidays: 770-488-7100, ask for an on-call clinician in Parasitic Diseases
• Email: [email protected]

Online parasitic diseases diagnostic assistance service for laboratorians, pathologists, and other health professionals www.cdc.gov/dpdx/contact.html

Rickettsial Diseases diagnostic and treatment assistance

• 8 am to 4:30 pm Eastern, M–F: 404-639-1075
• Emergency consultation after hours/weekends/holidays: 770-488-7100, ask for an on-call clinician in Rickettsial Diseases

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

Consultation for diagnosis and reporting suspected cases in, or requiring evacuation to, the United States

• 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern, M–F: 404-639-1115
• Emergency consultation after hours/weekends/holidays: 770-488-7100

Treatment Requests for ribavirin through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): 301-736-3400

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Foreign travel checklist

A checklist from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to help British people prepare for travelling and staying safe abroad.

Research your destination

• check FCDO travel advice for the country you’re visiting

Get insured before you go

get appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book. Check that it covers the places you will visit, the duration of your visit and any planned activities such as adventure sports

tell your insurance company about any medical conditions, including undiagnosed conditions which are being investigated, and check that your policy will cover these

Check your documents for travel

sign your passport and complete the emergency contacts page

ensure that your passport meets the entry requirements for the country you are visiting (for example, it may need to be valid for a set period after your trip ends)

get the correct visa for your destination

take an extra form of photo ID with you, other than your passport

if you are travelling with children check whether you need extra documentation

if you plan to drive abroad check whether you need an International Driving Permit (IDP)

Consider your health

check the healthcare advice for all countries you’re visiting

check what vaccinations you need and what health precautions you should take at least 8 weeks before you travel

check the rules on taking your medicine abroad

if you are travelling to an EU country or Switzerland, apply for a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), if your GHIC (or EHIC) has expired. An EHIC or GHIC may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs. It is not a substitute for travel insurance

Prepare for the unexpected

have a backup plan for accessing key information such as your accommodation details, flight details, passport details, contact numbers and insurance policy (for example, in case you lose your phone). Share it with friends or family or store online using a secure data storage platform

avoid getting in to financial difficulties abroad by ensuring you can access enough money to pay for unexpected costs or if your main payment method fails (for example, because you have lost your phone and cannot complete two-factor authentication)

make a note of how to contact the nearest British embassy, high commission, or consulate

read support for British nationals abroad for guidance on staying safe abroad, and the help the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide

read about how the FCDO can help you if you are affected by a crisis abroad such as a large-scale terrorist attack, natural disaster, or political unrest

stay up to date before and during travel by following FCDO Travel Advice on Facebook and Twitter . Sign up for email alerts on GOV.UK

Contact the FCDO

You can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate , or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London 24 hours a day on 020 7008 5000 for advice. You should also read the privacy notice to see how the FCDO will process your data.

We welcome your views on the support we provide, to help us to identify what we do well and what we could do better. Contact us using our  feedback contact form .

Alternatively write to us:

Consular Feedback Team Consular Directorate Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH

Or telephone +44 (0)20 7008 5000

Our foreign travel checklist aims to help you plan for a trouble-free trip. It is not exhaustive. No foreign travel can be guaranteed as safe, and you take personal responsibility for your own travel. You can read the disclaimer relating to this guidance.

Updates to this page

Updated Foreign Travel Checklist

Checklist has been reviewed and updated.

Passports and visas section updated on passport validity.

Updated checklist including travel information on COVID-19 and changes following the end of the UK-EU transition period.

update to guidance on Heath section

Added advice on phone IMEI number

Revised checklist

First published.

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