Advisory Levels
Each issuing country uses its now system when updating its travel advisories. The U.S. Department of State uses a color-coded system consisting of four standard levels of advisory. Each country’s travel advisory contains safety alerts and other important details to help you decide whether traveling to that country is right for you. View current TRAVEL ADVISORIES and know before you go.
Travel Advisories issued by the United States
Source: >> US Department of State
We review many factors to determine the Travel Advisory level for each destination. These include the risk indicators as described in this section. Each destination Travel Advisory identifies any specific risks that are present. We review Travel Advisories on a regular basis.
Levels 1 and 2- Every 12 months.
Levels 3 and 4- At least every 6 months.
A Travel Advisory will also be updated any time conditions change substantially. This includes when the U.S. government changes its staffing levels or restrictions in a country due to security concerns. Conditions in any destination may change at any time. The Travel Advisory appears at the top of each destination page, with a color corresponding to each level:
1. Exercise normal precautions
This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risks. There is some risk in any international travel, and conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States.
2. Exercise increased caution
Be aware of increased risks to safety and security. Specific risks are described in the Travel Advisory.
3. Reconsider travel
Reconsider your travel to the destination due to serious risks to safety and security. Specific risks are described in the Travel Advisory.
4. Do not travel
This is the highest advisory level due to life-threatening risks. Specific risks are described in the Travel Advisory. The U.S. government may have very limited or no ability to help, including during an emergency. We advise that U.S. citizens do not travel to the country, or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so.
U.S. State Department Travel Advisory Levels at a Glance
Travel Advisories issued by Canada
Source: >> Global Affairs Canada
The Government of Canada’s official source of travel information and advice, the Travel Advice and Advisories help you to make informed decisions and travel safely while you are outside Canada. Check the page for your destination often, because safety and security conditions may change. See Travel Advice and Advisories – FAQ for more information.
RISK LEVELS
Take normal security precautions
Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.
Exercise a high degree of caution
There are certain safety and security concerns, or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.
IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.
Avoid non-essential travel
Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.
Avoid all travel
You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.
Government of Canada Travel Advisory Levels at a Glance
Travel Advisories issued by the United Kingdom
Source: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Overview
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides travel advice about the risks you face when travelling abroad. There is specific advice for countries and territories, and general advice for different types of travel or traveller.
FCDO travel advice provides objective information to help you make better-informed decisions. You should use FCDO Travel Advice when planning travel alongside other sources.
Deciding whether it is safe for you to travel
No foreign travel can be guaranteed safe. FCDO publishes travel advice to help you decide if it’s safe enough for you to travel to a particular destination. In some instances we also give information about how to reduce the risks you may face there. All environments contain some level of risk and you should consider what precautions you should take.
You must take personal responsibility for your own travel. Only you can decide whether you should travel to a country or stay there, and what activities to take part in.
You may face different risks due to your:
> gender
> ethnic background
> sexuality
> health
We have general guidance for specific types of traveller to help you understand some of these risks.
When we advise against travel
The FCDO sometimes formally advises British people against ‘all but essential travel’ or ‘all travel’ to a particular country.
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from FCDO.
We only advise against travel if we think the risk to British nationals is unacceptably high. For example, this could be due to:
> armed conflict
> military coups
> civil unrest
> disease outbreaks
> natural disasters
For terrorist threats, we only advise against travel:
> in situations of extreme and imminent danger
> where the threat is sufficiently specific, large-scale or widespread to affect British nationals severely
We may advise against travel to:
> a whole country
> parts of a country
The ‘Warnings and insurance’ section of each travel advice page lists all the areas where we advise against travel.
If you want to know about changes to travel advice for a specific country, you can sign up to receive email alerts about updates.
Advice against all travel
Our maps are coloured red to show the areas where we advise against all travel.
Advice against all but essential travel
We sometimes advise against all but essential travel. You must decide whether your travel is essential. For example, you may have urgent family or business commitments. Only you can make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances and the risks.
Our maps are coloured amber to show the areas where we advise against all but essential travel.
Removing advice against travel
Circumstances can change quickly. We cannot tell you how our advice may change in the future. We will remove advice against travel as soon as the situation allows.
Click to read the full content of the FCDO's Guidance on travel advice.
We employ around 17,000 staff in our global network of 281 offices worldwide. Our UK-based staff work in King Charles Street in London, Abercrombie House in East Kilbride and in Milton Keynes.
Additional Reference:
What is the FCDO?
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), or Foreign Office is the ministry of foreign affairs and a ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom.
The head of the FCDO is the secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs, commonly abbreviated to "foreign secretary".
Travel Advisories issued by The Netherlands
Source: >> Ministry of Foreign Affairs
About travel advice and colour codes
Read more about travel advice and colour codes. For example, how a travel advice is made and what the color codes mean.
What is a travel advice?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes travel advice for 226 countries and territories worldwide. In the travel advice you can read what safety risks there are in a country or area. And how to prepare for it.
We use colour codes to give advice: travel (green/yellow), only necessary travel (orange) and no travel (red). By following the travel advice, you reduce the chance that you will get into trouble while traveling.
What do the colour codes mean in travel advice?
Each travel advice has a color code: green, yellow, orange or red. In some travel advice, there are several color codes. The colour code indicates the severity of the safety risks: from green (you can travel there) to red (do not travel). A fixed travel advice applies to each color code.
For vacation, only travel to countries or areas with color code green or yellow. No matter which country or territory you go to, the security situation can change unexpectedly. Therefore, always keep an eye on the travel advice. Even if you are already abroad.
Green: you can travel there
You can travel to the country or territory. Read what safety risks there are.
Yellow: be careful, there are risks
You can travel to the country or territory. But beware: there are special safety risks.
Orange: only necessary travel
Only travel to the country or territory if necessary. For example, for the funeral of a family member. Or if you need to go there urgently for work. It is not safe to go on holiday there. The Dutch embassy is less able to help you if you get into trouble.
Red: do not travel
Whatever your situation, do not travel to the country or territory. It is too dangerous. The Dutch embassy cannot help you if you get into trouble.
What does a travel advice say?
Each travel advice consists of a short summary ('In brief'), a map of the country or area and then 3 fixed components:
1. What security risks are there?
In this section you can read about the risks you may face as a Dutch citizen. For example, terrorism, crime and natural disasters. For each risk, you will receive advice on how to prepare.
2. What can I do in an emergency situation?
In this section you will find the emergency numbers of the local emergency services, advice in case of an emergency or crisis situation, and the contact details of the Dutch embassy.
3. How do I prepare for my trip?
In this section, you can read what you need to arrange before you travel. You will receive information about: travel insurance, passport or ID card, visa, driver's license, travel vaccinations, and rules for medicines and luggage. The information is written for Dutch people. Different rules may apply to travelers of other nationalities.
Note: The information in this section is often about the rules of another country. For example, how long your passport must be valid, visa matters or other rules for entering a country. We have no further information on the content of these rules.
If you have any questions, please contact the government of the country you are traveling to. Often a website or contact address is in the travel advice. The Dutch Ministry is not responsible for this information and cannot advise you on this.
Does the colour code of the travel advice affect my travel insurance?
Read the travel advice for the country you are travelling to for more information about travel insurance. For example, whether you need special travel insurance for that country.
Are you travelling to a country or area with colour code orange or red? Then you are often not insured. Contact your insurer for information about your coverage. Have you booked your trip with a travel organization? And has the colour code of the travel advice been changed to orange or red after you have booked your trip? Please contact the travel organization.
Click to read the full content of the Ministry's travel advice and color codes.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Travel Advisory Levels at a Glance
Travel Advisories issued by France
Source: >> France Diplomacy
1. What is the scope of the Travel Advisory?
Planning and departing for trips abroad: always under your own responsibility!
The Travel Advice and recommendations are based on information available to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This information is checked and constantly updated.
References to specific legislation in force abroad concern only a few issues selected and dealt with in the fact sheets.
They constitute assistance to travellers, offered by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, but they cannot replace information provided directly by the competent authorities of the State concerned.
In addition, the legal provisions may be modified at any time, and without informing the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
In addition, situations considered "at risk" are often volatile and can change quickly.
This is why the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs recommends that travellers contact, before departure, their agency, their transport service provider (airline, train, sea) or accommodation service provider (hotel, etc.), as well as the competent diplomatic or consular representation of the destination country.
It should be remembered that the decision to go on a trip is, in the end, always the sole responsibility of the user. The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs cannot be brought to justice following such a decision, in particular for any damage that may result from it.
7. What do the colors of the cards on the FCVs mean?
Green: Normal vigilance must be observed in the area. However, the advice specified in the Security and Last Minute tabs of the country sheet must be taken into account.
Yellow: increased vigilance must be observed in the area. The "yellow zoning" corresponds to a series of limited risks, namely natural risks whose probability of occurrence is generally very uncertain, low-intensity human risks such as petty crime, certain health risks likely to be prevented by vaccination or prophylactic treatment or properly treated. These risks are considered by nature to be compatible with tourism.
Orange: due to a deteriorating security situation incompatible with tourism, travel in the area is not recommended except for imperative reasons of a professional or family nature, which it is up to the traveller concerned to carefully assess with regard to the risks involved. If a trip is maintained for imperative reasons, it is advisable to exercise particular vigilance, to take reinforced security measures adapted to the context and to make oneself known to the French embassy or consulate.
Red: the area is formally discouraged. Travel is forbidden.
The maps have an informative value and are inseparable from the writing of the Travel Advice sheets, which it is necessary to consult in order to have the security context of the country concerned as a whole.
As the events mentioned in the Last Minute section are of an urgent nature and of immediate topicality, it is appropriate to refer as a priority to the recommendations contained in this section.
Click to read the full content of France Diplomacie Frequently Asked Questions on travel advice.
France Diplomatie Travel Advisory Levels at a Glance
