In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, India, that killed at least 26 people, the US Embassy and Consulates in India issued a Level 2 travel advisory warning for Jammu and Kashmir on April 23.
The travel advisory update, which urges travellers to “Exercise Increased Caution” stated, “Terrorist attacks and violent civil unrest are possible in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Do not travel to this state (with the exception of visits to the eastern Ladakh region and its capital, Leh). Violence happens sporadically in this area and is common along the Line of Control (LOC) between India and Pakistan. It also occurs in tourist spots in the Kashmir Valley: Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. The Indian government does not allow foreign tourists to visit certain areas along the LOC.”
“US government personnel are prohibited from travel to Jammu and Kashmir,” the warning added.
In addition to issuing these words of caution, the United States also ultimately reminded the citizens of its “Travel Advisories” database. With travel warnings classified 1 to 4: Exercise Normal Precautions; Exercise Increased Caution; Reconsider Travel; Do Not Travel, the reminder comes ahead of summer vacations when families often plan overseas trips.
While Jammu and Kashmir in India was merely flagged under the Level 2 advisory: Exercise Increased Caution, over 15 countries have completely been rendered a no-go zone. According to the official US Department of State website, two more countries were added to the ‘Do Not Travel’ advisories list in April, bringing the total number of countries as high as 21.
US travel advisory: Level 4 ‘Do No Travel’ warning for 21 countries
Burma (Myanmar)
Afghanistan – 2025
Belarus
South Sudan – 2025
Haiti
Iran – 2025
Iraq
North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) – 2025
Lebanon
Libya
Mali
Russia
Somalia
Sudan
Syria – 2025
Ukraine
Venezuela
Yemen – 2025
Burkina Faso – 2025
Central African Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo – 2025
Countries recently added to the ‘Do No Travel’ US travel advisory
Of these 21 countries, eight were added to the ‘Do No Travel’ advisory list this year. The latest ones to be included in the list are Iran, Yemen – both on March 31, 2025, North Korea (April 29) and Burkina Faso (April 16).
North Korea joined the Level 4 US travel advisory due to “the continuing serious risk of arrest, long-term detention, and the threat of wrongful detention of US nationals.” The lack of any diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea, the State Department warned that it cannot offer direct help to US citizens in North Korea in case of emergencies. Terrorism, crime and kidnapping were cited as reasons for Burkina Faso being listed in the ‘Do Not Travel’ roster.
As for the travel advisories against Iran and Yemen, the US State Department advised citizens not to travel to these countries due to ” terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest of US citizens, and wrongful detention,” and “terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines,” respectively.
In addition to these 21 countries, the State Department also flagged several Mexican states in the ‘Do Not Travel’ warning: Colima (crime and kidnapping), Guerrero (crime), Michoacan (crime), Sinaloa (crime), Tamaulipas (crime and kidnapping), and Zacatecas (crime and kidnapping). The same warning was extended against travelling to Gaza.
