U.S. raises two advisories

The State Department raised its travel advisories for Azerbaijan and São Tomé and Príncipe to Level 3, telling Americans to reconsider trips to both countries. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov) Azerbaijan’s advisory was updated on March 12, 2026, and the department said the overall level increased to 3 even though its risk indicators did not change. The advisory cites terrorism, armed conflict and landmines. (travel.state.gov) The Azerbaijan notice tells Americans not to travel to the southern border region because of armed-conflict risk tied to drone and missile threats from Iran after hostilities began on February 28, 2026. It also warns against the Armenia border and the former Nagorno-Karabakh area because of landmines and unexploded ordnance. (travel.state.gov) São Tomé and Príncipe’s advisory was issued on April 8, 2026, and lists unrest and health risks as the reasons for the Level 3 warning. The State Department says U.S. government employees there have faced movement restrictions since March 24, 2026. (travel.state.gov) A Level 3 advisory is the State Department’s second-highest warning short of Level 4, which means do not travel. The department says Level 3 is used when there are “serious risks to safety and security.” (travel.state.gov) The advisory system applies to every country and can change when conditions shift or when the United States changes staffing or security restrictions for its personnel. The department says it reviews Level 3 and Level 4 advisories at least every six months. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov) For travelers who still plan to go, the State Department directs Americans to read the full country pages and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, for embassy updates. The new Level 3 notices put both countries in the category where the department says Americans should think twice before booking or keeping a trip. (travel.state.gov, travel.state.gov)