U.S. expands travel advisories
The U.S. Department of State broadened its travel-advisory program this week, issuing new flags that raise the alert level for a larger set of countries. (A travel-industry roundup reported the system expanded in 2026 to flag 12 countries for heightened risks.) (travelandtourworld.com). The updated guidance specifically lists countries such as Nigeria, Oman, Ethiopia, Barbados and Bermuda in its recent revisions. (That country-level update was summarized in a separate advisory brief.) (travelandtourworld.com).
The United States updated a new round of travel advisories in April 2026, revising country pages from Nigeria to Oman to Barbados and Bermuda. (travel.state.gov) The State Department’s system assigns every destination a Level 1 to Level 4 rating, from “exercise normal precautions” to “do not travel,” and says advisories are updated whenever conditions change substantially or embassy staffing shifts for security reasons. (travel.state.gov) Nigeria’s advisory was reissued on April 8 at Level 3, “reconsider travel,” after the State Department authorized non-emergency United States government employees and family members to leave Embassy Abuja because of what it called a deteriorating security situation. (travel.state.gov) The Nigeria update added Plateau, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger and Taraba states to the “do not travel” list, and the advisory cites crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping and uneven health-care access across the country. (travel.state.gov) Oman’s page was updated on April 9 and kept at Level 3, with the advisory pointing to terrorism and armed conflict after the State Department ordered non-emergency staff and family members to leave on March 13. (travel.state.gov) The Oman advisory says the Yemen border remains Level 4, “do not travel,” and warns of drone and missile threats and commercial-flight disruption following hostilities between the United States and Iran that began on February 28. (travel.state.gov) Ethiopia’s advisory was reissued on April 1 at Level 3, with a revised “other” risk flag covering exit bans and communication shutdowns, alongside unrest, crime, kidnapping, terrorism and landmines. (travel.state.gov) The Ethiopia page says internet, mobile-data and phone services are often cut before, during and after unrest, and it says some Americans have faced immigration fines above $100,000 and exit bans that block departure. (travel.state.gov) Barbados and Bermuda were both updated on April 10 and remained at Level 1, the lowest State Department rating, with no change to advisory level or risk indicators. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2) Barbados’ page says petty crime such as purse snatching and pickpocketing is common in tourist areas, while Bermuda’s page says the territory is generally safe for travelers. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2) Across the updated pages, the State Department repeated the same practical instruction: enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, review local risks before departure, and expect guidance to change again if security conditions or embassy operations shift. (travel.state.gov 1) (travel.state.gov 2)
