International

21 January 2026 | 6:00 pm

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated.

Advisory summary
Uzbekistan is generally a safe destination for U.S. travelers.

Review our travel guidance for Uzbekistan to prepare for a safe trip.

If you decide to travel to Uzbekistan:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Uzbekistan.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Uzbekistan.
• Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Traveler Checklist.
• We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.

19 January 2026 | 6:00 pm

There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated.

Reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to kidnapping, unrest, crime, and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Advisory summary

Unrest
Unrest and violence have decreased since summer 2024 with the formation of the Interim Government. Occasional protests continue with the potential for violent clashes. Conditions may change on short notice. U.S. citizens should avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones. They can turn violent quickly without warning.

Crime
In Bangladesh’s major cities, common crimes include muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking.

Stay aware of petty crime, such as pickpocketing, in crowded areas. These crimes tend to be situational, based on time and location. There is no evidence that foreigners are targeted because of their nationality.

Terrorism
Terrorist violence is a risk in Bangladesh. This includes terrorist attacks and other activity. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Kidnapping
Review the following risks in specific areas information on the Chittagong Hill Tracts Region for a description of kidnapping risks.

Travel restrictions for U.S. government employees
U.S. citizens in Bangladesh should take the same precautions as U.S. embassy employees.

• Due to security risks, U.S. government employees working in Bangladesh cannot travel outside the diplomatic enclave for non-essential reasons. They must take extra security and accountability precautions if they do.
• U.S. government employees in Bangladesh can travel freely within the diplomatic enclave.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Bangladesh, particularly outside of Dhaka. This is due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and few emergency response resources from the local government.

Level 4 - Do Not Travel - Chittagong Hill Tracts Region
Do not travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. This area includes Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts. Do not travel to this area for any reason.

• Kidnappings have happened in the region. Some are due to family disputes, while others target religious minorities.
• Separatist groups and political violence create more risks for visitors. There have been cases of IED explosions and active shootings.
• You must get prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety in Bangladesh if you want to travel to these areas.
• Due to the risks, U.S. government employees in Bangladesh cannot travel to the region. The Government of Bangladesh has imposed these restrictions.
• Visit our website Travel to High-Risk Areas.

If you decide to travel to Bangladesh:

• Avoid demonstrations and political gatherings. Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn violent. 
• Review our information on U.S. Citizens Missing Abroad, Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime.
• Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations.
• Review our information on Terrorism and Travel to High-Risk Areas.
• Monitor local media for breaking news. Be prepared to adjust your plans.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Get to a safe area and report any criminal incident to local authorities.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Bangladesh.
• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Bangladesh.
• Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist.
• We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverageDo not travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts due to unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. This area includes Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts. Do not travel to this area for any reason.
• Kidnappings have happened in the region. Some are due to family disputes, while others target religious minorities.
• Separatist groups and political violence create more risks for visitors. There have been cases of IED explosions and active shootings.
• You must get prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety in Bangladesh if you want to travel to these areas.
• Due to the risks, U.S. government employees in Bangladesh cannot travel to the region. The Government of Bangladesh has imposed these restrictions.
• Visit our website Travel to High-Risk Areas.

16 January 2026 | 6:00 pm

The advisory level was decreased to Level 2. There were no changes to the risk indicators. The advisory summary was updated.

Exercise Increased Caution due to crime, health, and natural disaster risks. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Advisory Summary

U.S. government employee travel restrictions
U.S. government employees working in Jamaica are not allowed to use public buses or drive between cities at night. They are also not allowed to travel to certain high-risk areas, as noted below.

U.S. citizens in Jamaica should take the same precautions.

Natural disaster

Jamaica continues to recover from Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall there on October 28, 2025. The hurricane caused widespread damage to the western part of the island. Some areas are still experiencing post-storm impacts on infrastructure and services. 

• All major airports have reopened for commercial flights.
• Some areas in the western part of Jamaica, such as Black River and Montego Bay, are in varying stages of recovery from the hurricane. Exercise increased caution if traveling to affected areas at this time.
• Confirm availability of services and amenities at your destination before you travel to Jamaica.

Crime

• Violent crime is a risk throughout Jamaica. The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere.
• Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country.
• Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common.
• The U.S. embassy routinely receives reports of sexual assaults, including from U.S. citizen tourists at resorts.
• U.S. citizens report slow or unsatisfactory response to serious criminal incidents.
• When arrests are made, cases are often not prosecuted to a final verdict and sentence.

Health
Basic and specialized medical care may not be available in many parts of Jamaica. This includes slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury.

• Health care facilities in western Jamaica were badly damaged by Hurricane Melissa.
• Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients. They may not be able to provide specialized care.
• Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs. They are not always readily available, especially in rural areas.
• U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication. Common medications, such as insulin, can be difficult to obtain.
• U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not apply abroad.
• Most hospitals and doctors abroad do not accept U.S. health insurance.
• Air ambulance service to the United States costs $30,000 on the low end.
• We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance and confirm your coverage. Travel insurance should include medical insurance, evacuation assistance, and other trip coverage.

The Department of State does not pay medical bills.

Level 4 - Do Not Travel

High crime areas

Do Not Travel to high crime areas due to risk of crime.

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

U.S. government employees working in Jamaica are not allowed to travel to the following high-risk areas. U.S. citizens in Jamaica are advised to take the same precautions.

Do not travel to these areas for any reason:

• St. Ann’s Parish - Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios.
• St. Catherine’s Parish - Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford.
• Clarendon Parish - All of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
• St. Elizabeth’s Parish - Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth.
• Hanover Parish - Logwood and Orange Bay.
• St. James Parish/Montego Bay - Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
• Kingston and St. Andrew Parish - Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
• Manchester Parish - Green Vale and Gray Ground neighborhoods of Mandeville.
• St. Thomas Parish - Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.
• Trelawny Parish - Clarks Town.
• Westmoreland Parish - Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

If you decide to travel to Jamaica:

• Review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition. This includes stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, are severe, and can include long prison sentences.
• Avoid walking or driving at night.
• Avoid public buses.
• Avoid remote places.
• Stay aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
• Have a plan to depart in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review our information on Crisis and Evacuations.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Jamaica.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Jamaica.
• Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist.
• We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.