Change of https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa

Change description : 2025-12-05 16:02:00: Information added about World Cup 2026 (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘World Cup 2026’ pages). [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-11-18 11:43:58.057509627 +00:00..2025-12-05 16:04:13.171429256 +00:00

Foreign travel advice

USA

Warnings and insurance

Still current at:: 185 ~~November~~December 2025
Updated:: 185 ~~November~~December 2025
Latest update:: ~~Removal~~Information ofadded ~~information~~about ~~that~~World ~~there~~Cup ~~could~~2026 be(‘Warnings ~~travel~~and ~~disruption~~insurance’ ~~following~~and a‘World USCup ~~federal~~2026’ ~~government~~ ~~shutdown.~~pages).

This travel advice also covers American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands.

World Cup 2026

The US is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup which takes place between 11 June and 19 July.

If you are planning to travel to the US during these times, see the World Cup page for more information.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:

see general advice for women travellers
read our guide on disability and travel abroad
see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
read about safety for solo and independent travel
see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

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Follow FCDO:   

View a printable version of the whole guide

Update history

2025-12-05 16:02
Information added about World Cup 2026 (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘World Cup 2026’ pages).

2025-11-18 11:42
Removal of information that there could be travel disruption following a US federal government shutdown.

2025-10-09 10:35
New information that there could be travel disruption following a US federal government shutdown (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-08-01 12:41
Removal of information on tsunami alert specific to the Earthquake in the Kamchatka Peninsular Region (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-07-30 03:47
Earthquake and Tsunami warning – regional update

2025-07-25 23:42
This travel advice has been reviewed for accuracy, with edits throughout including on entry requirements and the risks associated with outdoor activities, terrorism and extreme weather (See ‘Warnings and insurance’, ‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).

2025-06-11 21:45
Addition of information about demonstrations and protests (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-06-09 15:58
Addition of information about demonstrations and protests in Los Angeles (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-06-04 17:17
Updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through airports. Addition of information about entering the US, including inspections of electronic devices (‘Safety and security’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).

2025-06-04 15:00
Updated information on the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through airports. Addition of information about entering the US, including inspections of electronic devices (‘Safety and security’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages).

2025-03-14 11:55
Updated information on visa requirements to enter USA (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2025-02-03 14:31
Removal of information about disruption to air travel in Washington DC (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2025-01-30 16:27
information about the possible disruption to flights due to recovery efforts following a fatal air accident in Washington DC (‘Warning and insurance’ page)

2025-01-08 05:12
Updated information on wildfires in California (‘Warnings and insurance’)

2025-01-02 12:59
Updated information on incident in Las Vegas (‘Warnings and Insurance’ page).

2025-01-01 19:33
Updated helpline information following attack in New Orleans on 1 January.

2024-12-05 16:43
Additional information on ESTA requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2024-10-16 09:51
Removal of information on Hurricane Milton (‘Warnings and Insurance’ page).

2024-10-11 10:58
Updated information on Hurricane Milton (‘Warnings and Insurance’ page).

2024-10-09 20:30
New information on Hurricane Milton (“Warnings and insurance” page and “Safety and security”)

2024-10-08 10:55
New information on Hurricane Milton (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-09-30 16:07
Updated information about flight disruptions (‘Safety and security’ page)

2024-08-07 16:37
Information that the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that there is a very high likelihood of an “above-normal Atlantic hurricane season” in 2024 (See ‘Hurricanes’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).

2024-04-10 15:44
This travel advice was reviewed for style and accuracy.

2024-04-09 10:37
Removal of information on solar eclipse (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-04-08 10:31
Information on solar eclipse (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-04-05 18:21
Information on Earthquakes (‘Safety and security’ page).

2024-03-08 16:41
Information on Winter storms (‘Safety and security’ page).

2024-02-16 14:09
Removal of information on storms in Southern California (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2024-02-06 00:17
Latest update: Information on storms in Southern California (see “Warnings and insurance”).

2023-12-22 13:31
Information on Arctic travel (‘Safety and security’ page).

2023-11-28 11:19
Removal of information about an explosion on Rainbow bridge connecting Canada and the USA on 22 November.

2023-11-22 20:38
Latest update: Details of an explosion on the Rainbow Bridge connecting the USA and Canada (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-10-30 16:23
Removal of information on an active shooter in Maine (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-10-26 13:36
Information on an active shooter in Maine (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-09-05 10:04
Removal of information on Hurricane Idalia (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-08-31 18:18
Latest update: Information on Hurricane Idalia (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-08-30 18:16
Latest update:Information on Hurricane Idalia (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-08-29 10:40
Information on tropical storm Idalia (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-08-25 14:53
Removal of information on tropical storm Hilary (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-08-18 23:57
Information on tropical storm Hilary in Southwest USA (under ‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-08-10 21:42
Update to phone number to call for consular assistance (Summary)

2023-08-10 02:58
Addition of information about wildfires in Hawaii (Warnings and Insurance)

2023-08-02 15:50
Information on International Driving Permit requirements in the USA and that requirements may vary by State (under ‘Licenses and permits’ on the ‘Safety and security’ page).

2023-07-20 11:25
Information on extreme temperatures currently affecting parts of the USA (‘Safety and security’ page).

2023-07-13 11:22
Information following the recent floods in Vermont (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).

2023-06-30 16:12
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.

2023-06-22 10:53
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.

2023-06-08 22:27
Additional information on the poor air quality across parts of the East Coast of the USA (‘Summary’ page).

2023-06-01 16:45
Additional information about children and young people aged 17 and under travelling to the USA (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2023-05-24 12:22
Updated information on entry requirements for travellers to the USA who have previously travelled to or been in Cuba any time since 1 January 2021 (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2023-05-12 11:48
Updated information on COVID-19 vaccine requirements for air travellers into the USA ending from the 12 May 2023 (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Health’ pages).

2023-05-11 16:24
Updated information that from 12 May 2023 COVID-19 vaccine requirements for air travellers to the USA will end. You will not need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, those traveling before 12 May must follow the current vaccination requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2023-03-11 00:29
Removal of information about additional entry requirements if travelling from China, Hong Kong and Macau (Entry requirements)

2023-02-01 22:19
Updated information on protests across the USA (‘Summary’ page).

2023-01-27 21:44
Addition of information on the potential for an increased level of protests across the USA (‘Summary’).

2023-01-16 10:38
Removal of information on grounded US domestic flights due to an issue with US flight control systems (‘Summary’ page).

2023-01-12 23:11
Updated information on US domestic airline departures due to flight control systems. (See ‘Summary’)

2023-01-12 23:05
Updated information on US domestic airline departures due to flight control systems. (See ‘Summary’)

2023-01-11 14:54
Addition of information that domestic departures may be affected by an issue with US flight control systems (‘Summary’ page).

2022-12-30 23:59
From 5 January 2023, new requirements for travelling to the USA from China, Hong Kong or Macao begin. (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-12-20 10:43
Removed information on a statement made by US authorities on a threat to synagogues in New Jersey (‘Summary’ page).

2022-11-04 10:36
Updated information that US authorities issued a statement on 3 November warning of a credible threat to synagogues in New Jersey. You should take security precautions where appropriate and follow the advice of local authorities. (‘Summary’ page).

2022-10-19 10:58
New information on enhanced screening for Ebola (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2022-10-10 17:00
Removal of information on Hurricane Ian (Summary Page)

2022-10-07 16:37
Updated information on travelling to the USA after you’ve been to Cuba (‘Entry requirements’ page).

2022-09-30 18:00
Hurricane Ian is due to hit Georgia and South Carolina on Friday evening (Summary)

2022-09-28 16:28
Updated information on Hurricane Ian (a category 4 hurricane and is strengthening steadily) for the Fort Myers and Tampa Bay areas of western Florida and If you live in these coastal areas you should have already left for safer areas inland. (‘Summary’ page).

2022-09-26 18:43
Information about Hurricane Ian reaching the Florida coast (‘Summary’ page)

2022-08-18 15:14
Addition of information about Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on what to do if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (‘Coronavirus’ page).

2022-07-07 16:42
Update to remove information on shooting incident in Highland Park, Illinois (‘Summary’ page) and remove information about Hurricanes Irma and Maria (‘Natural Disasters’ page)

2022-07-04 21:40
Updated information following a shooting incident in Highland Park, Illinois (“Summary” page).

2022-06-22 19:04
Updated information on COVID-19 entry requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page)

2022-06-10 18:58
Updated information on Entry Requirements. From 05:01 BST on Sunday 12th June 2022, passengers boarding flights bound to the USA will no longer require a pre-departure COVID-19 test. (‘Summary’ and ‘Entry Requirements’ pages).

2022-06-10 15:40
Removal of information on the requirement for masks to be worn on public transport, as this has been lifted

2022-04-14 08:20
Removal of information relating to incident at 36th Street Subway Station in New York City on Tuesday 12 April.

2022-04-12 19:34
Updated advice on the incident at 39th street Subway in New York City.

2022-04-12 16:55
Information added on reports of a firearms incident on the New York Subway at 36th street Metro station in Sunset Park on 12 April; the incident is ongoing and you should avoid the area around 36th street station (see ‘Summary’ and ‘Terrorism’ pages).

2022-04-05 16:51
updated information in the All Travellers section about who should not attempt to travel on an ESTA (‘Entry Requirements’ page)

2022-03-17 14:16
Review and amendments of ‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages