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The Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and Advisories is the official source of travel information for Canadians planning international trips. It helps you make informed decisions and travel safely by providing up-to-date information on safety, security, health, entry requirements, and local laws for every country and territory worldwide .
📋Table of Contents
- 01On This Page
- 021. Understanding the 4 Risk Levels
- 032. How to Use the Travel Advisory Tool
- 043. Latest Advisories by Destination (April 2026)
- 054. Risk Levels by Region
- 065. How to Subscribe to Daily Updates
- 076. What to Do When a Travel Advisory Changes
- 087. Frequently Asked Questions
- 098. Official Resources
- 10Bottom Line
| Key Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Source | Government of Canada, Global Affairs Canada |
| Update Frequency | Daily – conditions can change at any time |
| Risk Levels | 4 levels from "Take normal security precautions" to "Avoid all travel" |
| Subscription Option | Free daily emails with latest updates |
| Last Updated Example | April 13, 2026 (Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Jamaica, Cameroon, Niger, etc.) |
Golden Rule: Check the travel advisory for your destination before you book and again before you leave. Conditions change, and so can advisories.
On This Page
- Understanding the 4 Risk Levels
- How to Use the Travel Advisory Tool
- Latest Advisories by Destination (April 2026)
- Risk Levels by Region
- How to Subscribe to Daily Updates
- What to Do When a Travel Advisory Changes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Official Resources
1. Understanding the 4 Risk Levels
The Government of Canada uses four distinct risk levels to help you assess the safety of your intended destination. Each level comes with specific advice and expectations .
Level 1: Take Normal Security Precautions 🟢
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Meaning | There is no significant security risk beyond what you would normally encounter. |
| What you should do | Exercise the same common sense and caution as you would at home. |
| Examples (as of April 2026) | United States, Japan, Australia, France (metropolitan), Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland |
Recent Example: The United States was last updated on April 8, 2026, with a "Take normal security precautions" level .
Level 2: Exercise a High Degree of Caution 🟡
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Meaning | There are specific safety or security concerns that require increased vigilance. |
| What you should do | Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid high-risk areas, monitor local media. |
| Examples (as of April 2026) | Jamaica, Cameroon (with regional advisories), China, Colombia (with regional advisories), Dominican Republic, Mexico (with regional advisories), India (with regional advisories), Thailand (with regional advisories), Vietnam |
Recent Example: Jamaica was last updated on April 13, 2026, with an "Exercise a high degree of caution" level .
Level 3: Avoid Non-Essential Travel 🟠
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Meaning | The risk to your personal safety is high enough that you should reconsider any non-essential travel. |
| What you should do | Cancel or postpone leisure travel. If you must travel for essential reasons (work, family emergency), consult a travel safety professional. |
| Examples (as of April 2026) | Chad (with regional advisories), Mauritania (with regional advisories), Nigeria (with regional advisories), Ethiopia (with regional advisories), Cuba |
Recent Example: Chad was last updated on April 13, 2026, with an "Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)" level .
Level 4: Avoid All Travel 🔴
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Meaning | There is an extreme risk to your personal safety. You should not travel to this destination for any reason. |
| What you should do | Do not travel. If you are already there, consider leaving by commercial means if it is safe to do so. Consular services may be severely limited. |
| Examples (as of April 2026) | Niger, Mali, Somalia, Venezuela, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, Haiti, Myanmar, North Korea |
Recent Example: Niger was last updated on April 13, 2026, with an "Avoid all travel" level .
What Does "With Regional Advisories" Mean?
Many advisories include the note "with regional advisories" . This means:
- The risk level applies to the entire country, but specific regions have a higher (or lower) risk level
- You should read the full advisory to understand which areas are safer and which are more dangerous
- For example, Mexico has an "Exercise a high degree of caution" level overall, but some states have "Avoid all travel" or "Avoid non-essential travel" due to cartel violence .
2. How to Use the Travel Advisory Tool
The Government of Canada provides an online tool to check advisories by destination.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to the official page:
travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories - Select a destination from the dropdown menu or interactive map
- Read the full advisory, which includes:
- Risk level (one of the four levels)
- Last updated date
- Safety and security information
- Entry and exit requirements (visas, passport validity)
- Health information (vaccinations, outbreaks)
- Local laws and customs
- Natural disasters and climate risks
- Helpful links (embassy, consulate)
Interactive Map Features
The online tool includes an interactive world map where each country is color-coded by risk level:
- 🟢 Green = Take normal security precautions
- 🟡 Yellow = Exercise a high degree of caution
- 🟠 Orange = Avoid non-essential travel
- 🔴 Red = Avoid all travel
You can click on any country to view its full advisory.
3. Latest Advisories by Destination (April 2026)
Here is a selection of destinations with their current risk levels as of April 13, 2026. This is not a complete list but a representative sample.
Take Normal Security Precautions (Level 1)
| Destination | Last Updated |
|---|---|
| Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon | April 13, 2026 |
| Guadeloupe | April 13, 2026 |
| Hungary | April 13, 2026 |
| Mauritius | April 13, 2026 |
| Guam | April 12, 2026 |
| North Macedonia | April 9, 2026 |
| Serbia (with regional advisories) | April 9, 2026 |
| Solomon Islands | April 9, 2026 |
| Finland | April 9, 2026 |
| United States | April 8, 2026 |
| Suriname | April 8, 2026 |
| Australia | April 7, 2026 |
| Bulgaria | April 7, 2026 |
| Japan | April 7, 2026 |
| Singapore | April 2, 2026 |
| Croatia | March 31, 2026 |
| Estonia | March 31, 2026 |
| Poland | March 23, 2026 |
| South Korea | March 23, 2026 |
| Taiwan | March 18, 2026 |
Exercise a High Degree of Caution (Level 2)
| Destination | Last Updated |
|---|---|
| Jamaica | April 13, 2026 |
| Cameroon (with regional advisories) | April 13, 2026 |
| Guinea | April 13, 2026 |
| South Africa | April 13, 2026 |
| Cambodia (with regional advisories) | April 13, 2026 |
| China | April 13, 2026 |
| Colombia (with regional advisories) | April 13, 2026 |
| Madagascar | April 13, 2026 |
| Dominican Republic | April 10, 2026 |
| Nepal | April 9, 2026 |
| Malawi | April 9, 2026 |
| Botswana | April 9, 2026 |
| Sri Lanka | April 9, 2026 |
| Zimbabwe | April 9, 2026 |
| Vietnam | April 9, 2026 |
| Peru (with regional advisories) | April 9, 2026 |
| Nicaragua | April 8, 2026 |
| Indonesia (with regional advisories) | April 8, 2026 |
| Guyana | April 7, 2026 |
| Ecuador (with regional advisories) | April 7, 2026 |
| Laos (with regional advisories) | April 7, 2026 |
| El Salvador | April 2, 2026 |
| Chile | April 2, 2026 |
| Thailand (with regional advisories) | April 1, 2026 |
| Bahamas | March 31, 2026 |
| Mexico (with regional advisories) | March 31, 2026 |
| Bangladesh (with regional advisories) | March 31, 2026 |
| United Kingdom | March 31, 2026 |
| France | March 30, 2026 |
| India (with regional advisories) | March 27, 2026 |
| Hong Kong | March 27, 2026 |
| Netherlands | March 26, 2026 |
| Spain | March 24, 2026 |
| Italy | March 24, 2026 |
| Brazil (with regional advisories) | March 24, 2026 |
| Germany | March 13, 2026 |
| Belgium | March 13, 2026 |
Avoid Non-Essential Travel (Level 3)
| Destination | Last Updated |
|---|---|
| Chad (with regional advisories) | April 13, 2026 |
| Mauritania (with regional advisories) | April 13, 2026 |
| Nigeria (with regional advisories) | April 13, 2026 |
| Ethiopia (with regional advisories) | April 9, 2026 |
| Burundi (with regional advisories) | April 8, 2026 |
| Papua New Guinea | April 7, 2026 |
| Saudi Arabia (with regional advisories) | April 7, 2026 |
| Cuba | April 1, 2026 |
| Jordan (with regional advisories) | March 31, 2026 |
| Oman | March 31, 2026 |
| Eritrea (with regional advisories) | March 30, 2026 |
| Democratic Republic of Congo (with regional advisories) | March 26, 2026 |
Avoid All Travel (Level 4)
| Destination | Last Updated |
|---|---|
| Niger | April 13, 2026 |
| Mali | April 13, 2026 |
| Somalia | April 13, 2026 |
| Venezuela | April 13, 2026 |
| Northern Marianas | April 12, 2026 |
| Lebanon | April 10, 2026 |
| Bahrain | April 9, 2026 |
| Iraq | April 8, 2026 |
| Israel and Palestine | April 8, 2026 |
| United Arab Emirates | April 7, 2026 |
| Iran | March 31, 2026 |
| Qatar | March 31, 2026 |
| Syria | March 31, 2026 |
| Yemen | March 31, 2026 |
| Sudan | March 31, 2026 |
| Afghanistan | March 30, 2026 |
| Kuwait | March 30, 2026 |
| Libya | March 30, 2026 |
| Central African Republic | March 26, 2026 |
| South Sudan | March 26, 2026 |
| Burkina Faso | March 24, 2026 |
| Russia | March 18, 2026 |
| Belarus | March 18, 2026 |
| Haiti | March 18, 2026 |
| Myanmar | March 18, 2026 |
| North Korea | March 18, 2026 |
| Ukraine | March 18, 2026 |
4. Risk Levels by Region
Europe
| Risk Level | Countries |
|---|---|
| Take normal security precautions | Most Western and Central European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czechia, etc.) |
| Exercise a high degree of caution | United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Türkiye (with regional advisories), Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Avoid all travel | Russia, Belarus, Ukraine |
Asia
| Risk Level | Countries |
|---|---|
| Take normal security precautions | Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia (with regional advisories), Bhutan, Mongolia |
| Exercise a high degree of caution | China, India (with regional advisories), Thailand (with regional advisories), Vietnam, Cambodia (with regional advisories), Indonesia (with regional advisories), Philippines (with regional advisories), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives |
| Avoid non-essential travel | Jordan (with regional advisories), Oman |
| Avoid all travel | Iran, Iraq, Israel and Palestine, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, Myanmar, North Korea |
Africa
| Risk Level | Countries |
|---|---|
| Take normal security precautions | Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion, Rwanda (with regional advisories) |
| Exercise a high degree of caution | South Africa, Madagascar, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Morocco (with regional advisories), Egypt (with regional advisories), Kenya (with regional advisories), Tanzania (with regional advisories), Tunisia (with regional advisories), Ghana, Senegal, Gambia |
| Avoid non-essential travel | Nigeria (with regional advisories), Ethiopia (with regional advisories), Mauritania (with regional advisories), Chad (with regional advisories), Democratic Republic of Congo (with regional advisories) |
| Avoid all travel | Niger, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Eritrea (with regional advisories) |
Americas
| Risk Level | Countries |
|---|---|
| Take normal security precautions | United States, Canada (home), Argentina (with regional advisories), Chile, Uruguay (with regional advisories), Costa Rica (but Level 2 as of March 27), many Caribbean islands |
| Exercise a high degree of caution | Mexico (with regional advisories), Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Colombia (with regional advisories), Peru (with regional advisories), Brazil (with regional advisories), Ecuador (with regional advisories), Bolivia (with regional advisories), Guyana |
| Avoid non-essential travel | Cuba |
| Avoid all travel | Venezuela, Haiti |
5. How to Subscribe to Daily Updates
The Government of Canada offers a free subscription service that sends you daily emails with the latest travel advice and advisories.
How to Subscribe
- Go to
travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories - Click on "Subscribe to receive daily emails"
- Enter your email address
- Select your preferred format (HTML or plain text)
- Confirm your subscription via the confirmation email
What You Will Receive
- Daily summaries of all changes to travel advisories
- Links to full advisories
- No spam – only official Government of Canada updates
Why Subscribe?
- Stay informed – advisories can change without warning
- Plan ahead – if you have multiple trips planned, you can monitor all destinations
- Share with family – keep loved ones informed of your travel plans
6. What to Do When a Travel Advisory Changes
If the Risk Level Increases After You Book
| Scenario | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Level 1 → Level 2 | Review the advisory. Consider purchasing travel insurance that covers cancellation. Monitor the situation. |
| Level 1 or 2 → Level 3 | Strongly reconsider your travel. Contact your airline, hotel, and tour operator about cancellation policies. |
| Any level → Level 4 | Do not travel. If you are already there, contact Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre. |
If You Are Already in a Destination That Becomes Level 4
- Do not panic – most Level 4 advisories do not require immediate evacuation.
- Contact Global Affairs Canada – register or update your registration with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service.
- Monitor local media and follow instructions from local authorities.
- Consider leaving by commercial means if it is safe to do so.
- Keep travel documents (passport, visas) up to date and easily accessible.
Consular Services During Level 4
During a Level 4 "Avoid all travel" advisory, the Government of Canada may have limited ability to provide consular services. You should not rely on the government to evacuate you.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
How often are travel advisories updated?
Advisories are updated as often as needed – sometimes multiple times per day. The "Last updated" date is shown for each destination.
Are travel advisories legally binding?
No. They are advice, not law. However, your travel insurance may be void if you travel to a destination with a Level 3 or Level 4 advisory.
What is the difference between "Avoid non-essential travel" and "Avoid all travel"?
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Avoid non-essential travel (Level 3) | Reconsider leisure travel. Essential travel (work, family emergency) may still be possible with extra precautions. |
| Avoid all travel (Level 4) | Do not travel for any reason. The risk is extreme. |
What does "with regional advisories" mean?
The risk level applies to the entire country, but specific regions have a higher (or lower) risk. Read the full advisory to understand which areas are safe or dangerous.
Can I rely solely on the risk level?
No. Always read the full advisory. The risk level is a summary, but the detailed text contains critical information about specific areas, types of crime, health risks, and local laws.
Do travel advisories cover health risks?
Yes. Each advisory includes a "Health" section with information on:
- Vaccination requirements
- Disease outbreaks (e.g., dengue, malaria, COVID-19)
- Medical facilities quality
- Air quality and other environmental risks
How do I register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service?
Visit travel.gc.ca/registration to register for free. This allows the Government of Canada to contact you in an emergency.
What should I do if I need emergency consular assistance?
Contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre:
- Phone: +1-613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted)
- Email: sos@international.gc.ca
- SMS: +1-613-686-3658
- WhatsApp: +1-613-909-8881
- Signal: +1-613-909-8087
8. Official Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Travel Advice and Advisories (main page) | travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories |
| Registration of Canadians Abroad | travel.gc.ca/registration |
| Emergency Watch and Response Centre | travel.gc.ca/assistance/emergency-assistance |
| Travel Advice FAQ | travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories/faq |
| Country-specific information | travel.gc.ca/destinations |
Bottom Line
The Government of Canada's Travel Advice and Advisories is your essential pre-travel resource.
Key takeaways:
| Do This ✅ | Avoid This ❌ |
|---|---|
| Check your destination before booking | Relying solely on the risk level without reading the full advisory |
| Check again before you leave | Assuming an advisory won't change |
| Subscribe to daily email updates | Traveling to a Level 4 destination without understanding the risks |
| Register with Canadians Abroad | Ignoring "with regional advisories" warnings |
| Read the full advisory, not just the risk level | Expecting consular services during a Level 4 advisory |
Remember: Safety and security conditions can change without notice. The last updated date on each advisory tells you when it was most recently reviewed. If it's been more than a month, check again before you go.
Safe travels, Canada!
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