15 Key Travel Advisories Announced in September

September saw the U.S. State Department issue dozens of updated travel advisories for destinations all around the globe. The vast majority of advice was related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and encouraged Americans to reconsider travel or to postpone their plans altogether as the department's advisories continue to reflect guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which warns of a high or very high level of COVID-19 in most places around the world. Despite the advisories, travel remains very much open and Americans have plenty of options-albeit with vaccination and testing requirements in some cases-when it comes to traveling abroad this fall. Here's the latest advice to consider before you go.

Travelers are being encouraged by the State Department to reconsider travel to the British territory of Anguilla in the Caribbean due to COVID-19 as of September 7. The CDC currently has the destination listed at a Level 3 indicating a high level of COVID-19. Anguilla has reopened to tourism but travelers will need to apply for entry, submit a negative PCR test result three to five days before arrival and test again in Anguilla if they are accepted.

The State Department is advising Americans to reconsider travel to Malta due to COVID-19, according to a September 7 update noting that the CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the country indicating a high level of coronavirus. Malta became the first country in the European Union to reach herd immunity from COVID-19 earlier this year and recently began using the VeriFLY app to streamline travel from the U.S.

The Netherlands, which reopened to U.S. travelers in late June, received a Level 3 travel advisory from the State Department on September 7. Americans are being encouraged to reconsider any plans to visit the country due to COVID-19 and are asked to exercise caution if they do decide to visit due to crime. Heading into October, the CDC warns of a high level of coronavirus within the Netherlands, recommending travelers are fully vaccinated before visiting.

As of September 7, the State Department is encouraging people to reconsider travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands due to COVID-19 and to exercise increased caution in the Caribbean destination due to crime, stating that the CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice indicating a high level of coronavirus on the islands. Nonetheless, Turks and Caicos remains open to fully vaccinated individuals who obtain travel pre-authorization via the TCI Assured Portal and present proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days prior to arrival.

Mirroring the CDC's Level 4 Travel Health Notice (very high level of COVID-19), the State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Jamaica due to COVID-19 on September 7, recommending people avoid travel to the island due to the pandemic and exercise increased caution due to crime. Travelers are advised to avoid Spanish Town altogether as well as some areas of Kingston (Cassava Piece; Downtown Kingston between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads; Grants Pen and Standpipe) and Montego Bay (Canterbury; Clavers Street; Flankers; Hart Street; Norwood and Rose Heights) due to the threat of crime.

The Dominican Republic is one of the few destinations to receive a Level 2 or lower travel advisory from the State Department heading into October. Officials encourage travelers to exercise increased caution in the Caribbean destination due to COVID-19 and the CDC warns of a moderate level of the virus in the country. The Dominican Republic continues to be one of the most accessible international destinations as it does not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to gain entry.

Australia's borders remain closed to non-residents and non-citizens as the country aims to get more of its population vaccinated by the holiday season. Nonetheless, the State Department asked Americans to "reconsider travel to Australia due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions" in a September 13 travel advisory. "There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Australia," officials stated, pointing out that the CDC has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice (high level of COVID-19) for the country.

The State Department is encouraging travelers to reconsider plans to visit Brazil in an update reflecting the CDC's Level 3 Travel Health Notice for the South American country that warns of a high level of COVID-19. Americans can visit Brazil this fall but they'll need to complete a Traveler's Health Declaration and produce a negative COVID-19 PCR test result within 72 hours of boarding their flight. In addition to COVID-19, the State Department asks travelers to exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime. Visitors are asked to avoid any areas within 100 miles of Brazil's land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Paraguay with the exception of Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park; informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades, and/or conglomerados) and Brasilia's administrative regions (satellite cities) of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa during non-daylight hours.

Belize received the State Department's highest travel advisory in an update published September 13. The department along with the CDC are asking travelers to postpone their plans due to the pandemic. Travelers are also advised to exercise increased caution in the Central American country due to crime. The destination remains open for tourism, however. Visitors will require a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 96 hours of travel or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of travel.

Grenada was added to the CDC's Level 4 tier for COVID-19 this September, prompting a corresponding Level 4 travel advisory from the State Department. While officials are discouraging travel this fall, Americans who are fully vaccinated can still visit by completing a Pure Safe Travel Certificate and producing a negative PCR test result within 72 hours of travel to Grenada.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis is also listed at a Level 4 on the State Department's travel advisory scale due to COVID-19 heading into October. The destination reopened to fully vaccinated tourists earlier this year but visitors must also submit an entry form and download a contact tracing mobile app.

On September 21, the State Department issued a Level 3 travel advisory for Colombia, encouraging Americans to reconsider travel to the South American country due to COVID-19. Officials also ask travelers to exercise increased caution due to civil unrest, crime, terrorism andkidnapping. Visitors should avoid Arauca, Cauca with the exception of Popayan, Choco with the exception of Nuqui, Narino and Norte de Santander with the exception of Cucuta due to crime and terrorism and reconsider travel to the following departments: Antioquia department north of Medellin; Caquetá department; Casanare department; Cesar department outside of Valledupar; Cordoba department outside of Montería; Guainía department; Guaviare department; Meta department; Putumayo department; Valle del Cauca department outside of Cali and Palmira area; Vaupes department and Vichada department. Colombia is currently open to Americans who can visit without a negative COVID-19 test result.

Antigua and Barbuda was one of several Caribbean destinations to be elevated to a Level 4 travel advisory by the State Department due to the pandemic in September. Beginning October 1, all visitors will require a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within four days of travel and will need to have received at least one dose of a World Health Organization (WHO) or Ministry of Health Wellness and the Environment (MOHWE) approved two-dose COVID 19 vaccine or a single dose vaccine. Children under the age of 18 are exempt from the vaccine requirement while children under the age of 5 are exempt from the testing requirement.

Both the State Department and CDC are advising against travel to Bermuda due to COVID-19 this fall. The latter warns of a very high level of coronavirus as the British territory has experienced a spike in positive test results in recent weeks. Bermuda continues to be open to travelers with proof of a negative PCR test result. Unvaccinated individuals will need to quarantine upon arrival.

In one of the final travel advisory updates issued in September, the State Department recommended that people reconsider travel to Panama due to COVID-19 and exercise caution in some places, specifically parts of the Mosquito Gulf and Darien Region, because of crime. The country remains open to Americans. Vaccinated travelers will need proof of vaccination and must complete an electronic sworn affidavit while unvaccinated visitors must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel, quarantine for at least 72 hours and test negative again to avoid a longer 14-day quarantine.