The safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas is one of our top priorities. To keep you informed, we provide security updates on travel.state.gov and embassy and consulate websites, and send out Alerts when you enroll in our free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
The actions we take depend on the nature of the crisis. In some instances, we may provide information on conditions in the country, such as warnings about areas of unrest, how and where to seek help, and other useful information. In more severe situations, we may recommend that U.S. citizens leave the immediate area if it is safe to do so or even the foreign country.
If commercial transportation is unavailable, and if we have consular officers at the embassy or consulate, and if the conditions permit, we will do our best to identify what transportation options may be available to help U.S. citizens travel out of the crisis location.
The best time to leave a country is before the crisis if at all possible. Regularly scheduled commercial transportation is always the best option when local communications and transportation infrastructure are intact and operating normally. You should have a plan of action for crisis situations that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
In extreme situations, if there are no commercial transportation options (planes, trains, boats/ferries, etc.) available, and if we have consular officers at the embassy or consulate, and if the conditions permit, we may help U.S. citizens seeking to depart by working with the host government, other countries,
and other U.S. government agencies to identify – and in some cases arrange – available transportation. Regardless of the method of transportation, or who provides it, U.S. citizens (and others who are eligible for U.S. government assistance) are generally responsible for reimbursing the government for the cost of their travel.
