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Countries, economies and regions

Select a country, economy or region to find embassies, country briefs, economic fact sheets, trade agreements, aid programs, information on sanctions and more.

International relations

Global security.

• Australia and sanctions
• Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO)
• Counter-terrorism
• Non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control
• Peacekeeping and peacebuilding

Regional architecture

• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• East Asia Summit (EAS)
• Australia and the Indian Ocean region
• Pacific Islands regional organisations

Global themes

• Child protection
• Climate change
• Cyber affairs and critical technology
• Disability Equity and Rights
• Gender equality
• Human rights
• Indigenous peoples
• People Smuggling, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
• Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment
• Australia’s treaty-making process

International organisations

• The Commonwealth of Nations
• United Nations (UN)
• World Trade Organization

Foreign Arrangements Scheme  

Trade and investment, about free trade agreements (ftas).

• The benefits of FTAs
• How to get free trade agreement tariff cuts
• Look up FTA tariffs and services market access - DFAT FTA Portal
• Discussion paper on potential modernisation – DFAT FTA Portal

About foreign investment

• The benefits of foreign investment
• Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS)
• Australia's bilateral investment treaties
• Australia's foreign investment policy

For Australian business

• Addressing non-tariff trade barriers

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

Stakeholder engagement.

• Ministerial Council on Trade and Investment
• Trade 2040 Taskforce
• First Nations trade

Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs)

• ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand (AANZFTA)
• Chile (ACLFTA)
• China (ChAFTA)
• Hong Kong ( A-HKFTA & IA)
• India (AI-ECTA)
• Indonesia (IA-CEPA)
• Japan (JAEPA)
• Korea (KAFTA)
• Malaysia (MAFTA)
• New Zealand (ANZCERTA)
• Peru (PAFTA)
• Singapore (SAFTA)
• Thailand (TAFTA)
• United Kingdom (A-UKFTA)
• USA (AUSFTA)
• Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
• European Union (A-EUFTA)
• India (AI-CECA)
• Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
• Australia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

Trade and investment data, information and publications

• Fact sheets for countries and regions
• Australia's trade balance
• Trade statistics
• Foreign investment statistics
• Trade and investment publications
• Australia's Trade through Time

WTO, G20, OECD, APEC and IPEF and ITAG

Services and digital trade.

• Service trade policy
• Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement
• Digital trade & the digital economy

Development

Australia’s development program, performance assessment.

• Development evaluation
• Budget and statistical information

Who we work with

• Multilateral organisations
• Non-government organisations (NGOs)
• List of Australian accredited non-government organisations (NGOs)

Development topics

• Development issues
• Development sectors

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

• Sustainable Development Goals

Where we deliver our Development Program

Humanitarian action.

Where and how Australia provides emergency assistance.

People-to-people

Australia awards.

• Australia Awards Scholarships
• Australia Awards Fellowships

New Colombo Plan

• Scholarship program
• Mobility program

Public diplomacy

• Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program
• Australia now
• UK/Australia Season 2021-22

Foundations, councils and institutes

• Australia-ASEAN Council
• Australia-India Council
• Australia-Indonesia Institute
• Australia-Japan Foundation
• Australia-Korea Foundation
• Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR)
• Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR)

International Labour Mobility

• Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme
• Agriculture Visa

Australian Volunteers Program

Supporting organisations in developing countries by matching them with skilled Australians. 

Sports diplomacy

Australia is a successful global leader and innovator in sport.

A global platform for achievement, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation

About Australia

Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.

Australia in Brief publication

This is the 52nd edition of Australia in Brief, revised and updated in February 2021

Travel advice

To help Australians avoid difficulties overseas, we maintain travel advisories for more than 170 destinations.

• Smartraveller – travel advice

International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate

Prove your COVID-19 vaccinations when you travel overseas.

• Services Australia

The Australian Passport Office and its agents are committed to providing a secure, efficient and responsive passport service for Australia.

• Australian Passport Office

24-hour consular emergency helpline

• Within Australia: 1300 555 135
• Outside Australia: +61 2 6261 3305
• Getting help overseas
• Visas for Australians travelling overseas
• Visas to visit Australia

24-hour emergency consular support

If you're an Australian citizen and you have serious concerns about your welfare or that of another Australian overseas, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, or call our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on

• 1300 555 135 within Australia
• +61 2 6261 3305 from anywhere in the world.

Read more about getting help overseas on Smartraveller.

We maintain travel advisories on Smartraveller for over 175 destinations, assigning an overall advice level to each. The advice levels reflect the risks for Australian travellers in each destination. We also provide general advice on a range of travel topics.

Visit Smartraveller to explore our travel advice for all destinations .

We continually review and update our travel advice based on credible information. Stay up to date with any changes by subscribing for updates .

Visit the Australian Passport Office for more about passports.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not issue visas for overseas travel or visiting Australia and can’t provide specific information on visas.

Read about visas for Australians travelling overseas .

Find out about visas to visit Australia .

How the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program could help you on your next trip abroad

Editor's Note

Though careful planning and common sense are two of the best ways to stay safe when traveling, security situations can rapidly change in foreign countries.

That's why the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs has created the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to help keep you up-to-date on relevant security updates from the nearest U.S. consulate, wherever in the world you happen to be.

Here's how to sign up for STEP.

Who should register for STEP?

The primary purpose of STEP is to keep American citizens safe. Here are a few reasons to consider signing up:

• You're traveling to an area that's politically unstable or prone to violence.
• You're taking an extended trip (several weeks or months) where you have limited Wi-Fi access.
• You're traveling for a major event, summit or conference (like the World Cup) that might become the target of protests or attacks.
• You're a minority traveling to an area where you might be targeted as an outsider.
• You'd like an additional safety resource during your trip, no matter the destination.

Some group trips or programs may require participants to enroll. For instance, I had to enroll when I studied abroad in college.

In the event of a rapidly deteriorating situation, such as a coup or natural disaster, STEP can connect you with evacuation efforts or provide important safety information and help you take care of yourself.

How to register

To register, create an account and fill in your personal information and emergency contact details.

Once your account is set up, log in and register each specific trip or residence abroad. You'll repeat this process for each new trip to receive STEP alerts.

You'll then be prompted to enroll any upcoming trips to receive STEP notifications. Select the nearest U.S. consulate to where you'll be staying. Note that "destination" refers to the country (not a specific city, state or territory), and the available options will auto-fill as you type.

Next, fill in the dates of your trip, the reason you're traveling and how you can be reached while abroad. If there are any timely alerts specific to your destination, you'll also be alerted of that information at this point.

Bottom line

It may be helpful to think of STEP like travel insurance: If all goes well, you won't need to use it, and you might even forget you have it.

However, if things go wrong while you're traveling abroad, your local U.S. embassy is the quickest way to get help; the embassy's goal is to ensure all Americans in its jurisdiction are safe and accounted for. This is when STEP notifications can become incredibly important.

The entire sign-up process takes less than five minutes, and the trip registration process takes about 60 seconds.

For additional resources, be sure to follow the State Department on Twitter and bookmark its international travel page for the latest country alerts.

Related reading:

• The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
• Confused by State Department travel advisories? Here's what they mean
• If you need a passport quickly, this service may be for you
• Passport processing wait times decrease for the 1st time since February
• Prepare to wait: Current Global Entry processing times are up to 11 months

Security Alert May 17, 2024

Worldwide caution, update may 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

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Learn About Your Destination

While Abroad

Emergencies

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Crisis and Disaster Abroad: Be Ready

What the Department of State Can and Can't Do in a Crisis

Information for U.S. Citizens about a U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuation

Traveler's Checklist

Safety and Security Messaging

Best Practices for Traveler Safety

Staying Connected

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

Traveler Information

LGBTQI+ Travelers

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Faith-Based Travelers

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U.S. Students Abroad

Cruise Ship Passengers

Women Travelers

Travelers with Disabilities

Older Travelers

U.S. Volunteers Abroad

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Travel Agents

Travel Safety - Race and Ethnicity

U.S. Travelers in Europe's Schengen Area

Your Health Abroad

Insurance Coverage Overseas

Driving and Road Safety Abroad

Customs and Import Restrictions

Information for U.S. Citizens in Russia – Travel Options Out of Russia

Lodging Safety

Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics

There are a number of ways to receive updates to our safety and security information. Choose the one that is right for you.  

All Travel Advisories and Alerts

• Create an account at STEP.state.gov and provide the details of your specific trip, including dates of arrival and departure for the countries you choose.
• We will email you new Travel Advisories and Alerts as soon as we issue them, so be sure to provide an email address that you can access during your trip.

Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

• OSAC is a public-private partnership within the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security that promotes cooperation between American private/non-profit companies  and the U.S. government on security issues.
• OSAC publishes our Travel Advisories and Alerts , which are sortable by world regions and security categories. Note: OSAC’s listing of Travel Advisories and Alerts may not be updated immediately during evening and weekend hours.
• You may also subscribe to OSAC’s daily newsletters for additional security information. See OSAC.gov for more details.

Twitter/Facebook

• We will post Travel Advisories and Alerts to our @TravelGov Twitter and Facebook accounts. However, due to social media algorithms that control the type and order of messages you receive, you may not see them all. Please see our individual country pages to view the Travel Advisory and recent Alerts for a specific country.

Travel Advisories Only

• If you are not traveling now, but are interested in monitoring safety conditions for specific destination(s) overseas, sign up to receive Travel Advisory updates at STEP.state.gov under Staying at Home?

List of Countries with Travel Advisory Levels

• To see all Travel Advisories, visit travel.state.gov/traveladvisories , where you can sort by country, level, or date updated.
• Our interactive map at travelmaps.state.gov provides a global view of Travel Advisory levels.
• You can receive all 200+Travel Advisories via RSS feed via an RSS reader app from your favorite app store.
• If your organization has a website or mobile app, you can ask your administrator or programmer to use our API. Find out more here .

Media Notes

• The State Department’s media team will send email updates that include Level 3 and Level 4 Travel Advisory changes and reissuances. Sign up here .

Alerts Only

U.S. Embassy RSS Feeds

You can download an RSS reader app from your favorite app store and subscribe to the RSS feed for a U.S. embassy to receive all Alerts for a specific country. See this list .

Enroll in STEP

Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad.

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TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

What Is The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program And Why Do You Need It?

• News and Tips
• Travel News

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and many countries post record-breaking daily or weekly case counts, the U.S. State Department now cautions that U.S. citizens who travel internationally may face unexpected challenges related to the coronavirus as they attempt to return to the U.S. or travel from one foreign country to another.

One of those challenges is to simply stay up-to-date on various countries’ travel restrictions. 

That’s because governments around the world continue to implement new requirements and even impose new travel restrictions as they strive to keep COVID-19 case counts down in their own countries. The problem, however, is that changes are often implemented quickly with little advance notice, which may take those traveling by surprise.

The good news is that the State Department offers a service that helps U.S. citizens and nationals stay informed about changing conditions in countries they are visiting or plan to visit. 

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that enables U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. That way, they are able to quickly receive important information from the U.S. embassy about safety conditions in their destination country, which helps them make informed decisions about travel plans. Another benefit is that enrolling a trip in STEP makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact travelers with important information about natural disasters or civil unrest in their destination country, or to contact the traveler in the event of a family emergency.

Here’s a quick look at what you need to know about STEP before your next international trip.

Created To Assist U.S. Citizens

Consular officers at U.S. embassies and consulates can help U.S. citizens who run into legal, medical, or financial difficulties while visiting other countries. For example, if a U.S. citizen’s passport is stolen while traveling, staff at an embassy or consulate can help that traveler get a replacement passport. They can also provide the names of English-speaking doctors or local attorneys, as well as provide information about dangerous conditions.

“In a crisis situation such as a natural disaster or severe political instability, the Department of State often takes an active role in providing information and assistance to U.S. citizens in the affected area,” the State Department explains . “We encourage all U.S. citizens travelling or residing overseas to notify the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate of their contact information so that, in an emergency, we can contact them to provide important safety and security information, or support during a crisis. Enrolling in STEP is an easy way to send your contact information to us online.” 

In addition to Travel Advisories, U.S. embassies and consulates often send alerts about emerging situations in a country. It’s important to enroll your international trip in STEP because these alerts are written specifically for a traveler’s dates of travel and destination.

You can learn more about the STEP service here and create an account to enroll a trip here .

Know Before You Go

If you are planning an international trip, the State Department has two more suggestions for you. The first is to visit its Country Information webpage so you can learn about your destination.

“We provide safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each Country Information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you,” the State Department explains. “Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to decide whether traveling to that country is right for you.”

The State Department’s Country Information web page may be found here .

The State Department’s second suggestion is to visit its Traveler’s Checklist webpage, which is found here .

That page includes information explaining how to get informed about conditions in a country you plan to visit and ensure you have all necessary documents. It also provides information about three types of insurance: health insurance, evacuation insurance, and additional insurance for unexpected expenses such as those from interrupted or delayed travel and lost luggage.

While you’re thinking about international travel, be sure to read all of our travel news coverage as well as our COVID-19 coverage, including 6 Things The State Department Says You Should Do If You’re Traveling Internationally and 21 Expert Tips For Traveling Internationally Right Now .

Jim Fulcher has been a writer and editor his entire career. In addition to writing, he also enjoys traveling--particularly in an RV. Over the course of numerous trips, Jim has driven an RV through West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. His favorite national park is Yellowstone, which he has visited three times.

Search Smartraveller

Most questions we receive can be answered by reading the information on our website.

Before you contact us:

• read the travel advice for your destination
• read our step-by-step guide  to travelling during COVID-19.

If your question isn't answered by the information on our website, including the handy snapshots below, please contact us via the form at the bottom of this page.

Please note: We can’t generally help you with enquiries related to your specific travel plans or circumstances. For these types of enquiries contact your airline, travel agent or the Foreign Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in the destinations that relate to your enquiry. Due to the volume of queries we receive, we may not respond if your question/s can be answered by information provided on the Smartraveller website.

What is your enquiry about?

Urgent help overseas.

Contact the local emergency authorities if you're in a life-threatening situation or need immediate assistance. Find local emergency numbers under ‘Local contacts’ at the bottom of the  travel advisory for your destination .

The Consular Services Charter  provides information on how we can assist Australians overseas.

If you're an Australian citizen and you have serious concerns about your welfare or that of another Australian, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate, or call our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on

• 1300 555 135 within Australia
• +61 2 6261 3305 from anywhere in the world.

Do not contact the emergency centre with general enquires.

See our urgent help page for more information.

Travel advice for a specific destination

We provide travel advice for some 178 destinations . We recommend you read the full advice for your destination/s before contacting us, as your question may be answered there.

Our travel advice includes information on:

• safety and security
• travelling around your destination
• local contacts, including emergency and consular contacts.

We recommend you subscribe to the destination/s you're visiting, including those you're transiting through, to receive the latest updates via email.

For specific questions about the requirements to enter a foreign destination contact the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

• Travel insurance

We can't recommend specific travel insurance providers.

Read our general advice on travel insurance , and see the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide: COVID-19 edition for advice about purchasing insurance.

If you need to contact your travel insurer, look for their contact details in the policy documents they sent you. Most have 24-hour emergency assistance phone lines.

The Insurance Council of Australia also lists contact details for travel insurers in Australia on their Find an Insurer website.

Travelling as a dual national

Information about travelling as a dual national, including whether you can enter or leave Australia on your foreign passport, can be found on our page on dual nationals .

Travelling with children

Smartraveller has detailed information on childre n who are travelling, including children travelling without both  parents and child custody considerations. For details, visit our page on travelling with children .

Children travelling unaccompanied 

Most airlines have rules for children under the age of 15 who are travelling alone. Parents or guardians will usually need to fill out a permission form for the child's travel. Contact your airline for more information, including in-flight protocols for unaccompanied minors.

It's your responsibility to find out if your destination has special entry requirements for children. Contact your destination's embassy or consulate to ask about these requirements.

Australian visas 

You can find information about visas on the Australian Border Force website . For questions about visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs .

Foreign visas 

Visa information is often included in the travel advice for your destination . If you have specific visa-related questions we don't address, contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination/s.

Schengen visas 

On our page about Schengen visas , you can find information on bilateral visa waivers and other reciprocal agreements with European countries.

Document legalisation and notarial services

Document legalisation services in Australia 

For information on having a document legalised in Australia, including booking an appointment for legalisation services, see our page on documents in Australia .

Document legalisation services overseas 

For information on having a document legalised overseas, including identity certification certificates, see our page on documents overseas .

Certificate of No Impediment to Marry (CNI) 

Find information about CNIs, including the downloadable application form, on our page about Certificates of No Impediment to Marry .  

Verifying an Australian Apostille 

If you need to verify an Australian Apostille, visit the verification portal on the DFAT website .

If you want to apply for or renew an Australian passport, visit:  www.passports.gov.au.

The Australian Passport Office is continuing to experience high demand for passports. We strongly urge you not to leave your application to the last minute.

You should allow a minimum of six weeks to get a new passport or renew one, and longer if you are applying for a child’s passport.

To contact the Australian Passport Office:

• use the online contact form
• in Australia, call 131 232 Monday to Friday: 8.00am to 5.00pm
• overseas, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate .

Registration and subscription

Smartraveller registration 

Pre-trip registration on Smartraveller ended in 2019. 

We now recommend you subscribe to the destinations you’re visiting, including where you’re transiting through for updates. 

DFAT may set up a registration portal in the event of a crisis. This allows you or your family to register your location and contact details with us in the event you’re in the affected area. If we open crisis registrations, we’ll publish the link on our website and provide updates through our subscription service and our social media. 

Subscription 

For information about Smartraveller’s subscription service, including how to subscribe and unsubscribe, visit our page on subscription .

Media enquiries

For media enquiries, contact [email protected] .

Consular services feedback 

We welcome your comments on our consular services . This helps us to identify areas that need improvement, or where changes would make sense. Sharing your experiences may help other Australians avoid difficulties overseas. It may also help others appreciate how and when consular services can help . You can comment on our services by using the contact form below, or writing to us at

First Assistant Secretary  Consular and Crisis Management Division  Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade  RG Casey Building  BARTON ACT 0221 

If you’re dissatisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman's Office in Australia. Learn more about what and when we can help Australian overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter . 

Smartraveller website feedback 

You can help other travellers, by helping us improve this website. Let us know if you find any issues, bugs, errors or opportunities to improve.

Important! Please read:

The  Consular Services Charter  provides information on how we can assist Australians overseas.

If you're an Australian citizen and you have serious concerns about your welfare or that of another Australian, contact your local  Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate,  or call our 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on

• Arrested or jailed overseas
• Lost or damaged property overseas
• Medical assistance or medical emergency overseas
• Money problems overseas
• Someone has died overseas
• Someone is missing overseas
• Victim of crime overseas
• Crisis and emergency overseas

If you want to apply for or renew an Australian passport, visit www.passports.gov.au . The Australian Passport Office is continuing to experience high demand for passports. We strongly urge you not to leave your application to the last minute. You should allow a minimum of six weeks to get a new passport or renew one, and longer if you are applying for a child’s passport. To contact the Australian Passport Office:

• use the online contact form .
• overseas, contact your local Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate .

Most messages we receive for travel advice can be resolved by reading the relevant country page on Smartraveller. Please visit our destinations page. We can't provide personalised advice about entry and exit requirements or visas for other countries, including Schengen area requirements . Contact the embassy or high commission of your destination for advice specific to your circumstances. 

Most overseas COVID-19 related messages we receive can be resolved by reading the relevant country page on Smartraveller. Please visit our destinations page to find travel advice for your country destination. The Department of Health and Aged Care’s International travel and COVID-19 page has the latest information on vaccination requirements for travelling to and from Australia. Alternatively, airlines post a range of information on their websites about international travel requirements. Please see following for a list of relevant resources from major airlines departing Australia:

• Qantas: International Travel Requirements
• Virgin: Travel and entry requirements
• Jetstar: Prepare for international travel
• Air New Zealand: International travel requirements
• AirAsia: Travel Requirements and Restrictions
• Qatar: Travel requirements
• Singapore Airlines: Travel advisories
• Cathay Pacific: Travel restrictions
• Malaysia Airlines: Travel Information
• Etihad: Travel requirements
• Emirates: Travel requirements by destination

We're unable to assist with enquiries related to entering and leaving Australia. Please visit the Department of Home Affairs’ Entering and Leaving Australia page for information and contacts. The Department of Health and Aged Care’s International travel and COVID-19 page has the latest information on vaccination requirements for travelling to and from Australia. Alternatively, airlines post a range of information on their websites about international travel requirements. Please see following for a list of relevant resources from major airlines departing Australia:

We're unable to help with enquiries related to entering and leaving Australia.  Please visit the Department of Home Affairs’ Entering and Leaving Australia page for information and contacts. The Department of Health and Aged Care’s International travel and COVID-19 page has the latest information on vaccination requirements for travelling to and from Australia

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. Foreign governments often require you to get a visa before they let you enter. We can't provide specific information about the kind of visa you'll need to enter a foreign country, or which entry and exit rules apply to you.  Most overseas visa related messages we receive can be resolved by reading our advice on getting a foreign visa  and visas and entry requirements for Europe . Please contact the embassy or consulate of the country you’ll be visiting for visa advice specific to your needs and circumstances.

Most messages we receive about document legalisations, apostilles, notarial services and certificates of no impediment can be resolved by reading the following pages:

• Notarial services
• Documents we can legalise
• Book an appointment
• Submit by mail
• Requesting services overseas
• Getting married overseas (Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) )
• Notarial forms

Most messages we receive about travelling with medication can be resolved by visiting the following pages:

• Medication and medical equipment  (Smartraveller)
• How to manage your PBS medicine overseas  (Services Australia)
• Contact the consulate or embassy of your destination for specific advice on local laws, restrictions or rules.
• Travel advisory of your destination .

Most messages we receive about travel insurance can be resolved by reading the following pages on Smartraveller:

• CHOICE travel insurance buying guide

 Your enquiry will be prioritised by the category you select. Please make sure your question is not covered by one of the other categories before selecting 'other'. 

Please contact the Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of  your country of nationality. 

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals who are traveling or living abroad. STEP allows you to enter information about trips abroad so that the Department of State, via our embassies and consulates, can better assist you in an emergency. You can also subscribe to receive email updates with travel advisories and other information for a particular country.

How can the embassy or consulate assist me while I am abroad?

Consular officers assist U.S. citizens and nationals who encounter serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties. They can provide the names of local attorneys and doctors, provide loans to destitute Americans, and provide information about dangerous conditions affecting your overseas travel or residence. Consular officers also perform non-emergency services, helping Americans with absentee voting, selective service registration, receiving federal benefits, and filing U.S. tax forms. Consular officers can notarize documents, issue passports, and register American children born abroad. Visit the website of the closest embassy or consulate for more information.

Your Privacy

Information you provide the U.S. Department of State is protected by the provisions of the Privacy Act (5 USC 552a). This means that the Department of State will not disclose your info or email to any third parties unless you have given us written authorization to do so, or unless the disclosure is otherwise permitted by the Privacy Act. We will not share your email or personal information and will only contact you as part of this STEP enrollment. You may update your country alerts or enrollment preferences at any time via this mobile website or the STEP link at travel.state.gov.

OMB Control No: 1405-0152, Estimated Burden: 20 minutes, Expiration Date: 6/30/2026.