International

10 April 2025 | 7:00 pm

Reissued with minor changes.

Exercise increased caution in Serbia due to crime.

Country Summary: Violence associated with organized crime and high-profile sporting events in Serbia is common.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Serbia.

If you decide to travel to Serbia:   

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.
• Do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.
• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
• Carry a copy of your passport and visa (if applicable) and leave the original in your hotel safe.
• Provide your itinerary to a family member or friend.
• Monitor local media.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Serbia.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. 
• We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel.  Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.  

7 April 2025 | 7:00 pm

Updated to reflect threats against women travelers and increased risks in specific regions.

Exercise increased caution in Ghana due to crime and violence against women travelers and lesbian, gay, and bisexual travelers.  Some areas of Ghana have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider Travel to:

• The Upper East Region, North East Region, Upper West Region, and the western portion of the Savannah Region (all areas west of the N12 Highway) that shares a border with Burkina Faso and Cộte d’Ivoire due to civil unrest and crime.

Country Summary: Violent crimes, such as carjacking, street mugging, assaults, and rape do occur.  These crimes often happen at night and in isolated locations.  Sexual assault, such as rape, is significantly underreported and remains a serious problem.  While domestic violence is criminal under Ghanian law, police rarely respond to reports of domestic violence.  

• In urban areas and crowded markets
• When traveling by private or public transportation after dark as criminal elements may use blockades to slow down and restrict movement of vehicles

Ghanaian law contains prohibitions on “unnatural carnal knowledge” – generally interpreted as any kind of sexual intimacy – between persons of the same sex, though in practice, the law is largely used to target men.  Punishments can include fines and/or incarceration of up to three years.  Rhetoric and violence targeting individuals on the basis of sexual orientation have increased in recent years.  Individuals have reported safety incidents that include targeted assault, rape, mob attacks, and harassment due to their sexual orientation.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ghana.

If you decide to travel to Ghana:

• Review our page for health and security risks for Women Travelers.
• See our Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Travelers Information page and  our Human Rights Report for further details.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Ghana.
• Prepare a plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel.  Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.

Areas Near the Northern Border in the Upper East Region, Upper West Region, and western area of the Savannah Region – Level 3:  Reconsider Travel

U.S. citizens in Ghana should reconsider travel to the northern border areas near Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire due to civil unrest and crime.  Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Ghana must obtain special authorization to travel to the Upper West Region, the Upper East Region, the North East Region, and the western area of the Savannah Region.  The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas.  Be sure to read the Burkina Faso Travel Advisory here.

Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to more serious crimes.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

7 April 2025 | 7:00 pm

Updated due to change in travel advisory level to reflect changes in crime.

Country Summary: Exercise normal precautions in El Salvador. Gang activity has decreased over the last three years. This has caused a drop in violent crimes and murders.

U.S. government employees working in El Salvador are allowed to travel throughout the country during daylight hours. However, due to the risks, U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling between cities or departments at night.

There are exceptions. U.S. government employees are allowed to travel at all hours between San Salvador and:

• El Salvador’s international airport.
• La Libertad department.

U.S. government employees are prohibited from using public buses.

State of Exception

In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador declared a “State of Exception” in response to an increase in gang murders:

• The State of Exception allows local authorities to arrest anyone they think is involved in gang activity.
• It suspends several constitutional rights. This includes the normal protections of criminal procedure, like the right to a speedy or fair trial.
• Tens of thousands of people are currently in prison under the State of Exception.
• Several U.S. and other foreign citizens have been detained under the State of Exception. They remain in prison and have yet to face trial.

The State of Exception is still in place.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to El Salvador.

If you decide to travel to El Salvador: 

• Always use major highways and roads.
• Minimize travel outside of major cities at night.
• El Salvador has zero tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol. You can be detained for having any level of alcohol while driving. Do not drink and drive.
• Stay aware of your surroundings.
• When possible, travel in pairs or in groups, especially for long trips and in rural places.
• Avoid relying on online maps or applications. They might not accurately show local road conditions.
• Do not hitchhike.
• Ensure you have multiple forms of communication when traveling and the ability to charge your devices.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Stay alert when visiting banks or ATMs.
• Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.
• Engage local guides certified by the national or local tourist authority when hiking in backcountry areas. 
• Use caution when swimming near El Salvador’s beaches. Follow water condition warnings.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for El Salvador.
• Prepare a backup plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States. 
• We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.