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Measles vaccine HIGHEST PRIORITY. Medevac insurance ESSENTIAL (Embassy recommends). Tajikistan border 19 miles Level 2 (Batken/Leilek) — check status before southern travel. Altitude: acclimatize; acetazolamide for >9,800 feet. Register trekking itinerary with KMRS. Road safety: hire local drivers; avoid night mountain driving. Water: treat all trekking sources.

Letter of invitation REQUIRED. Restricted zones (border areas; Caspian coast) need special permission. Male same-sex contact illegal. Photography: no government/military buildings. Strict customs on carpets/artifacts. Communications assumed monitored.

State Dept Level 3 — Reconsider Travel — for terrorism and armed conflict, reissued 27 August 2026 with the risk indicators unchanged. U.S. government employees require special authorization to travel to Bahrain; family members aged 18 and over may join employees posted there. Following the 28 February 2026 hostilities between the United States and Iran there remains an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruption to commercial flights. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks and may attack with little or no warning; targets may include tourist sites, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, religious sites, and government and military facilities. Crime is low and violent crime rare, though thieves and pickpockets operate in the old souq area of Manama. Avoid demonstrations: they are common in some areas and can be unpredictable, with burning tyres, thrown rocks and occasional Molotov cocktails at night in specific neighbourhoods; the U.S. Embassy publishes travel restrictions and security alerts on its website. It is illegal to photograph certain buildings in Bahrain. Penalties for drug possession, use or trafficking are severe, and public drunkenness or disorderly behaviour can bring imprisonment or heavy fines. Emergency services: dial 999. Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help.

US passport INVALID without special validation — federal felony to enter without it. Follow ALL minder instructions. No religious materials; GPS; satellite phones. All electronics searched. No photos of military; police; construction; citizens; or statues from 'disrespectful' angles. Hotel rooms monitored. Pre-departure will and power of attorney.

DO NOT TRAVEL for any reason. No US Embassy since 2012. 'Emergency response and medical treatment not available.' UXO: NEVER touch unknown objects (one of most heavily mined countries). Do not photograph armed groups/checkpoints. Do not identify as American. HTS is designated US FTO — interactions carry legal risk under US material support laws.

Level 3 – Reconsider Travel (advisory dated August 28 2026). Regional hostilities remain active. Monitor kw.usembassy.gov security alerts and civil defense sirens. If departing during a disruption: overland to Saudi Arabia (Saudi eVisa in advance; embassy alerts list commercial bus operators; Kuwait exit permit via the Sahel app required for Article 17/18 residents) — note that the September 19 2026 embassy alert reports Houthi hostilities against Saudi Arabia including civilian airports, so confirm Dammam or Riyadh airport status before committing to that route. Aerial attack response, per US Embassy Kuwait: stay away from glass doors, windows and any fallen debris, and monitor your phone and news outlets for official guidance; keep 72-hour supplies during escalation. Landmines: never off-road in northern Kuwait or near the Iraq border. MERS-CoV: no camel contact. Drugs/alcohol: strictly prohibited. Emergency: 112.

Level 4 – DO NOT TRAVEL (advisory dated August 29 2026), for terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, crime, health risks and the US government's limited ability to provide emergency services. The level applies nationwide, including the Kurdistan Region. State Department guidance for anyone who travels regardless: enroll in STEP; draft a will and make medical directives; discuss a proof-of-life protocol with your family; establish a personal security plan; obtain insurance covering medical evacuation; and hold a departure plan that does not rely on US government assistance. US Embassy Baghdad and US Consulate General Erbil are operating — BaghdadACS@state.gov and ErbilACS@state.gov. US Mission Iraq advises avoiding all demonstrations and large gatherings, avoiding areas with heavy police presence, keeping a low profile, and exercising caution at locations publicly associated with the United States. UXO is widespread — never touch unknown metal objects. MERS-CoV: no camel contact.

Level 4 – Do Not Travel (advisory dated August 21 2026). Risk drivers named by the State Department: civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and limited health facilities. Wrongful detention is a named risk — US citizens have been held in Lebanon, and dual nationals should weigh this particularly carefully. Avoid: southern Lebanon (south of the Litani), Dahiyeh and southern Beirut, the Syria border, and refugee settlements — all Level 4. UXO: never leave established roads; never touch unknown objects. Bring ALL medications (severe local shortages). The US government has limited ability to offer emergency services; the embassy can still assist crime victims with passport replacement, arranging medical care, and contacting relatives. AUBMC +961-1-350000. BeirutACS@state.gov. State Dept 24/7: +1-202-501-4444. [VERIFY: commercial flight status before relying on departure by air.]