Afghanistan Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 4: Do Not Travel

The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help. Advisory as of February 19, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 4· Do Not Travel

Level 4 of 4 · as of February 19, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all travel

Last updated February 27, 2026 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “New information about heightened tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

February 19, 2026 — current
Level 4: Do Not Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Afghanistan since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Afghanistan safe? What the official advisory says

due to civil unrest , crime, terrorism , risk of wrongful detention , kidnapping , natural disasters , and limited health facilities .

Do not travel to Afghanistan for any reason

We urge American citizens in Afghanistan to leave immediately. U.S. citizens seeking U.S. government help to leave the country should email their complete biographic details, contact information (email and phone number), and U.S. passport number to AfghanistanACS@state.gov .
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspended operations in 2021. The U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan.
The Taliban actively surveil and monitor travelers. U.S.-Afghan dual nationals and U.S. citizens linked to NGOs face higher risks of surveillance. The Taliban’s so-called General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) and the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and Complaints (PVPV) are responsible for enforcing directives and edicts issued by Taliban authorities.
Multiple terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan. U.S. citizens are targets of kidnapping and hostage-taking, and may become targets for violence.

There is a high risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Afghanistan.

All American citizens, including tourists and U.S.-Afghan dual nationals, are targeted for detention. Lawful Permanent Residents who previously supported the United States in Afghanistan may also be targeted. For example, anyone who worked as an interpreter could be targeted. The Taliban have harassed and detained aid, faith-based organization, and humanitarian workers. Foreigners are often viewed with suspicion. Reasons for detention may be unclear or arbitrary.
Even if you are registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business, the risk of detention is high.
Detention conditions are severe. The Taliban do not permit the United States to conduct welfare checks on U.S. citizens in detention, including by phone.
Detention can be long. Even if a case is determined to be a wrongful detention, there is no guarantee of release. While in detention, American citizens have limited or no access to medical attention. They may face physical abuse.

Natural disaster

Afghanistan is a seismically active region, with frequent and devastating earthquakes. Earthquakes have caused mass casualties and critical damage to homes and infrastructure. In September 2025, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the eastern region of Afghanistan, killing over 1,100 people.

Aviation Safety Oversight

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of February 19, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Afghanistan travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Afghanistan?

As of February 19, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Afghanistan at Level 4: Do Not Travel. The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

What does Level 4 mean?

Level 4 (Do Not Travel) — The highest advisory level: do not travel due to life-threatening risks. The U.S. government may have very limited ability to help.

When did the Afghanistan travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on February 19, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Afghanistan?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all travel (last updated February 27, 2026). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.