Philippines Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level. Advisory as of May 7, 2025.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 2· Exercise Increased Caution

Level 2 of 4 · as of May 7, 2025

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

Last updated June 8, 2026 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “Information on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Mindanao and associated tsunami risk ('Warnings and insurance' page).”

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

Advisory level timeline

May 7, 2025 — current
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Philippines since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Philippines safe? What the official advisory says

Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.

Exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel to:

The Sulu Archipelago, including the southern Sulu Sea, due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping .
Marawi City in Mindanao due to terrorism and civil unrest .

Reconsider Travel to:

Other areas of Mindanao due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping .

Country Summary: Terrorists and armed groups have carried out kidnappings, bombings, and other attacks targeting public areas like tourist sites, markets, and local government facilities in the Philippines. Violent crimes are also common in the Philippines such as robbery, kidnappings, and physical assaults. Protests happen in the Philippines and could turn violent and/or result in traffic jams and road closures with limited capacity of the local government to respond.

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in the Philippines must obtain special authorization to travel to certain areas of the country as stated below.

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

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of May 7, 2025 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Philippines travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Philippines?

As of May 7, 2025, the U.S. State Department rates Philippines at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level.

What does Level 2 mean?

Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) — Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level.

When did the Philippines travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on May 7, 2025. 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 Philippines?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all travel to parts of the country (last updated June 8, 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.