The advisory also notes that some states—including Alabama, Arizona, Utah, Indiana, South Carolina, and Georgia—have introduced legislation to combat illegal immigration that authorizes “police officers to seek information on an individual’s immigration status and to detain people they suspect of being in the US illegally.” They suggest that travelers carry their documents with them at all times in case they are asked to present them by law enforcement officials.
Since last spring, Ireland’s travel guidance for the US has also included advice for transgender travelers, stating: “ESTA and visa application forms to the US require travelers to declare their sex. The US authorities have indicated that this should reflect, what they term, the traveler’s biological sex at birth.”
“Previous convictions in the United States, misleading information about the purpose of your stay on your visa or ESTA application, or even a slight previous overstay can have serious consequences,” Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs’s site reads. That said, they do note the “vast majority” of travelers don’t encounter issues.
Netherlands
While the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs still has its safety level for the US listed as “green,” its travel advice page was last modified in October to note that the “US government has tightened entry regulations for foreign visitors,” suggesting that citizens double check entry requirements before travel. It also flags that the US government only recognizes two genders as of January 20, 2025.
The European nation also tells its citizens to “be vigilant in crowded places,” which includes both major events and public transportation. Specifically, it adds that demonstrations “are common in larger cities in the US,” adding that “these can lead to violence.”
New Zealand
Unlike most countries on this list, New Zealand actually increased the US travel advisory level on its official four-level scale. In November 2024, it bumped the US to Level 2, advising New Zealanders to “exercise increased caution,” a warning that remains in place today.
Specifically, it states that the US has a “higher incidence of violent crime and firearm possession than in New Zealand,” highlighting a risk of active shooter incidents as well as petty crime. Like Australia, it also tells its citizens to register if staying more than 30 days and to have photo IDs that meet Real ID standards. The site also notes that “the US government has strict rules for entering and staying in the country” and says that “you may encounter scrutiny from US border authorities” upon arrival.
Portugal
Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its travel guidance for citizens visiting the US, noting: “The granting of an ESTA or visa does not constitute an automatic right of entry into the USA. The final decision is always made by the border officer upon entry into US national territory.” It also advises non-binary travelers to “complete forms and provide declarations upon arrival with the gender with which they were identified at birth.”
The Portuguese government also highlights certain areas of the country for safety risks, including neighborhoods of New York City, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The guidance was last updated in October 2025.
United Kingdom
The UK first updated its US travel advisory for British travelers bound for America last February, stating that “the authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules. The language was changed a month later to say those rules are enforced “strictly,” which remains the current wording on the site.
