register international travel with state department

STEP is a free service to allow U.S. citizens/nationals traveling abroad to enroll with the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

For organization/group enrollments or advanced features, go to the STEP full site

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How to Register Your Trip With the US Department of State

If you are a United States citizen planning a trip abroad , you may wonder if there is any way to get information and help if an emergency occurs in your destination country. For many years, the US Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs has offered travelers a way to register their trips so that embassy and consulate employees can find them if a natural disaster or civil unrest might be imminent. This program, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), has three components.

Personal Profile and Access Permission

The first thing you must do to register your trip with the State Department  is to set up a personal profile, which includes your name, address, telephone number, email address, points of contact and a unique password. You will also need to decide who else might need to find you or access your contact information in case of an international emergency.

You can choose any combination of family, friends, legal or medical representatives, members of the media or members of Congress. You must provide at least one telephone number or email address that the State Department can use to contact you in the United States in order to participate in STEP.

Tip: If you do not authorize the disclosure of your contact information prior to your trip, US State Department employees will not be able to tell anyone where you are because the terms of the Privacy Act prevent them from doing so. This means that you should authorize the disclosure of your personal information to at least one person besides yourself so that someone at home can find you through STEP if a disaster occurs. Also, if you need to get help from your embassy or consulate while you are traveling abroad, you will need to provide proof of US citizenship.

Trip-Specific Information

If you wish, you may enter information about an upcoming trip as part of the STEP registration process. This information will enable State Department employees to find and help you if a disaster or uprising happens or seems likely to occur. They will also send you Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings for your destination(s).

You may register multiple trips. In addition, you can register a group of travelers under one traveler's name if you list your fellow travelers in the "accompanying travelers" field. Family groups should sign up in this way, but groups of unrelated adult travelers should register separately so that the State Department can record and, if necessary, use emergency contact information for each person.

By registering your upcoming trip with the US Department of State, you will be able to receive timely, destination-specific emails that will alert you to current developments in the countries you plan to visit. If security issues arise, the State Department will proactively contact you so that you do not need to rely exclusively on news reports to find out what problems might be occurring at your destination.

Tip: You will not be able to enter your trip information if 1) your destination country does not have a US embassy or consulate or 2) you cannot provide local contact information, such as a hotel address or the telephone number of a friend, when you register your trip.

Travel Warning, Alert and Information Update Subscription

If you wish, you may also sign up to receive email updates, including Travel Alerts , Travel Warnings and country-specific information issued by the State Department. You can do this either as part of the trip registration process or as a separate email subscription.

Can Non-Citizens Enroll in STEP?

Legal permanent residents (green card holders) may not enroll in STEP, but may participate in similar programs offered by the embassies and consulates of their countries of citizenship. However, legal permanent residents of the United States are allowed to register with STEP as part of a group of US travelers, provided the main point of contact for the group is a US citizen.

The Bottom Line

Registering your trip will help the US Department of State let you know about potential travel-related issues and come to your aid if problems occur in your destination country. The process is quick and easy, particularly once you have set up your personal profile. Why not visit the STEP website and get started today?

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How the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program could help you on your next trip abroad

Editor's Note

Though careful planning and common sense are two of the best ways to stay safe when traveling, security situations can rapidly change in foreign countries.

That's why the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs has created the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to help keep you up-to-date on relevant security updates from the nearest U.S. consulate, wherever in the world you happen to be.

Here's how to sign up for STEP.

Who should register for STEP?

The primary purpose of STEP is to keep American citizens safe. Here are a few reasons to consider signing up:

• You're traveling to an area that's politically unstable or prone to violence.
• You're taking an extended trip (several weeks or months) where you have limited Wi-Fi access.
• You're traveling for a major event, summit or conference (like the World Cup) that might become the target of protests or attacks.
• You're a minority traveling to an area where you might be targeted as an outsider.
• You'd like an additional safety resource during your trip, no matter the destination.

Some group trips or programs may require participants to enroll. For instance, I had to enroll when I studied abroad in college.

In the event of a rapidly deteriorating situation, such as a coup or natural disaster, STEP can connect you with evacuation efforts or provide important safety information and help you take care of yourself.

How to register

To register, create an account and fill in your personal information and emergency contact details.

Once your account is set up, log in and register each specific trip or residence abroad. You'll repeat this process for each new trip to receive STEP alerts.

You'll then be prompted to enroll any upcoming trips to receive STEP notifications. Select the nearest U.S. consulate to where you'll be staying. Note that "destination" refers to the country (not a specific city, state or territory), and the available options will auto-fill as you type.

Next, fill in the dates of your trip, the reason you're traveling and how you can be reached while abroad. If there are any timely alerts specific to your destination, you'll also be alerted of that information at this point.

Bottom line

It may be helpful to think of STEP like travel insurance: If all goes well, you won't need to use it, and you might even forget you have it.

However, if things go wrong while you're traveling abroad, your local U.S. embassy is the quickest way to get help; the embassy's goal is to ensure all Americans in its jurisdiction are safe and accounted for. This is when STEP notifications can become incredibly important.

The entire sign-up process takes less than five minutes, and the trip registration process takes about 60 seconds.

For additional resources, be sure to follow the State Department on Twitter and bookmark its international travel page for the latest country alerts.

Related reading:

• The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
• Confused by State Department travel advisories? Here's what they mean
• If you need a passport quickly, this service may be for you
• Passport processing wait times decrease for the 1st time since February
• Prepare to wait: Current Global Entry processing times are up to 11 months

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Update April 12, 2024

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Global Entry

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Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States by accessing the Global Entry processing technology at selected airports .

At airports, program members proceed to the Global Entry lanes where processing technology will be used to expedite the members by capturing a photo to verify their membership. Once the photo has been captured, the member will receive on-screen instructions and proceed to a CBP officer who will confirm that you have successfully completed the process.

Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment. If a traveler was unable to schedule an interview at an Enrollment Center prior to their international travel, they have an option to complete their interview via Enrollment on Arrival upon their arrival to the United States.

Another upcoming processing technology option for travelers will be the Global Entry Mobile App. This app will enable members to validate their arrival to the U.S. on their iOS or Android device prior to entering the Federal Inspection Services area.

While Global Entry’s goal is to speed travelers through the process, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in the appropriate enforcement action and termination of the traveler’s membership privileges.

Global Entry Benefits

• No processing lines
• No paperwork
• Access to expedited entry
• Available at major U.S. airports
• Reduced wait times

Smart Traveler Enrollment Program

What is the smart traveler enrollment program how do i register my travel with the u.s. department of state and what are the benefits.

One of the benefits of traveling abroad as a United States Citizen and with a U.S. Passport is the protection you carry with you. The United States is a powerful country, both in diplomacy and in military strength. Civil and political unrest has plagued numerous countries, occasionally making it unsafe for Americans who are there. If the U.S. Government knows where you are, it can plan to offer the assistance to you in circumstances where your safety is in danger.

In the terrorist attacks and military conflicts that have plagued countries including Nigeria, Paris, Thailand and Ukraine, among others, the local U.S. embassies and consulates have taken steps to verify and confirm the safety of the Americans they are charged to represent and protect.

The State Department maintains the STEP, or Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, to maintain a list of Americans abroad, when and where they will be. Registering in the STEP program is important:

U.S. embassies and consulates assist nearly 200,000 Americans each year who are victims of crime, accident, or illness, or whose family and friends need to contact them in an emergency. When an emergency happens, or if natural disaster, terrorism, or civil unrest strikes during your foreign travel, the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate can be your source of assistance and information. By registering your trip, you help the embassy locate you when you might need them the most. Registration is voluntary and costs nothing, but it should be a big part of your travel planning and security.

I recommend that all Americans traveling abroad spend a few minutes informing the State Department of their travel plans and itinerary, before leaving the country. This will offer you an added layer of protection in the case of an unforeseen disaster.

To enroll in STEP, click here:   https://step.state.gov/step/

If you need help locating the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate in your foreign destination, visit  http://www.usembassy.gov .

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