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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.

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• 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

STEP: Why the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program Matters

By Katherine LaGrave

In the past year, the travel community has been shaken by attacks of various size and scope, from Turkey to France. And while most of the destinations that were targeted are most likely no more dangerous than they were before the attack, it pays to be prepared when you're heading out of the country, regardless of when—or where—you travel. One of the most helpful resources? The U.S. State Department's oft-overlooked Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), in which users register trips and get messages relevant to their area and dates of passage.

Here's how it works: After booking their flights and hotels, travelers enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and provide requisite information—think name, date of birth, passport number, travel dates, email addresses and phone numbers, and an emergency contact. Once you've filled in your information, you'll receive warnings, alerts, notifications, and news about where you're traveling, or may even be contacted by family members having difficulty getting in touch with you while abroad. And while larger travel alerts and warnings often appear in the news by themselves, these local messages from the STEP program (received via email) can be helpful in detailing specific safety, security, and practical travel information relevant to specific dates and destinations.

Those uninterested in enrolling their trip in STEP can follow the U.S. State Department's alerts and warnings here . Other services, like France's SAIP app , also alert travelers to attacks or dangerous situations; while Facebook's Safety Check feature helps users quickly inform friends and family, via the social network, of their safety.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

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The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals who are traveling or living abroad. STEP allows you to enter information about trips abroad so that the Department of State, via our embassies and consulates, can better assist you in an emergency. You can also subscribe to receive email updates with travel advisories and other information for a particular country.

How can the embassy or consulate assist me while I am abroad?

Consular officers assist U.S. citizens and nationals who encounter serious legal, medical, or financial difficulties. They can provide the names of local attorneys and doctors, provide loans to destitute Americans, and provide information about dangerous conditions affecting your overseas travel or residence. Consular officers also perform non-emergency services, helping Americans with absentee voting, selective service registration, receiving federal benefits, and filing U.S. tax forms. Consular officers can notarize documents, issue passports, and register American children born abroad. Visit the website of the closest embassy or consulate for more information.

Your Privacy

Information you provide the U.S. Department of State is protected by the provisions of the Privacy Act (5 USC 552a). This means that the Department of State will not disclose your info or email to any third parties unless you have given us written authorization to do so, or unless the disclosure is otherwise permitted by the Privacy Act. We will not share your email or personal information and will only contact you as part of this STEP enrollment. You may update your country alerts or enrollment preferences at any time via this mobile website or the STEP link at travel.state.gov.

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Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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While Abroad

Emergencies.

The highest priority of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is to protect the lives and serve the interests of U.S. citizens abroad.   Across the globe, we serve our fellow citizens during some of their most important moments – births, adoptions, medical emergencies, deaths, arrests, and disasters.

Country Information

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Travel Safety - Race and Ethnicity

Enroll in STEP

Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad.

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Learn about your destination

Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.

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