Thousands of couples in long-distance relationships and those separated by travel restrictions around the world are struggling to get back together. There’s little in the way of consistent news, and even governments are confused about long-distance couples and how their travel exemptions should be handled. To make matters worse, if you are unmarried, then you may need to prove that your relationship is a meaningful one – a near-impossible task for many couples who have only recently met or don’t have a legal document to say they are together. This article deals with couples where one partner is in the United States and looking to join their partner in another country. If you’re traveling within the United States to join a loved one in another state, please read this article: U.S. Statewise Travel Restrictions During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Sep-Oct
Travel from the U.S. to other countries is currently in a state of flux. As of October 2020, the United States Department of State has listed 210 countries and territories and assigned U.S. travel advisory levels to each, along with the date the advisory came into effect. This list is valid as of October 2, 2020. The original map was published at the start of global travel restrictions and is updated as new information becomes available. The table presented here is reproduced from the State Department website and filtered in descending order of level. The 4 main levels, in order of severity, are:
- Level 4: Do Not Travel
- Level 3: Reconsider Travel
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Since travel restrictions, border closures, and travel exemptions are constantly evolving, please check with the embassy or consulate of the country you intend to travel to prior to making any travel arrangements. Also note that there may be testing, quarantine, document submissions, and other requirements on arrival. Please be informed of all necessary documentation and mandates before you leave. You can also register for alerts regarding particular countries on the State Department website.
U.S. Travel Advisory World Map Showing Levels
| Advisory | Level | Date Updated |
| Afghanistan Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 24, 2020 |
| Namibia Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Kazakhstan Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Belize Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 11, 2020 |
| Brazil Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| South Sudan Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Guyana Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Haiti Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Honduras Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| India Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Indonesia Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Iran Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Iraq Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 12, 2020 |
| North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Kosovo Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| The Kyrgyz Republic Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Libya Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Malawi Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Mali Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Oman Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Panama Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Peru Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Russia Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Somalia Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Syria Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Tajikistan Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Turkmenistan Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 7, 2020 |
| Venezuela Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Yemen Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| French Guiana Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Argentina Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| The Bahamas Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Bhutan Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Bolivia Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Burkina Faso Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Burundi Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 11, 2020 |
| Central African Republic Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Colombia Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Costa Rica Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Cuba Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Dominican Republic Travel Advisory | Level 4: Do Not Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Liechtenstein Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| North Macedonia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Nauru Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Burma (Myanmar) Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Albania Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Algeria Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Andorra Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Angola Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Anguilla Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Antigua and Barbuda Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Botswana Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Cabo Verde Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Comoros Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Djibouti Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Equatorial Guinea Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 21, 2020 |
| Guinea Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Lesotho Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Eswatini Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Australia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| French Polynesia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Hong Kong Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 14, 2020 |
| Japan Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Kiribati Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Mongolia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 14, 2020 |
| Papua New Guinea Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Samoa Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Austria Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Belarus Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Belgium Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Bulgaria Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Croatia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Cyprus Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Czech Republic Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Denmark Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Estonia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Finland Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| France Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Germany Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Greece Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Hungary Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Iceland Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Ireland Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Latvia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Lithuania Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Luxembourg Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Malta Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Montenegro Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Netherlands Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Norway Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Poland Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Portugal Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Romania Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Serbia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Slovakia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Slovenia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Spain Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 10, 2020 |
| Sweden Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Switzerland Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| United Kingdom Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| United Arab Emirates Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Aruba Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Barbados Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Bermuda Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Cayman Islands Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Curacao Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| French West Indies Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Montserrat Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Sint Maarten Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 8, 2020 |
| Trinidad and Tobago Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Turks and Caicos Islands Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Guatemala Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Israel, The West Bank and Gaza Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 23, 2020 |
| Italy Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Jamaica Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Jordan Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Kenya Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| South Korea Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Kuwait Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 17, 2020 |
| Laos Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Lebanon Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Liberia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Madagascar Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Malaysia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Maldives Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Mauritania Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Mexico Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 8, 2020 |
| Moldova Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Morocco Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Mozambique Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 7, 2020 |
| Nepal Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Nicaragua Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Niger Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Nigeria Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 21, 2020 |
| Pakistan Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 8, 2020 |
| Paraguay Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Philippines Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Qatar Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Rwanda Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Sao Tome and Principe Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Saudi Arabia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Senegal Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Seychelles Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Sierra Leone Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Singapore Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Solomon Island Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| South Africa Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 15, 2020 |
| Sri Lanka Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Sudan Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 24, 2020 |
| Suriname Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Tanzania Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Timor-Leste Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Togo Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Tunisia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Turkey Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 26, 2020 |
| Tuvalu Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Uganda Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Ukraine Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 24, 2020 |
| Uruguay Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Uzbekistan Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Vanuatu Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Vietnam Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Zambia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Zimbabwe Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| British Virgin Islands Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Tonga Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Armenia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 17, 2020 |
| Azerbaijan Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Bahrain Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Bangladesh Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 8, 2020 |
| Benin Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 8, 2020 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Cameroon Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Canada Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Chad Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Chile Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| China Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 14, 2020 |
| Cote d’Ivoire Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Ecuador Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Egypt Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 21, 2020 |
| El Salvador Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 14, 2020 |
| Eritrea Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Ethiopia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 31, 2020 |
| Gabon Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| The Gambia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Georgia Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Ghana Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 21, 2020 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 24, 2020 |
| Republic of the Congo Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | September 28, 2020 |
| Guinea-Bissau Travel Advisory | Level 3: Reconsider Travel | August 6, 2020 |
| Palau Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 17, 2020 |
| Antarctica Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 6, 2020 |
| Brunei Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 6, 2020 |
| Fiji Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | September 21, 2020 |
| New Caledonia Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 6, 2020 |
| New Zealand Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 6, 2020 |
| Saint Lucia Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 31, 2020 |
| Grenada Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 31, 2020 |
| Marshall Islands Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 17, 2020 |
| Mauritius Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 6, 2020 |
| Micronesia Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 24, 2020 |
| Thailand Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 6, 2020 |
| Cambodia Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | September 14, 2020 |
| Dominica Travel Advisory | Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution | August 31, 2020 |
| Macau Travel Advisory | Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions | August 6, 2020 |
| Taiwan Travel Advisory | Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions | August 6, 2020 |
| Worldwide Caution | Caution | January 15, 2019 |