Consular Affairs Publications

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs provides assistance and information to U.S. citizens traveling abroad.  Consular Affairs issues Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, Public Announcements, and other travel publications. Below are brief descriptions of some of the information currently available:

Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, and Public Announcements:

Consular Information Sheets are issued for every country in the world. They include such information as the location of the U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country, health conditions, political disturbances, unusual currency and entry regulations, crime and security information, and drug penalties.

The State Department also issues Travel Warnings and Public Announcements. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department decides to recommend that Americans avoid travel to a certain country. Countries where avoidance of travel is recommended will have Travel Warnings as well as Consular Information Sheets. Public Announcements are issued as a means to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other conditions overseas which pose significant risks to the security of American travelers.

How To Obtain Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings, Public Announcements

  • Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements may be heard anytime by dialing (202) 647-5225 from a touch-tone phone. They are also available at regional U.S. passport agencies, at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, and through airline computer reservation systems, or, by writing and sending a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Room 4811, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818.
  • Consular Affairs Bulletin Board (CABB) . This service is free of charge. To access CABB, dial the modem number: (301) 946-4400; set terminal communications program to N-8-1 (no parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit); and terminal emulation to VT100. The login is: travel ; the password is: info.
  • Automated Fax System. Consular Affairs' automated fax system can be accessed by dialing from your fax phone (202/647-3000).

Other Consular Affairs Publications:

Copies of Consular Affairs' publications are available for sale from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 (202/512-1800). (Prices and availability are subject to change without notice. Please check with the GPO for up-to-date information.)

  • A Safe Trip Abroad Contains helpful precautions one can take to minimize the chance of becoming a victim of terrorism or crime.
  • Your Trip Abroad Offers tips on obtaining a passport, considerations in preparing for your trip and traveling, and other sources of information.

The following travel tips brochures contain information on currency regulations, customs, and dual nationality for specific areas of the world:

Other Publications:

  • Background Notes are brief, factual pamphlets describing the countries of the world. They contain current information on each country's people, culture, geography, history, government, economy and political conditions. Single copies are available for sale from the GPO or from the Internet at: http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/index.html.
  • Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts provides names of key officers and addresses for all U.S. embassies, consulates, and missions abroad. This publication is updated biannually and is available from the GPO. Single copy purchase price is $4.25; annual subscription (two editions) is $5.
  • Health Information for International Travel contains detailed information on international health requirements and is available from the GPO for $20.

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