On July 15, 2025, the Haiti travel warning from the U.S. Department of State was re-issued at Level 4 "Do Not Travel," adding a terrorism indicator to long-standing notices about rampant kidnapping, violent crime, Civil Unrest, and limited health care. The update elevates the security picture from dire to critical, underscoring that armed gangs newly designated as terrorist groups now threaten travelers nationwide.
At-a-Glance: Severity: Warning, Affected Area: Haiti nationwide, Effective: July 15, 2025 - Ongoing
Key Points
- Terrorism joins kidnapping, gang violence, and Civil Unrest as top threats.
- All commercial flights to Port-au-Prince remain suspended, land routes routinely blocked.
- U.S. Embassy can provide only limited emergency help outside its compound.
- Impact on travelers: Expect extreme delays, airport closures, and risk of hostage-taking across Haiti.
What Is Happening: Haiti Travel Warning Update
Armed groups such as Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif control key roads, ports, and entire districts of Port-au-Prince. In May 2025 the United States formally branded both gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, triggering financial sanctions and blocking support networks. Two months later, that Haiti terrorism threat prompted the State Department to amend the Level 4 advisory. Daily gun battles, targeted kidnappings, and violent Protests continue to shut down businesses and aid corridors. Medical facilities operate at a fraction of capacity, while airports and seaports close with little notice, leaving travelers reliant on ad-hoc charters or dangerous overland escape routes. Haiti security conditions remain fluid, with no sign of reliable policing or international peacekeeping support.
Official Guidance
The U.S. Travel Advisory orders citizens to avoid Haiti entirely and urges any who remain to depart as soon as safe transport is available. Embassy personnel follow a dusk-to-dawn curfew, travel only in armored vehicles, and cannot assist at roadblocks or hospitals. The Federal Aviation Administration's NOTAM keeps U.S. carriers out of Port-au-Prince; private operators must file security waivers. Travelers who must cross the land border with the Dominican Republic face frequent closures and steep fines for unofficial crossings. Authorities recommend enrolling in STEP, maintaining proof-of-life protocols, and arranging cash-upfront medical evacuation coverage. The embassy warns that paying ransom is a personal decision but offers only limited facilitation once a kidnapping occurs. Haiti terrorism threat language now forces U.S. businesses to vet local partners for sanctions exposure, further restricting services.
Practical Steps
- Rebook or reroute: If you must travel, aim for Cap-Haïtien, then connect by sea or charter to the Dominican Republic. Keep flexible, refundable tickets.
- Insurance: Secure a high-risk policy covering kidnapping, ransom negotiation, and air ambulance lifts to Miami or Santo Domingo.
- Documentation: Photo-copy passports, visas, vaccination cards, and power-of-attorney forms; email encrypted copies to a trusted contact.
- Communications: Carry two unlocked phones-one hidden "clean" backup-and a satellite tracker; schedule check-ins every four hours.
- Ground movement: Hire vetted armored transport, avoid night travel, keep doors locked, windows up, and engine running at checkpoints.
- Cash and supplies: Stock at least three days of food, water, prescription drugs, and USD 100 in small bills for bribes or fuel.
- Embassy and NGO contacts: Save the embassy's emergency number, nearby medical evac coordinators, and relief-agency hotlines. For broader planning resources, visit our Global Travel Alerts hub.
Final Thoughts
Haiti remains one of the world's most dangerous destinations. Unless your presence is mission-critical, postpone all trips until the Haiti travel warning is downgraded. If travel is unavoidable, prepare a rapid-exit plan, build redundancy into every booking, and stay outside gang-controlled zones. Travel regulations can change rapidly. Confirm requirements with official channels before departure.