Canada updates travel advisory list with ‘Avoid All Travel’ destinations: What you need to know before planning your next trip

The Government of Canada has been issuing a string of new travel advisories since the start of 2026, warning its citizens about escalating risks abroad. In the past week, Ottawa released “Avoid All Travel” alerts for multiple countries, including Iran and Venezuela, as part of its latest Canada travel advisory list. The updates also flag fatal risks, including security threats, in destinations that are otherwise known as popular getaways.

Travel advisory for Canadians highlights highest-risk countries

In its most recent advisory, Canada urged its citizens to avoid all travel to several high-risk countries due to ongoing conflict, political instability, and safety concerns:

• Iran – Canadians are advised not to travel to Iran amid widespread demonstrations, regional tensions and the high risk of arbitrary detention. Many airlines have suspended flights to and from the country, complicating departure options and reducing consular support.
  
• Venezuela – Canada’s government warns of heightened security threats, unstable political and economic conditions, and deteriorating living conditions, including shortages of medication, water, and fuel.
  
  
• South Sudan – ‘Avoid all travel to South Sudan, due to the ongoing volatile security situation, armed conflicts, inter-ethnic violence, and high levels of violent crime,’ the advisory said.

The list also includes

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Burkina Faso
• Central African Republic
• Haiti
• Iraq
• Libya
• Mali
• Myanmar
• Niger
• North Korea
• Russia
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Ukraine
• Yemen

These updates reflect Canada’s highest-risk travel advice, used only when there is an extreme threat to the safety and security of Canadian citizens.

Canada travel advisory list also includes “high degree of caution” destinations

Alongside the strictest warnings, Ottawa’s updated Canada travel advisory list also includes numerous destinations where travellers are told to exercise a high degree of caution. These include major countries across multiple continents, such as:

• India
• China
• Mexico
• Brazil
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• United Arab Emirates
• South Africa
• United Kingdom
  
  … and more.

These advisories do not outrightly ban travel but signal elevated safety or security risks, such as crime, civil unrest, or regional issues, that warrant careful planning and heightened awareness for Canadians abroad.