The US has issued a brand new journey advisory for India, sustaining steering for solo feminine travellers and considerably escalating the severity of its warnings in mild of ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, current terror assaults in Jammu and Kashmir and points on the borders with Pakistan and Nepal.
The replace, issued by the State Division, features a larger emphasis on the dangers of violent crime, sexual violence, regional unrest, and immigration points at land borders, notably for solo girls travellers and people getting into India from neighbouring nations like Nepal.
The State Division considers India as a complete a “Stage 2” nation for travellers, the place 1 is the riskiest and 4 means People are urged “don’t journey”. Whereas its categorisation of India has not modified, the language of the up to date 2025 advisory contains sharper warnings in a number of key areas.
Among the many most outstanding modifications are new warnings about immigration enforcement and land border crossings. It particularly advises US travellers to not enter India through the India-Nepal border.
“US residents are suggested to not cross the India-Nepal border by land as a result of threat for immigration-related detention and fines,” the advisory states.
The Indian authorities doesn’t settle for digital visas at land border checkpoints, and even these carrying bodily visas have reportedly encountered authorized points, it added.
Regional journey restrictions have additionally been tightened. The advisory now has an expanded part with a transparent “don’t journey” directive for the state of Manipur, citing ongoing ethnic violence and instability.
“Ongoing ethnic-based battle has resulted in reviews of in depth violence and group displacement. Assaults towards Indian authorities targets happen regularly,” the advisory mentioned, including that US authorities workers working in India want prior approval earlier than they go to the state.
The warning stems from the 2 years of sustained ethnic violence between the Meitei majority and Kuki-Zo tribal communities that started in Could 2023. Clashes have killed over 250 individuals, displaced greater than 60,000, destroyed hundreds of properties and spiritual constructions, and there proceed to be shootings and lethal crossfire incidents involving civilians and safety forces.
Equally, the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura, which had been beforehand grouped below a degree 3 “rethink journey” steering, now even have a extra detailed part on the dangers related.
Warnings in regards to the Jammu and Kashmir area stay in impact, excluding Leh and jap Ladakh. The advisory reiterates that foreigners are prohibited by Indian legislation from visiting areas close to the Line of Management – the de facto border between India and Pakistan within the contested Himalayan area – and that terrorism and civil unrest proceed to pose threats in Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. These cautions have been in place for a number of years and stay unchanged within the June 2025 replace.
The advisory does, nonetheless, replicate the aftermath of the 22 April terrorist assault in Pahalgam, the place gunmen opened fireplace on vacationers within the Baisaran Valley, killing 26. It was the deadliest assault on vacationers within the area in over three a long time.
Different recurring parts of the advisory have been retained, together with warnings about restrictions on carrying satellite tv for pc telephones or GPS gadgets into India. These are nonetheless prohibited by Indian legislation and violators might face extreme penalties, together with giant fines of as much as $200,000 (about £150,000) and jail time.
The advisory additionally continued to focus on the dangers of travelling to areas affected by Maoist insurgency in jap Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Journey to those areas by US authorities personnel stays topic to particular approval.
The advisory retained language stating that “rape is likely one of the quickest rising crimes in India” and warned that girls are notably susceptible, particularly at vacationer locations. It urged US residents, “particularly girls,” to not journey alone.
It additionally recognized sure public venues the place the danger of violent crime or terrorist assaults is perceived to be excessive. The up to date language named vacationer places, transportation hubs, markets or buying malls, and authorities services as websites the place a terrorist assault might happen with out warning.
