Travellers to France Still Advised to Take Extra Caution, Level 2 Unchanged

The U.S. Department of State updated its travel advisory for France on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, for the first time since May. The advisory remains at Level 2, which calls on travellers to exercise increased caution.

Key facts

• Updated: 21 October 2026, the first update since May
• Level: Level 2 — exercise increased caution
• Reason given: violence and rioting that have recently occurred in France and may continue
• Advice: avoid demonstrations and areas of unrest; stay away from large crowds or significant police activity

What does the advisory say?

The State Department advisory states that violence and rioting have recently occurred in France and may continue. It tells travellers to avoid demonstrations and areas of unrest, and to stay away from areas with large crowds or significant police activity.

What is a Level 2 advisory?

Level 2 is the department's second of four advisory levels and means travellers should exercise increased caution. The advisory level for France has not been raised.

Why did the State Department update it?

State Department Deputy Spokesman Luke Ortega said the department weighs a range of factors when issuing advisories, including civil unrest, criminality and terrorism, and tries to take all of them into account to get an accurate picture of conditions on the ground in any country.

Ortega said the department is constantly monitoring the situation and encourages travellers to enrol in the STEP program. He also described the department's "no double standard" rule: when information is clear enough to guide staff at embassies and consulates — for example telling them not to go to a particular area — the department has a legal obligation to communicate that to the American people as well.

What this means for travellers

Travellers heading to France should exercise increased caution under the Level 2 advisory. The State Department advises avoiding demonstrations and areas of unrest, and staying away from areas with large crowds or significant police activity. U.S. travellers are also encouraged to enrol in the STEP program.

The State Department said it continues to monitor the situation in France. No further changes to the advisory have been announced.