Several European countries and Canada are cautioning their citizens to strictly follow U.S. entry requirements to avoid the risk of detention as the Trump administration intensifies immigration enforcement.
Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, and Canada have all revised their travel advisories due to instances of their citizens being detained by U.S. immigration officials.
Reasons Behind the Travel Warnings
The heightened travel advisories follow reports of European travelers being detained and deported upon arrival in the United States. Additionally, some of the warnings mention the U.S. State Department’s recent decision to revoke its policy allowing transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals to update the gender marker on their passports. The “X” gender option has been eliminated.
“We will enforce visa rules and other conditions of entry,” a spokesperson for the State Department told NPR on Saturday. “Prohibiting travel into the United States by those who might pose a threat or violate conditions of their visa is key to protecting the American people.”
On Friday, Germany’s Foreign Office updated its travel advisory after several German citizens were reportedly arrested and detained at U.S. entry points, according to local media reports. Germany now warns its citizens that obtaining entry approval through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or a visa does not guarantee automatic admission into the country.
The German government’s advisory emphasizes that U.S. border officials have the final say in granting entry, and once a denial is issued, German authorities have no power to reverse the decision. Travelers are advised to carry proof of their return travel, such as a valid plane ticket.
A German official informed NPR on Saturday that the country’s consulates are aware of cases involving detained German travelers and are in communication with their families as well as U.S. authorities.
Similarly, the United Kingdom is alerting its citizens about the risk of detention if they fail tocomply with all entry regulations. This warning follows an incident in which a British tourist was reportedly arrested and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the U.S.-Canada border earlier this month.
Denmark and Finland have also updated their travel guidance, particularly regarding gender markers on official travel documents.
Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised that due to Trump’s executive order recognizing only two genders—male and female—travelers whose passport gender marker does not match their assigned sex at birth could face visa or travel permit denials.
Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a similar warning on Thursday. The advisory states that applicants for a U.S. visa or ESTA must select between the two officially recognized gender options. The ministry recommends that travelers whose passports contain an “X” gender marker or a designation different from their assigned sex at birth contact the U.S. embassy for further guidance.
Denmark also warns its citizens that they could be denied entry or expelled from the U.S. if they provide misleading reasons for travel, overstay their visa, or have a prior criminal conviction in the country.
Canada, too, has updated its travel guidelines regarding U.S. entry rules. As of Friday, the Canadian government’s website informs travelers that any Canadian or foreign national staying in the U.S. for more than 30 days must “be registered with the United States Government.” Non-compliance with this rule could result in “penalties, fines, and misdemeanor prosecution.”
NPR reached out to the foreign ministries of Finland and Denmark for additional comments but has not received a response. Requests for comment were also sent to the British embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Canadian government, but no replies have been received.
Previous Travel Warnings for the U.S.
This is not the first time that foreign governments have issued travel warnings related to visiting the United States. However, previous advisories have been largely centered on concerns over gun violence.
In 2019, following a series of mass shootings in the U.S., Uruguay warned its citizens about “growing indiscriminate violence, mostly for hate crimes, including racism and discrimination.” Venezuela also issued a cautionary statement that year, advising travelers to either postpone their trips or take extra precautions “given the proliferation of acts of violence and crimes of indiscriminate hatred.”
Japan similarly advised its citizens to be mindful of the “potential for gunfire incidents everywhere in the United States, a gun society,” and urged travelers to “continue to pay close attention to safety measures.”
Potential Impact on the U.S. Economy
It remains uncertain how these updated travel warnings may affect the U.S. economy. However, economists have previously expressed concerns that Trump’s policies, including tariffs on European Union imports, could strain international relations and impact costs.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, over 13 million travelers from Western Europe visited the U.S. in 2024. By February 2025, at least 1.5 million Western European visitors had already arrived, according to the department’s National Travel and Tourism Office.
A February report by the travel data company Tourism Economics suggested that visitor spending in the U.S. this year could “fall by 12.3%, amounting to a $22 billion annual loss.”
The report also noted that “travel from Western Europe, which represented 37% of overseas travel to the U.S. last year, is susceptible to declines as a result of both tariffs and the administration’s perceived recent alignment with Russia in the war in Ukraine, as sentiment towards the U.S. is damaged.”
Conclusion
The new travel warnings from European countries and Canada highlight growing concerns over the Trump administration’s strict enforcement of immigration policies. With increased detentions of foreign travelers and the elimination of certain gender identity accommodations, international visitors are being urged to take extra precautions before entering the United States.
While the long-term impact on U.S. tourism and the broader economy remains to be seen, current data suggests that policy changes and political tensions may influence travel patterns in the coming months.