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The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)

The State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management (ACS) administers the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

STEP is used to inform the public of conditions abroad within a specific country that may affect safety and security to assist you in making informed decisions using travel alerts and warnings.  It will also help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency (whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency, etc.) They will also assist in helping family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. STEP also has country contact information such as the address for the closest U.S. consulates, the off-duty embassy call number as well as the in-country emergency "911" numbers for police and medical emergencies. 

You can register for the STEP program through the website https://step.state.gov/step/. We highly recommend downloading the STEP app to receive alerts and be able to contact ACS American Citizens Services (see below) as well as local emergency numbers from your phone. 

According to the American Consular Services, information is held in strict privacy and is not shared with local governments.