A new survey from travel risk firm Global Rescue has put a number on something many people do quietly: keeping their nationality to themselves when abroad. The Fall 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey found that 44% of experienced international travellers admit to concealing or downplaying where they're from. Only 16% say they never do it.
The gap between American and non-American travellers is striking. Among respondents from outside the US, just 21% hide their nationality, and only 3% do it on every trip. Compare that with Americans: 10% always stay quiet about their passport, and 34% occasionally do. In short, Americans are roughly 2.5 times more likely to keep their nationality under wraps. There's a gender split too — 50% of American women always or sometimes conceal it, versus 41% of American men.
Why does it matter? Global Rescue CEO Dan Richards points to situational awareness — the habit of reading your surroundings and managing how you come across. For some travellers, skipping the "I'm American" reveal is just a way to sidestep an awkward conversation. For others, it's a genuine safety calculation. Political tensions, conflicts and public sentiment towards a country can shift fast, and Richards notes that travellers increasingly factor how their nationality might shape the way they're perceived the moment they land.
In practice, this looks like letting people assume you're Canadian, downplaying politics when chatting with taxi drivers or bar staff, or simply answering questions vaguely until you've got a read on a situation. It's not about being ashamed of where you're from — it's about controlling information the same way you'd keep your phone out of sight in a busy market.
Who should care? Anyone heading somewhere with charged local attitudes towards the US, anyone travelling solo, and women travelling alone especially, given the survey numbers. If you've never thought about your passport as part of your personal safety kit, this is a nudge to start. That said, the advice cuts both ways: nobody is suggesting lying about your identity on official paperwork or to authorities — that's a legal problem, not a social strategy. The smart version is simply not volunteering information until you know your audience.
The takeaway for holiday planners: nationality is now one more thing to think about alongside vaccinations and roaming charges. A quick scan of current sentiment in your destination, plus a decision in advance about how much you want to share with strangers, is a five-minute task that could save you an uncomfortable evening — or worse.
