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When planning a holiday, it’s wise to check these three things before you leave for the airport: your passport is in-date, travel insurance is still valid and you’re travelling to someplace safe according to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Political conflicts, natural disasters and safety concerns are among the reasons the UK Foreign Office will recommend British nationals steer clear of certain destinations.
The FCDO has issued various travel warnings, including advice against “all travel” and “all but essential travel” to entire countries or parts of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
Of 226 countries or territories with foreign travel advice pages, 68 are currently flagged as having no-go zones due to security issues, health risks and legal differences with the UK.
If you choose to make the journey against FCDO advice, travel insurance will be invalidated, and there may be a lack of consular support in the event of an emergency overseas.
Here is the full list of countries on the Foreign Office’s do not travel list to check before you plan a trip.
FCDO advises against all travel
Afghanistan – “The security situation is volatile”Belarus – “You face a significant risk of arrest”Burkina Faso – except to the capital, OuagadougouCentral African Republic – except to the capital, BanguiHaiti – “Due to the volatile security situation”Iran – “British nationals are at significant risk of arrest”Iraq – except to the Kurdistan Region of IraqLebanon – “Due to risks associated with the ongoing conflict between Israel, Lebanese Hizballah and other non-state actors”Libya – “The local security situation is fragile”Mali – except to BamakoNiger – except to the capital city of NiameyRussia – “Due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine”South Sudan – “Due to the risk of armed violence and criminality”Sudan – “Ongoing military conflict in Khartoum”Syria – “Ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions”Ukraine – “Ongoing risk of harm to British nationals from Russian attacks across all of Ukraine”Yemen – “Unpredictable security conditions”
FCDO advises against all travel to parts
Algeria – all travel to within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Tunisia Armenia – within 5km of the full eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan Azerbaijan – Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areasBenin – Northern border regionsBurundi – Cibitoke and Bubanza provincesCameroon – Bakassi Peninsula and within 40km of Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria bordersChad – Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti provinces, Kanem Province, including Nokou, Lake Chad region and within 30km of all Chad’s other borders Congo – Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border area in the Likouala Region, districts in the Pool Region and Mouyondzi District in the Bouenza RegionCôte d’Ivoire – borders with Burkina Faso and Mali and Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC-Central African Republic border, Eastern DRC, Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province and areas in Kinshasa ProvinceDjibouti – Djibouti-Eritrea borderEgypt – Egypt-Libya border, North Sinai and Western DesertEritrea – within 25km of Eritrea’s land bordersEthiopia – international border areas, Tigray region, Amhara region, Afar region, Gambella region, Oromia region, Somali Regional State and Benishangul-Gumuz region Georgia – South Ossetia and AbkhaziaIndonesia –Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Mount Semeru, East Java, Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, Mount Ibu, North MalukuIsrael – Gaza, The West Bank and Northern IsraelJordan – within 3km of the border with SyriaMauritania – Eastern Mauritania, Mauritania-Western Sahara border, Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka provincesMoldova –TransnistriaMozambique – Cabo Delgado Province, Nampula ProvinceMyanmar (Burma) – Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing and Magway regions, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State North, North Mandalay RegionNigeria – Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe StatePhilippines – Western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelagoSaudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia-Yemen border and Abha International Airport Somalia – eastern Somaliland and Western SomalilandThe Occupied Palestinian Territories –Gaza, Areas near Gaza, The West Bank and Northern IsraelTogo – Togo-Burkina Faso borderTunisia – Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border and Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya borderTurkey – Turkey-Syria border, Sirnak city and Hakkari ProvinceVenezuela – within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border, within 40km of the Venezuela-Brazil borderWestern Sahara – south and east of the Berm boundary line
FCDO advises against all but essential travel
In regards to the definition of ‘essential travel’, the FCDO says: “Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family or business commitments which you need to attend to. Only you can make an informed decision based on your own individual circumstances and the risks.”
Bangladesh – “There has been widespread violence across Bangladesh”New Caledonia – “Given ongoing tensions”North Korea – “The security situation can change quickly with no advance warning”
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts
Angola – Cabinda Province, border areas in Lunda Norte Province Brazil – Amazonas StateColombia – borders, Pacific coast, northern and central Colombia Ecuador – Coastal Region and within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border Ghana – Bawku MunicipalityGuatemala – within 5km of the Mexican borderKenya – Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coastKosovo – Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, and the northern part of the city of MitrovicaLaos – Xaisomboun ProvinceMalaysia – Eastern Sabah coastal islandsMexico – Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, ChiapasPapua New Guinea – Hela and Southern Highlands provincesPeru – within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border and The Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro RiverTanzania – Mtwara Region along the Tanzania-Mozambique borderThailand –parts of the south, near the Thailand-Malaysia borderUganda– Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park
For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast