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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.
The FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Recently, travel advice has been updated for Middle Eastern countries to reflect ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon that could escalate quickly and pose risks for regional escalation.
“On 1 October, Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. On 26 October, Israel carried out military action against Iran. Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast,” says the FCDO.
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, Ouagadougou
Central African Republic – except to the capital, Bangui
Haiti – “Due to the volatile security situation”
Iran – “British nationals are at significant risk of arrest”
Iraq – except to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Israel – against all travel to Gaza, The West Bank and Northern Israel. All but essential travel to the rest of Israel
Lebanon – “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 Bamako
Niger – except to the capital city of Niamey
Russia – “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”
The Occupied Palestinian Territories –against all travel to Gaza, The West Bank and Northern Israel. All but essential travel to the rest of the OPTs
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 areas
Benin – Northern border regions
Burundi – Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces
Cameroon – Bakassi Peninsula and within 40km of Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria borders
Chad – 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 Region
Côte 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 Province
Djibouti – Djibouti-Eritrea border
Egypt – Egypt-Libya border, North Sinai and Western Desert
Eritrea – within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders
Ethiopia – international border areas, Tigray region, Amhara region, Afar region, Gambella region, Oromia region, Somali Regional State and Benishangul-Gumuz region
Georgia – South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Indonesia –Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Mount Semeru, East Java, Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, Mount Ibu, North Maluku
Jordan – within 3km of the border with Syria
Mauritania – Eastern Mauritania, Mauritania-Western Sahara border, Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka provinces
Moldova –Transnistria
Mozambique – Cabo Delgado Province, Nampula Province
Myanmar (Burma) – Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing and Magway regions, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State North, North Mandalay Region
Nigeria – Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State
Philippines – Western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia-Yemen border and Abha International Airport
Somalia – eastern Somaliland and Western Somaliland
Togo – Togo-Burkina Faso border
Tunisia – Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border and Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya border
Turkey – within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border
Venezuela – within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border, within 40km of the Venezuela-Brazil border
Western 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 State
Colombia – borders, Pacific coast, northern and central Colombia
Ecuador – Coastal Region and within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border
Ghana – Bawku Municipality
Guatemala – within 5km of the Mexican border
Kenya – Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast
Kosovo – Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, and the northern part of the city of Mitrovica
