The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a stark warning for British holidaymakers planning trips in 2026, explicitly advising against all travel to 55 countries and regions across the globe. The official guidance states that anyone choosing to visit these destinations risks invalidating their holiday insurance and could be placing their personal safety in serious jeopardy.
Insurance Void and Safety at Risk
The core of the FCDO's message is a direct link between its travel advice and the validity of travel insurance. If you travel to a country against FCDO advice, your holiday insurance will likely be voided. This means travellers would be left without financial support or assistance if things go wrong, from medical emergencies to evacuation. The Foreign Office further cautions that consular assistance in these locations may be extremely limited or impossible to provide.
The advice is not given lightly. The FCDO states it only advises against travel when it believes the risk to British nationals is "unacceptably high." This assessment can be triggered by a range of severe threats including armed conflict, terrorism, civil unrest, military coups, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters.
The Full 'Do Not Travel' List
The FCDO advises against all travel to the following entire countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Iran, Mali, Niger, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The advice for Russia is explicitly linked to "the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine."
A much longer list details regions and specific areas within other countries where travel is prohibited. This includes border zones, provinces, and cities facing extreme instability. Key examples include:
- Within 30km of Algeria's borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia.
- The Gaza Strip, parts of the West Bank, and Northern Israel.
- All regions of Ukraine except for some western areas.
- Within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border.
- Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique.
- Large parts of Ethiopia, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The list also includes specific volcanic areas in Indonesia, such as Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki and Mount Semeru, where the threat is geological.
'All But Essential Travel' and Personal Responsibility
Beyond the "do not travel" list, the FCDO also issues a softer, but still serious, advisory against "all but essential travel" to other locations. One notable example is North Korea, where it states "the security situation can change quickly with no advance warning."
The FCDO emphasises that the definition of 'essential travel' is a personal decision, based on urgent family or business commitments. However, the overarching principle is clear: travellers must take personal responsibility for their safety. The official guidance notes that risks can vary significantly based on a person's gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or health, and urges all individuals to make an informed choice based on their own circumstances.
The Foreign Office concludes by urging all UK holidaymakers to consult its travel advice pages for any destination, which detail entry requirements, safety and security threats, health risks, and legal differences. Travellers can also sign up for email alerts to receive immediate updates on any changes to the advice for specific countries.
