British holidaymakers are being urged to consult the latest Foreign Office advice before finalising any overseas plans, with a significant number of destinations currently deemed unsafe for travel.
Critical Warnings for British Nationals
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued stark warnings against visiting 71 countries or territories out of the 226 it monitors. These advisories are based on a range of threats including political conflict, terrorism, natural disasters, and significant health risks.
Ignoring this official guidance carries serious consequences. Travel insurance will be invalidated for trips to destinations where the FCDO advises against all travel, and consular assistance may be extremely limited if you encounter difficulties abroad.
Countries Under a 'Do Not Travel' Advisory
The FCDO advises against all travel to the following nations due to extreme and volatile conditions:
- Afghanistan – Volatile security situation.
- Belarus – Significant risk of arrest.
- Burkina Faso – Threat of terrorist attacks and kidnap.
- Haiti – Volatile security situation.
- Iran – British nationals at significant risk of arrest.
- Mali – Unpredictable security conditions.
- Niger – Rise in terrorist and criminal kidnappings.
- Russia – Risks from the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
- South Sudan – Risk of armed violence and criminality.
- Syria – Ongoing conflict and unpredictable security.
- Yemen – Unpredictable security conditions.
Regional Risks and 'All But Essential' Travel
Beyond full-country bans, the FCDO identifies specific high-risk regions within otherwise accessible nations. These no-go zones are often border areas or provinces affected by instability.
Notable examples include advising against all travel within 30km of Algeria's borders with Libya and Mali, within 5km of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, and in parts of Egypt's North Sinai Governorate. In Ukraine, the advice is against all travel to all regions except some in the west.
A separate category warns against 'all but essential travel' to specific places. The FCDO clarifies that only the traveller can decide what constitutes 'essential', based on urgent family or business commitments. This category includes North Korea, where the security situation can change rapidly, and specific regions in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.
Travellers are strongly recommended to check the detailed, country-specific FCDO pages for the latest updates before making any arrangements, as situations can change quickly.
