Countries on the Foreign Office ‘Do Not Travel’ List

When organizing a trip, it’s smart to verify these three things before heading to the airport: your passport is valid, your travel insurance is still active, and you’re going to a place that is considered safe according to theForeign Office, Commonwealth, and Development Office(FCDO).

Political disputes, natural catastrophes, and security issues are some of the factors influencing the UKForeign Officewill suggest that British citizens avoid specific locations.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has released multiple travel alerts, such as recommendations against “all travel” and “all but necessary travel” to entire nations or specific regions within them.Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

Out of 226 countries or regions that have foreign travel advisory pages, 74 are currently marked as areas to avoid because of security concerns, health dangers, and legal discrepancies with theUK.

If you decide to proceed with the trip despite the FCDO’s recommendations, your travel insurance may no longer be valid, and there could be limited consular assistance if an emergency arises abroad.

Here is the complete list of nations on the Foreign Office’s‘do not travel’ listto verify prior to planning a journey.

FCDO recommends avoiding all travel

1. Afghanistan– “The security environment is unstable”
2. Belarus– “You are at a high risk of being arrested”
3. Burkina Faso– “Because of the risk of terrorist attacks and terrorist abductions”
4. Haiti– “Because of the unstable security environment”
5. Iran– “British citizens face a high risk of being arrested”
6. Russia– “Because of the dangers and hazards posed by its ongoing invasion of Ukraine”
7. South Sudan– “Because of the danger of armed conflict and crime”
8. Syria– “Continuous fighting and unstable safety situations”
9. Yemen– “Unpredictable security conditions”

FCDO recommends avoiding all travel to certain areas

1. Algeria– all travel to areas within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Tunisia
2. Armenia– within 5 kilometers of the entire eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan
3. Azerbaijan– Azerbaijan-Armenia border
4. Benin– Northern border regions
5. Burundi– Cibitoke and Bubanza regions, Kayanza region, and Bujumbura Rural region
6. Cameroon– The Bakassi Peninsula and within 40km of the borders of the Central African Republic, Chad, and Nigeria
7. Central African Republic– prohibited from traveling except to the capital, Bangui
8. Chad– Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est, and Tibesti regions, Kanem Province, including Nokou, the Lake Chad area, and within 30 kilometers of all other borders of Chad
9. Congo– within 50km of the border between the Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic in the Likouala Region
10. Côte d’Ivoire– shares borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, and the Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border
11. Democratic Republic of the Congo– regions in Kinshasa Province, DRC-Central African Republic border, Eastern DRC, Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province, and Kasaï Oriental Province
12. Djibouti– Djibouti-Eritrea border
13. Egypt– Border between Egypt and Libya and North Sinai
14. Eritrea– within 25 kilometers of Eritrea’s land borders
15. Ethiopia– international border zones, Tigray region, Amhara region, Afar region, Gambela region, Oromia region, Somali region, Central, Southern, Sidama, and South West regions and Benishangul-Gumuz region
16. Georgia– South Ossetia and Abkhazia
17. India– within 10 kilometers of the India-Pakistan border and Jammu and Kashmir
18. Indonesia– Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, Mount Sinabung, Mount Marapi, Mount Semeru, Mount Ruang, Mount Ibu
19. Iraq– warns against all travel to areas of Anbar province, Basra province, Diyala province, Kirkuk province, Ninawa province, Salah al-Din province, Sadr City, and within 30km of federal Iraq’s borders with Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait
20. Israel– opposed to all travel to Gaza, certain areas of the West Bank, and northern Israel
21. Jordan– within 3 kilometers of the border with Syria
22. Lebanon– regions in Beirut and the Mount Lebanon Governorate, the South and Nabatiyah Governorates, the Beqaa Governorate, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, the Akkar Governorate, the city of Tripoli, and Palestinian refugee camps
23. Libya– recommends avoiding all travel to Libya except for the cities of Benghazi and Misrata
24. Mali– recommends avoiding all travel except to Bamako
25. Mauritania– Eastern Mauritania and the Mauritania-Mali border
26. Moldova–Transnistria
27. Mozambique– Cabo Delgado Province
28. Myanmar (Burma)– Chin Region, Kachin Region, Kayah Region, Kayin Region, Mon Region, Rakhine Region, Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State North, Northern Mandalay Region
29. Niger– prohibited from traveling except to the capital city of Niamey
30. Nigeria– Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and the riverine regions of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states
31. Pakistan– within a 10-mile radius of the border with Afghanistan, regions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Balochistan Province
32. Philippines– Western and Central Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago
33. Rwanda– Rubavu area and Rusizi area
34. Saudi Arabia– Saudi Arabia-Yemen border
35. Somalia– eastern part of Somaliland and western part of Somaliland
36. Sudan– opposed to all travel except to the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid
37. The Occupied Palestinian Territories– opposing all travel to Gaza, the West Bank, and northern Israel
38. Togo– Togo-Burkina Faso border
39. Tunisia– Western Tunisia, covering the Tunisia-Algeria border and Southern Tunisia, encompassing the Tunisia-Libya border
40. Turkey– within 10 kilometers of the Turkey-Syria border
41. Ukraine– all areas of Ukraine except for certain western regions
42. Venezuela– within 80 kilometers of the Venezuela-Colombia border, within 40 kilometers of the Venezuela-Brazil border, Zulia State
43. Western Sahara– within 30km of the ‘Berm’ boundary line and to the south and east of the Berm boundary line

The FCDO recommends avoiding all travel except for essential purposes.

Regarding the definition of ‘essential travel,’ the FCDO states: “Whether your trip is considered essential is up to you. You might have pressing family or work-related matters that require your attention. Only you can make a well-informed choice based on your specific situation and the associated risks.”

1. New Caledonia– “Given ongoing tensions”
2. North Korea– “The security environment can shift rapidly without any prior notice”
3. Mayotte– Cyclone Chido

FCDO recommends avoiding all but necessary travel to certain areas

1. Angola– Province of Cabinda, border regions in the Province of Lunda Norte
2. Bangladesh– Chittagong Hill Tracts
3. Bolivia– Chapare region
4. Brazil– Amazonas State
5. Cambodia– within 50km of the border with Thailand in Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces
6. Colombia– boundaries, the Pacific coastline and sections of central Colombia
7. Ecuador– seven coastal region provinces and within 20 kilometers of the Ecuador-Colombia border
8. Ghana– Bawku Municipality
9. Guatemala– within 5 kilometers of the Mexican border and the towns of Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista, and La Democracia
10. Kenya– The Kenya-Somalia border and the northern sections of the eastern coast
11. Kosovo– Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposaviç, along with the northern section of the city of Mitrovica
12. Laos– Xaisomboun Province
13. Malaysia– coastal islands of eastern Sabah
14. Mexico– Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Chiapas
15. Papua New Guinea– Hela and the Southern Highlands provinces
16. Peru– located 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border and the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro River valley
17. Tanzania– Mtwara Region near the Tanzania-Mozambique border
18. Thailand–regions in the south, close to the Thailand-Malaysia border and within 50km of the border from Cambodia
19. Uganda– Queen Elizabeth National Park, the region directly to the southwest of Kasese town, and Semuliki National Park

For additional travel updates and tips, tune into Simon Calder’s podcast.

The Independent is the world’s most independent-minded news brand, offering worldwide news, opinions, and analysis for those who think for themselves. We have built a large, international audience of people who appreciate our reliable voice and dedication to promoting positive transformation. Our goal, to drive change, has never been more crucial than it is now.