Before deciding on your next holiday destination, it is a good idea to check the Foreign Office‘s travel warnings. There are 226 countries or territories with advice issued by the Government, with details on safety, security, health risks, entry requirements and any legal differences with the UK.
Risk of arrest, armed violence, natural disasters and political conflicts are among the reasons the Foreign Office gives when advising Brits to stay away from certain countries. It can caution you against “all travel” to a country or “all but essential travel”, depending on its assessment. It’s a good idea to check a destination before booking a trip as your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign Office.
Of the 266 places with travel advice pages, nine appear on the Foreign Office’s “do not travel” list at the time of writing.
In alphabetical order, the first is Afghanistan, where the Foreign Office describes the security situation as “volatile”. It says: “Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and border crossings may not be open.”
Foreign Office officials also warn of a “heightened risk” Brits will be detained in the country, which has been under Taliban rule since 2021.
Next on the list is Belarus, where Brits face a “significant risk” of arrest if they have engaged in anything considered illegal by the Belarusian regime – no matter when they did so.
The Foreign Office also warns there is a “low risk” direct conflict from Russia‘s war on Ukraine may spread to the eastern European country.
Third on the list is Haiti, where the security situation is also described as “volatile”. There are also no consular officials in the country so help would be “severely limited”, the Foreign Office warns.
Much of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by violent gangs. The violence, combined with political instability and an economic crisis have displaced more than 700,000 people, according to the UN.
Iran is next on the list, with British and British-Iranian dual nationals at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention.
The Foreign Office advice says: “Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.”
Officials also warn the British Government will not be able to help if you get into “difficulty” in the country, which last year fired missiles at Israel and came under attack itself from the same country.
Libya is the fifth country where the Foreign Office advises against all travel, with that advice in place since 2014.
The Foreign Office warns: “The local security situation is fragile and can quickly deteriorate, with intense fighting starting without warning.
“Any travel to, from or within Libya is at your own risk. If you are a British national in Libya, we strongly advise you to consider leaving.”
Threats and risks of the war in Ukraine mean Russia is another country where the Foreign Office says you shouldn’t set foot.
A “high” likelihood of terror attacks, drone strikes, Russia‘s own air defences, a lack of return flights to Britain and the British Government’s “limited” ability to support you are all reasons not to go given by the Foreign Office.
South Sudan is the seventh country on the list, with the Foreign Office advising against all travel due to the risk of armed violence and crime.
Any British nationals in South Sudan have been advised to get out of the country, where the political and security situation “remains unpredictable”, according to the Foreign Office.
Routes in and out of the east African country may be blocked if the situation deteriorates, with the possibility of flights being cancelled at short notice.
Syria comes next on the list, where the Foreign Office advises anyone affected by hostilities to shelter in place until they are able to find a “safe” way out of the war-torn country.
The final country is Yemen, where support for Brits is “severely limited”. Terrorists are “very likely” to attempt attacks in the Middle East country.
This risk is “heightened” where Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State-Yemen have tribal links as well as in Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt and Shabwah.
Terror attacks could include places visited by foreigners, including hotels, supermarkets, airports and other transport hubs.
There is also a “constant” threat of Westerners being kidnapped across the country, with a “high” risk terror groups will take foreigners hostage and sell them to AQAP, whose members have murdered some.
Yemen’s political and security situation is also “uncertain and volatile” despite a de-facto ceasefire between rebel Houthis and the Yemeni government.
