Countries You Should Avoid: The Foreign Office’s Travel No-Go Zone

The United Kingdom administration has released a new travel advisory list, designating 19 nations as ‘do not travel’ to address ongoing safety apprehensions worldwide.

The UK Foreign Office frequently revises the catalog of locations that Britons are advised to avoid or only visit for urgent purposes.

At present, it classifies 226 countries or regions as dangerous due to security issues, health hazards, or differing legal statutes compared to the UK. Travellers are cautioned not to enter 19 locations for any purpose.

Included among the countries the FCDO now discourages all travel to is Lebanon, where tensions with Israel have escalated recently.

‘On October 1, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. Subsequently, on October 26, Israel initiated military action against Iran. Keep abreast of this travel advisory and other media as circumstances are evolving rapidly,’ advises the FCDO.

Travellers who disregard FCDO warnings may find themselves without insurance coverage, and in emergencies, may face challenges in accessing available consular assistance.

Below are all the nations and territories where the FCDO insists against travel, and those deemed acceptable for essential visits only.

FCDO recommends against all travel

1. Afghanistan – ‘The security environment is unstable’
2. Belarus – ‘You face a considerable risk of detention’
3. Burkina Faso – except for the capital, Ouagadougou
4. Central African Republic – except for the capital, Bangui
5. Haiti – ‘Due to the unstable security environment’
6. Iran – ‘British citizens are at significant risk of detention’
7. Iraq – except for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
8. Israel – against all travel to Gaza, The West Bank, and Northern Israel. All but urgent travel to the remainder of Israel
9. Lebanon – ‘Due to risks linked to the continuing conflict involving Israel, Lebanese Hizballah, and other non-state actors’
10. Libya – ‘The regional security situation is precarious’
11. Mali – except for Bamako
12. Niger – except for the capital city, Niamey
13. Russia – ‘Due to risks and threats stemming from its ongoing invasion of Ukraine’
14. South Sudan – ‘Due to the risk of armed conflict and criminal activities’
15. Sudan – ‘Ongoing military confrontation in Khartoum’
16. Syria – ‘Prolonged conflict and unpredictable security scenarios’
17. The Occupied Palestinian Territories – against all travel to Gaza, The West Bank, and Northern Israel. All but essential travel to the remaining OPTs
18. Ukraine – ‘Persistent risk of harm to British nationals from Russian assaults across all of Ukraine’
19. Yemen – ‘Unpredictable security conditions’

FCDO advises against travel to specific regions

1. Algeria – all travel within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Tunisia
2. Armenia – within 5km of the entire eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan
3. Azerbaijan – Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding regions
4. Benin – Northern border areas
5. Burundi – Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces
6. Cameroon – Bakassi Peninsula and within 40km of the borders with Central African Republic, Chad, and Nigeria
7. Chad – Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est, and Tibesti provinces, Kanem Province, including Nokou, Lake Chad area, and within 30km of all other boundaries of Chad  
8. Congo – Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border region in the Likouala Region, districts in the Pool Region, and Mouyondzi District in Bouenza Region
9. Côte d’Ivoire – borders with Burkina Faso and Mali and Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo – DRC-Central African Republic border, Eastern DRC, Kwamouth territory in Mai-Ndombe Province, and certain areas in Kinshasa Province
11. Djibouti – Djibouti-Eritrea border
12. Egypt – Egypt-Libya border, North Sinai, and Western Desert
13. Eritrea – within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders
14. Ethiopia – border regions, Tigray region, Amhara region, Afar region, Gambella region, Oromia region, Somali Regional State, and Benishangul-Gumuz region
15. Georgia – South Ossetia and Abkhazia
16. Indonesia – Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Mount Semeru, East Java, Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, Mount Ibu, North Maluku
17. Jordan – within 3km of…
18. Syria – The frontier with Syria
19. Mauritania – Eastern Mauritania, the border between Mauritania and Western Sahara, and the provinces of Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba, and Guidimaka
20. Moldova – Transnistria
21. Mozambique – Cabo Delgado Province, Nampula Province
22. Myanmar (Burma) – Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing and Magway regions, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State North, and North Mandalay Region
23. Nigeria – Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, and Gombe State
24. Philippines – The western and central regions of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
25. Saudi Arabia – The border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, as well as Abha International Airport  
26. Somalia – Eastern and western regions of Somaliland
27. Togo – The Togo-Burkina Faso border
28. Tunisia – The western part of Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border, and the southern regions of Tunisia, which encompasses the Tunisia-Libya border
29. Turkey – Areas located within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border
30. Venezuela – Regions within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border and 40km of the Venezuela-Brazil border
31. Western Sahara – Areas south and east of the Berm boundary line

FCDO recommends against all but essential travel

1. Bangladesh – ‘Widespread violence has been reported across Bangladesh.’
2. New Caledonia – ‘Due to ongoing tensions’
3. North Korea – ‘The security landscape can shift rapidly and without prior notice’

   The FCDO emphasizes that it is your responsibility to determine whether your travel is essential, stating: ‘You may have urgent family or professional obligations that require your attention. Ultimately, only you can make an informed choice based on your specific circumstances and the associated risks.’

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to certain regions

1. Angola – The Cabinda Province and border regions of Lunda Norte Province
2. Brazil – Amazonas State
3. Colombia – Border areas, Pacific coastline, and northern and central regions of Colombia
4. Ecuador – Coastal Area and regions within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border
5. Ghana – Bawku Municipality
6. Guatemala – Areas within 5km of the Mexican border
7. Kenya – The Kenya-Somalia border region and northern areas along the eastern coast
8. Kosovo – Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic, along with the northern section of Mitrovica
9. Laos – Xaisomboun Province
10. Malaysia – Coastal islands in Eastern Sabah
11. Mexico – Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, and Chiapas
12. Papua New Guinea – Hela and Southern Highlands provinces
13. Peru – Regions located within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers
14. Tanzania – Mtwara Region along the Tanzania-Mozambique border
15. Thailand – Southern regions near the Thailand-Malaysia border
16. Uganda– Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park

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