The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has issued travel warnings against all travel to 36 countries, with additional alerts for other destinations, as global conflicts continue to pose risks to British nationals. The advice, which covers entire nations or specific regions, is designed to help travellers make informed decisions, but officials stress that ignoring it can have serious consequences.
The FCDO said it issues two main types of 'do not travel' alerts: those covering a whole country and those applying to parts of it. For some destinations, it also advises against 'all but essential travel', urging people to reconsider holiday plans. According to the FCDO, “We only advise against travel if we think the risk to British nationals is unacceptably high. For example, this could be due to: armed conflict, military coups, civil unrest, disease outbreaks, natural disasters.” For terrorist threats, the advice is issued only “in situations of extreme and imminent danger, and where the threat is sufficiently specific, large-scale or widespread to affect British nationals severely.”
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Belarus, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Haiti. The warning for Russia reflects “the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine.” In Libya, all but essential travel is advised, except for the cities of Benghazi and Misrata, where essential travel is advised. Partial warnings apply to countries including Ukraine, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and many African nations, with essential travel only recommended for other parts. The FCDO also advises against travel to parts of Myanmar, Pakistan, and Venezuela, with essential travel only for the rest.
Travelling against Foreign Office advice has practical implications: any normal travel insurance is immediately invalidated, and should consular assistance be needed on the ground, it will likely be challenging. The FCDO also notes that even if a country is not on the list, there may still be restrictions, for example at contentious borders or in a particular region. For example, the FCDO advises against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum, where all but essential travel is advised.
Some destinations have seen their advice level reduced. The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to Kosovo (except specific municipalities), Bahrain, and Kuwait. However, for Oman and the United Arab Emirates, there is a risk of further attacks and unforeseen escalation, and travellers should be prepared for delays and cancellations. North Korea carries an essential travel only advisory.
The FCDO explains that 'all but essential travel' advice leaves the decision to the individual: “You must decide whether your travel is essential. For example, you may have urgent family or business commitments. Only you can make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances and the risks.”
The FCDO urges travellers to check the 'Warnings and insurance' section of each travel advice page for the latest updates, as conditions can change rapidly. The list of affected countries is not exhaustive, and even destinations without formal warnings may have localised restrictions.
This article is based on reporting by Cambridge Evening News, Coventry Telegraph, Derby Telegraph, Devon Live, and Kentlive.