The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has issued updated travel advice warning British nationals against all travel to a number of countries, with the list now encompassing 36 nations and territories. The advice, which comes amid ongoing conflicts and other security threats worldwide, applies to both entire countries and specific regions within them.
Two levels of advice
The FCDO uses two main types of 'do not travel' alerts: those against all travel to a whole country, and those against travel to parts of a country. Additionally, the Foreign Office sometimes advises against 'all but essential travel,' which requires individuals to decide if their trip is necessary based on their circumstances.
Travelling against Foreign Office advice invalidates normal travel insurance immediately, and consular assistance on the ground may be challenging. The FCDO says it only advises against travel when the risk to British nationals is unacceptably high, citing threats such as armed conflict, military coups, civil unrest, disease outbreaks, and natural disasters. In the case of terrorist threats, the advice is reserved for situations of extreme and imminent danger where the threat is specific, large-scale, or widespread enough to affect British nationals severely.
Countries and regions affected
According to the list compiled by the Bristol Post and Liverpool Echo, the following countries and territories are subject to either 'do not travel' or 'all but essential travel' advice:
- Belarus, Russia, Ukraine
- Middle East: Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian territories, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen
- Africa: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Western Sahara
- Americas: Haiti, Venezuela
- Asia: Afghanistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan
Some notable changes have been made. The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to the municipalities of Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic in Kosovo, and areas of Mitrovica north of the river Ibar, nor to Bahrain. For Libya, the advice is against all travel except to the cities of Benghazi and Misrata, where only essential travel is advised. Travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border is against all travel, except the town of El Salloum, where the advice says all but essential travel.
The Foreign Office also advises against all travel to the Occupied Palestinian territories, and warns that in the United Arab Emirates, there is a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation in the region, so travellers should prepare for delays and cancellations.
The FCDO's 'Warnings and insurance' section on each travel advice page details all areas where the advice applies. The Foreign Office recommends checking its website for the latest travel warnings and restrictions before planning a trip.