Brits have been warned that the Foreign Office is advised against “all but essential travel” to 21 countries. Venturing to these parts of the world could prove risky, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
This warning affects entire countries or parts of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
As reported by The Independent, of the 226 countries or territories with FCDO travel advice, 73 have alerts in place. Of these, 21 countries have “all but essential travel” warnings.
The other 52 have complete “do not travel” advisories. These cautions come due to security issues, health risks and legal differences with the UK.
As well as putting your health and safety at risk, you could also invalidate your travel insurance by ignoring these recommendations. The following countries have “all but essential travel” warnings in place.
The FCDO explains: “Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family or business commitments which you need to attend to. Only you can make an informed decision based on your own individual circumstances and the risks.”
Countries with “all but essential travel” warnings:
- New Caledonia – “Given ongoing tensions”
- North Korea – “The security situation can change quickly with no advance warning”
- Mayotte – Cyclone Chido
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of:
- Angola – Cabinda Province, border areas in Lunda Norte Province
- Bangladesh – Chittagong Hill Tracts
- Bolivia – Chapare region
- Brazil – Amazonas State
- Colombia – borders, Pacific coast, northern and central Colombia
- Ecuador – seven coastal region provinces and within 20km of the Ecuador-Colombia border
- Ghana – Bawku Municipality
- Guatemala – within 5km of the Mexican border and the towns of Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia
- Kenya – Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast
- Kosovo – Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, and the northern part of the city of Mitrovica
- Laos – Xaisomboun Province
- Malaysia – Eastern Sabah coastal islands
- Mexico – Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Chiapas
- Papua New Guinea – Hela and Southern Highlands provinces
- Peru – within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro River
- Tanzania – Mtwara Region along the Tanzania-Mozambique border
- Thailand –parts of the south, near the Thailand-Malaysia border
- Uganda – Queen Elizabeth National Park and Semuliki National Park
Regardless of circumstances, the FCDO completely advises against all travel to Afghanistan, Belarus, Haiti, Iran, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
The FCDO also advises against all travel to parts:
- Algeria – all travel to within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Tunisia
- Armenia – within 5km of the full eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan-Armenia border and south-western Azerbaijan
- Benin – Northern border regions
- Burkina Faso – against all travel except to the capital, Ouagadougou
- Burundi – Rusizi National Park, Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces, Kayanza province and Bujumbura Rural province
- Cameroon – Bakassi Peninsula and within 40km of Central African Republic, Chad and Nigeria borders
- Central African Republic – against all travel except to the capital, Bangui
- Chad – Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti provinces, Kanem Province, including Nokou, Lake Chad region and within 30km of all Chad’s other borders
- Congo – within 50km of the Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border in Likouala Region
- Côte d’Ivoire – borders with Burkina Faso and Mali and Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border
- Democratic Republic of the Congo – areas in Kinshasa Province, DRC-Central African Republic border, Eastern DRC, Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province and the province of Kasaï Oriental
- Djibouti – Djibouti-Eritrea border
- Egypt – Egypt-Libya border, North Sinai and Western Desert
- Eritrea – within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders
- Ethiopia – international border areas, Tigray region, Amhara region, Afar region, Gambela region, Oromia region, Somali region, Central, Southern, Sidama and South West regions and Benishangul-Gumuz region
- Georgia – South Ossetia and Abkhazia
- India – within 10km of the India-Pakistan border and Jammu and Kashmir
- Indonesia – Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, Mount Sinabung, Mount Marapi, Mount Semeru, Mount Ruang, Mount Ibu
- Iraq – advises against all travel to Federal Iraq
- Israel – against all travel to Gaza, The West Bank and Northern Israel. All but essential travel to the rest of Israel
- Jordan – within 3km of the border with Syria
- Lebanon – areas in Beirut and Mount Lebanon Governorate, the South and Nabatiyeh Governorates, the Beqaa Governorate, the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, the Akkar Governorate, the city of Tripoli and Palestinian refugee camps
- Libya – advises against all travel to Libya except for the cities of Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata
- Mali – advises against all travel except to Bamako
- Mauritania – Eastern Mauritania, Mauritania-Western Sahara border, Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba and Guidimaka provinces
- Moldova –Transnistria
- Mozambique – Cabo Delgado Province, all but essential travel to the districts of Memba and Eráti in Nampula Province
- Myanmar (Burma) – Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Sagaing and Magway regions, Tanintharyi Region, Shan State North, North Mandalay Region
- Niger – against all travel except to the capital city of Niamey
- Nigeria – Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State
- Pakistan – within 10 miles of Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Balochistan Province and Pakistan-administered Kashmir
- Philippines – Western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
- Rwanda – Rubavu district and Rusizi district
- Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia-Yemen border and Abha International Airport
- Somalia – eastern Somaliland and Western Somaliland
- Sudan – against all travel except to the Hala’ib Triangle
- The Occupied Palestinian Territories – against all travel to Gaza, The West Bank and Northern Israel. All but essential travel to the rest of the OPTs
- Togo – Togo-Burkina Faso border
- Tunisia – Western Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Algeria border and Southern Tunisia, including the Tunisia-Libya border
- Turkey – within 10km of the Turkey-Syria border
- Ukraine – Crimea and within 50km of the border with Belarus
- Venezuela – within 80km of the Venezuela-Colombia border, within 40km of the Venezuela-Brazil border, Zulia State
- Western Sahara – within 30km of ‘the Berm’ boundary line and south and east of the Berm boundary line.
Before travelling, check the latest FCDO advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.