Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Travel Warnings: Destinations to Avoid According to the Foreign Office
When contemplating your next holiday, it is crucial to consult the Foreign Office’s travel advisories. The UK government provides guidance for 226 countries and territories, detailing safety concerns, security risks, health hazards, entry requirements, and legal differences compared to the UK legal system. Potential arrest, armed conflict, natural disasters, and political instability are among the reasons the Foreign Office advises British citizens against visiting specific nations. These travel warnings range from advising against “all travel” to “all but essential travel,” depending on their assessment. Checking your destination prior to booking is advisable, as travel insurance may be invalidated if you travel against Foreign Office recommendations.
Nine Destinations on “Do Not Travel” List
Currently, out of 266 locations with Foreign Office travel advice, nine appear on the “do not travel” list.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is alphabetically first on the “do not travel” list. The Foreign Office describes the security situation as “unstable.” They state: “Travelling throughout Afghanistan is exceedingly dangerous, and border crossings might not be open.” Officials also warn of a heightened risk of detention for British nationals in Afghanistan, which has been under Taliban rule since 2021.
Belarus
Belarus is next on the list. British citizens face a considerable risk of arrest in Belarus, even for actions deemed unlawful by the Belarusian regime, regardless of when these actions occurred. Furthermore, the Foreign Office indicates a low possibility that the conflict in Ukraine may extend to Belarus.
Haiti
Haiti ranks third on the list, with the Foreign Office also labelling its security situation as “volatile.” The Foreign Office further warns that consular assistance is “severely limited” due to the absence of consular staff in Haiti. A significant portion of Port-au-Prince, the capital, is controlled by violent gangs. Violence, alongside political instability and economic crisis, has displaced over 700,000 people, according to UN figures.
Iran
Next is Iran, where British nationals, especially those with dual British-Iranian nationality, are at significant risk of arrest, questioning, or imprisonment.
Foreign Office guidance states that “possessing a British passport or having links to the UK can be sufficient reason for Iranian authorities to detain you.” Officials also caution that British government assistance will be restricted should you encounter “difficulties” in Iran.
Libya
Libya is the fifth country for which the Foreign Office advises against all travel, a warning that has been in effect since 2014.
Libya – Security Concerns
The Foreign Office cautions: “The local security landscape in Libya is precarious and can rapidly worsen, with intense fighting erupting without warning.” “Any travel to, from, or within Libya is undertaken at your own risk. British nationals currently in Libya are strongly encouraged to consider departing.”
Russia
The threats and risks associated with the war in Ukraine contribute to making Russia another destination the Foreign Office advises against visiting.
Russia – Risks and Limitations
Reasons for this travel warning include a “high” likelihood of terrorist attacks, drone strikes, Russia‘s air defence activities, the scarcity of return flights to Britain, and the British government’s “limited” capacity to provide support.
South Sudan
South Sudan is the seventh country on the list. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to South Sudan due to the risk of armed violence and crime.
South Sudan – Evacuation Advisory
British citizens in South Sudan have been advised to leave, as the political and security climate “remains unpredictable,” according to the Foreign Office. Travel routes to and from this East African nation could be disrupted if conditions deteriorate, with potential for flight cancellations at short notice.
Syria
Syria is next on the list. The Foreign Office recommends that individuals affected by hostilities in Syria seek shelter and remain in place until a secure exit from the war-torn nation becomes feasible.
Yemen
Yemen is the final country on the “do not travel” list, where support for British nationals is “highly restricted.” There is a “very high” likelihood of terrorist attacks in Yemen. This threat is “elevated” in regions where Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State-Yemen have tribal connections, notably Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt, and Shabwah.
Yemen – Terrorism and Kidnapping Risks
Potential terrorist targets include locations frequented by foreigners, such as hotels, shopping centres, airports, and transport hubs. A “continuous” risk of kidnapping of Westerners persists throughout Yemen, with a “high” probability that terrorist groups will take foreign nationals hostage and sell them to AQAP, an organisation responsible for the murders of some hostages. Despite a de-facto ceasefire between Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government, Yemen‘s political and security situation remains “uncertain and unstable.”