Every country currently on the Foreign Office ‘do not travel’ list

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When planning a holiday, it’s wise to check these three things before you leave for the airport: your passport is in date, travel insurance is still valid and you’re travelling to someplace safe according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Political conflicts, natural disasters and safety concerns are among the reasons the UK Foreign Office will recommend British nationals steer clear of certain destinations.

The FCDO has issued various travel warnings, including advice against “all travel” and “all but essential travel” to entire countries or parts of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.

Of 226 countries or territories with foreign travel advice pages, 73 are currently flagged as having no-go zones due to security issues, health risks and legal differences with the UK.

The FCDO advises against all travel to Russia (Getty Images)

If you choose to make the journey against FCDO advice, travel insurance will be invalidated, and there may be a lack of consular support in the event of an emergency overseas.

Here is the full list of countries on the Foreign Office’s ‘do not travel’ list to check before you plan a trip.

FCDO advises against all travel

Afghanistan – “The security situation is volatile”
Belarus – “You face a significant risk of arrest”
Haiti – “Due to the volatile security situation”
Iran – “British nationals are at significant risk of arrest”
Lebanon – “Due to risks associated with the ongoing conflict between Israel, Lebanese Hizballah and other non-state actors”
Libya – “The local security situation is fragile”
Russia – “Due to the risks and threats from its continuing invasion of Ukraine”
South Sudan – “Due to the risk of armed violence and criminality”
Syria – “Ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions”
Yemen – “Unpredictable security conditions”

FCDO 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 – Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, Azerbaijan-Armenia border
Benin – Northern border regions
Burkina Faso – against all travel except to the capital, Ouagadougou
Burundi – 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 – 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, Gambella region, Oromia region, Somali Regional State 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
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
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

FCDO advises against all but essential travel

With regard to the definition of ‘essential travel’, the FCDO says: “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.”

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

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

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast

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