There are 47 countries that the Foreign Office officially warns UK citizens should avoid either partially or altogether. The reasons range from wars, conflicts and security concerns to humanitarian crises and the risk of kidnapping and other violent crime. It also says there are countries where British nationals are at "heightened risk of... being detained".
The UK Foreign Office (officially known as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)) regularly updates travel advice for the country's citizens. Generally, it separates its warnings into three categories:
- The Foreign Office advises against all travel to a country: this is its highest warning level
The Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of a country.
- The Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to a country or parts of a country
As of March 13, 2026 there are 47 countries to which the top two categories apply. And they are not all by any means linked to ongoing high profile conflicts like the wars in Iran or Ukraine. In fact, several of them are in Europe. The Government's advice varies from country to country depending on the scale of the danger but among the warnings it has issued for certain countries are those warning UK citizens to "leave immediately" and others warning that the capacity of the UK Government to help any of its citizens in these countries is severely limited.
Countries to which the Foreign Office advises against all travel
There are 14 countries to which the Foreign Office advises against all travel. You can see more detail on these countries here. They are:
Afghanistan where there is a heightened risk of British nationals being detained
Belarus, where "you face a significant risk of arrest if you have at any time engaged in any activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime"
Burkina Faso, due to "the threat of terrorist attacks and terrorist kidnap, and the unstable political situation in the country"
Haiti, due to volatile security situation
- Iran, because of the ongoing Iran War. The FCDO warns: "If you are a British national already in Iran, either resident or visitor, carefully consider your presence there and the risks you take by staying. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning or detention. Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."
- Iraq, due to recent escalation in regional conflict. The FCDO warns: "There is significant risk of further escalation, and events are fast-moving and unpredictable."
- Israel, due to the escalation in conflict in the region which poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption.
Mali, due to unpredictable security conditions
Niger, due to the rise of reported terrorist and criminal kidnappings of foreign nationals
Palestine, due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas
Russia, due to an increased risk of British nationals being detained in Russia and the dangers and threats stemming from its continued invasion of Ukraine
South Sudan, due to the danger of armed conflict and criminal activity
Syria, due to uncertain security circumstances and the risk of terrorist incidents
Yemen, due to the devastation caused by an ongoing civil war and humanitarian catastrophes.
Countries to which the Foreign Office advises against all travel to certain parts
The countries to which the Foreign Office advises against all travel to certain parts are:
Algeria: FCDO advises against travel to within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Tunisia
Armenia: FCDO advises against all travel to within 5km of the entire eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, due to tensions between the 2 countries
Azerbaijan: FCDO advises against all travel to within 5km of the border with Armenia
Benin: FCDO advises against all travel to border regions near Niger and Burkina Faso
Burundi: FCDO advises against all travel to a region where there is a rebel group and the risk of possible armed incursions from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Cameroon: FCDO advises against travel to borders with Nigeria, Chad and the CAR
Central African Republic: FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of the Central African Republic with the exception of the capital, Bangui
Chad: FCDO advises against all travel to the northern provinces of Chad, and other regions
Congo: FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of the Republic of Congo-Central African Republic border
Côte d'Ivoire: FCDO advises against all travel to within 40km of the borders with Burkina Faso and Mali
Democratic Republic of the Congo: FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of most of its northern and eastern border
Djibouti: FCDO advises against all travel to the Djibouti-Eritrea border
Egypt: FCDO advises against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border and the border with Israel and Gaza
Eritrea: FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of all of Eritrea’s land borders
Ethiopia: FCDO advises against all travel to anywhere near borders with Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia
Georgia: FCDO advises against all travel to the Russian occupied regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia
India: FCDO advises against all travel within 10km of the India-Pakistan border and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Indonesia: FCDO advises against all travel to a number of volcanoes in Indonesia
Jordan: FCDO advises against all travel to within 3km of the border with Syria
Kenya: FCDO advises against all travel to the Kenya-Somalia border and northern parts of the east coast
Lebanon: FCDO advises against all travel to the vast majority of Lebanon
Libya: FCDO advises against all travel to Libya except for the cities of Benghazi and Misrata
Mauritania: FCDO advises against all travel to the eastern half of the country
Moldova: FCDO advises against all travel to Transnistria, a region bordering Ukraine
Myanmar (Burma): FCDO advises against all travel to most of Myanmar
Nigeria: FCDO advises against all travel to large parts of north-west and north-east Nigeria
Pakistan: FCDO advises against all travel to within 10 miles of the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and some other areas
Philippines: FCDO advises against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago
Saudi Arabia: FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Yemen
Somalia: FCDO advises against all travel to the vast majority of Somalia
Sudan: FCDO advises against all travel to the vast majority of Sudan
Togo: FCDO advises against all travel to within 30km of the border with Burkina Faso
Tunisia: FCDO advises against all travel to parts of its border with Libya and Algeria
Turkey: FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria
Ukraine: FCDO advises against all travel to the vast majority of Ukraine
Venezuela: FCDO advises against all travel to within 80km (50 miles) of the border with Colombia, within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Brazil and within 40km (25 miles) of the border with Guyana as well as some central areas.
