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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sian Baldwin

Foreign office do not travel list: which countries has the government warned travellers against going to?

The world has a lot of issues at the moment, and the UK Government will regularly update advice on where is and is not safe to travel to.

Those wanting to travel the world are told which countries are probably best avoided, with 31 on the ‘do not travel’ list at present.

These countries include ones in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East and it is advised that should anyone decide to travel to an area on the ‘do not go’ list, their insurance will not be valid and they will be on their own if anything bad does happen while they are there.

The wars in Ukraine and Russia and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas mean these have all recently appeared on the blacklist for travel.

The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to large parts of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and all but essential travel to the rest of the country. The ‘do not travel’ regions include Gaza, the West Bank, and areas that border Syria and Lebanon.

It says: "There are continued exchanges of rocket, drone and small arms fire over Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and a potential increase in rocket attacks and other incidents of violence across Israel and the OPTs, including the West Bank. On 27 July, a strike on the town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights killed at least 12 civilians.

"We recognise this a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks. The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and without warning, and could result in instructions to shelter in place. This could disrupt air and road links out of the country. We strongly encourage you to check you and your dependents have the required documentation to travel at short notice. If your reason to remain in Israel and the OPTs is not essential you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so."

The Foreign Office is also currently advising against all travel to Lebanon because of the conflict. Government advice states that those in the country should consider leaving while there are still commercial flights available.

But where else is on the ‘no flight’ list?

Europe

Belarus 

Advice is do not travel 

Kosovo 

An ‘all but essential’ travel warning is in place for significant parts of the country 

Russia 

Do not travel 

Ukraine 

Do not travel 

Middle East

Iraq 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warnings are in place for the entire country

Iran 

Do not travel 

Israel 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Lebanon 

Do not travel 

Occupied Palestinian territories (OPTs)

Do not travel. Specific advice for surrounding areas can be found here.

Syria 

Do not travel 

Yemen 

Do not travel

Africa

Burkina Faso 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Cameroon 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Chad 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Central African Republic 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Ethiopia 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning for significant parts of the country. See the full details here.

Libya 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Mali 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Mauritania 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning for significant parts of the country 

Niger 

Do not travel 

Nigeria 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning for significant parts of the country 

Somalia 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

South Sudan 

Do not travel 

Sudan 

Do not travel 

Western Sahara 

Do not travel warning for significant parts of the country 

Americas

Haiti 

Do not travel 

Venezuela 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning 

Asia

Afghanistan 

Do not travel 

Myanmar 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning for significant parts of the country 

North Korea 

All but essential travel warning; borders have not reopened since Covid 

Pakistan 

Do not travel and all but essential travel warning for significant parts of the country

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