Foreign Office says 'do not travel' to these nine destinations including Caribbean country - full list

The Foreign Office has issued a warning to British citizens, advising against travel to nine countries due to severe safety and security concerns. Ignoring this guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) could put individuals at risk and also invalidate their travel insurance.

The FCDO provides detailed information on safety, security, health concerns, entry requirements, and local laws for 226 countries and territories. The reasons for the Foreign Office's warnings include potential arrests, armed conflicts, natural disasters, and political unrest.

The advice ranges from avoiding "all travel" to a country to avoiding "all but essential travel", depending on the severity of the situation. It is crucial to check this advice before planning any trips, as failing to do so may result in travel insurance being invalidated.

Currently, nine out of 226 destinations with travel advisories are listed under the Foreign Office's "do not travel" category.

Afghanistan

The first country on the list, in alphabetical order, is , which the Foreign Office describes as having a "volatile" security environment. The FCDO warns: "Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and border crossings may not be open."

The Foreign Office has sounded an alarm over the increased risk of British nationals being detained in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan since 2021.

Belarus

Belarus has been marked as a location where Brits might face "significant risk" of arrest for actions considered illegal by Belarusian authorities, regardless of their timing. Additionally, there's a "low risk" that the conflict in could spill into Belarus, located in Eastern Europe, cautions the Foreign Office.

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Haiti

Haiti ranks third on the list, with its security climate labelled as "volatile". Due to the lack of consular officers in Haiti, the Foreign Office notes that available assistance would be "severely limited".

Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, is mostly controlled by violent gangs. The UN has documented that the mix of violence, political upheaval, and economic hardship has resulted in over 700,000 people being displaced.

Iran

Iran also represents a considerable danger; British nationals and those with dual British-Iranian citizenship are at serious risk of arbitrary arrest, questioning, or imprisonment. The Foreign Office warns: "Having a British passport or connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you."

Furthermore, it highlights that the British Government has a limited capacity to help those facing troubles in Iran. Last year saw exchanges of missile fire between Iran and , it reminds travellers.

Libya

Libya remains firmly on the Foreign Office's no-travel list, a position held since 2014, with officials strongly advising against all travel to the nation due to the volatile security conditions. The Foreign Office has issued a dire warning about Libya: "The local security situation is fragile and can quickly deteriorate, with intense fighting starting without warning."

For British citizens in Libya, the message from the authorities is emphatic: "Any travel to, from or within Libya is at your own risk. If you are a British national in Libya, we strongly advise you to consider leaving."

Russia

The ongoing conflict resulting from the war in Ukraine has landed on the Foreign Office's no-go list as well. Highlighting the "high" chance of terrorism, risks from drone strikes, complications with Russian air defence systems, the scarcity of return flights to Britain, and constraints on consular assistance, there are many reasons for Brits to avoid the country.

South Sudan

South Sudan also finds a place on the Foreign Office’s list, with UK nationals discouraged from travelling there owing to the dangers of armed conflict and criminal activity. Britons currently in South Sudan are being advised to leave, given the country's unpredictable political and security climate.

Travellers are warned that if the situation in South Sudan deteriorates further, available travel options might be severely restricted, potentially resulting in unforeseen flight cancellations.

Syria

is next on the list as a high-risk destination due to its ongoing conflict, with the current advice for those caught in hostilities being to stay put and wait for a "safe" means of leaving to present itself.

Yemen

Yemen closes the list, deemed by the Foreign Office to be a place where support for British citizens is "severely limited". The likelihood of terrorist groups carrying out attacks in Yemen is tagged as "very likely".

The threat level is escalated to "heightened" specifically in areas where factions like Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State-Yemen have tribal alliances, most notably in regions like Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt, and Shabwah.

There's an ongoing threat that terror plots could be aimed at sites popular with internationals such as hotels, , airports, and other transport centres. Additionally, there's a "constant" risk of Westerners being kidnapped throughout Yemen, with a significant chance that extremists may abduct foreigners to hand over to AQAP, a group infamous for executing some captives.

Although there's a relative pause in hostility between rebel Houthis and the Yemeni government, the nation's political and security status remains "uncertain and volatile".

Travellers should note that many countries post Foreign Office advisories against travel to specific "parts" of their territories. It's always wise to check the latest updates and guidance at before making any travel plans.