The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has published its latest travel guidance, explicitly advising British nationals against visiting 55 countries and territories deemed high-risk for 2026. Travellers who disregard these official warnings risk invalidating their holiday insurance and facing severe personal danger.
Insurance Void and Safety at Stake
Authorities have issued a stark reminder that venturing to any destination on the 'do not travel' list has serious consequences. Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice, leaving you without financial support in a crisis. The FCDO states it only issues such severe warnings when the risk to British nationals is "unacceptably high," citing threats like armed conflict, terrorism, civil unrest, and widespread disease outbreaks.
Obtaining help from British consular services in these locations is also likely to be extremely difficult or impossible. The guidance emphasises that no foreign travel can be guaranteed safe and urges individuals to take personal responsibility for their decisions, carefully weighing the potential dangers.
Understanding the Levels of Risk
The FCDO provides two key levels of warning: advising against 'all travel' and advising against 'all but essential travel'. The 55 destinations currently flagged represent the most severe 'do not travel' category. For some nations, the warning applies to the entire country, while for others it may be specific regions. The advice is tailored, with separate considerations for different types of travellers, such as LGBTQ+ individuals or dual nationals.
Officials clarified that for terrorist threats, they advise against travel only in situations of "extreme and imminent danger" or where the threat is "sufficiently specific, large-scale or widespread to affect British nationals severely."
The Full 'Do Not Travel' List
According to the latest FCDO update, the following countries are subject to an 'advise against all travel' warning. The list, current as of December 2025, includes:
- Afghanistan – due to a volatile security situation.
- Belarus – where British nationals face a significant risk of arrest.
- Burkina Faso – due to the threat of terrorist attacks and kidnap.
- Haiti – because of a volatile security situation.
- Iran – where British nationals are at significant risk of arrest.
- Mali – due to unpredictable security conditions.
- Niger – because of a rise in reported terrorist and criminal kidnappings.
- 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 – because of ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions.
- Yemen – due to unpredictable security conditions.
The FCDO encourages travellers to check the 'Warnings and insurance' section of each country's travel advice page for the most detailed and up-to-date information. Britons can also sign up for email alerts to receive immediate notifications about any changes to the advice for specific destinations.
