Every country on the UK Foreign Office 'do not travel' list in February 2025

Every country on the UK Foreign Office ‘do not travel’ list in February 2025

Posted by author February 20, 2025 Travel

There are many reasons the FCDO may advise against travel to certain places (Picture: Getty Images)

The holiday checklist goes something like this: think about your budget, Google the weather, and check that your passport and travel insurance are in date.

But it’s also important to consider the safety of your destination, and what the latest advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is.

The FCDO shares guidance on 266 countries or territories. Of these, 73 are currently flagged as having ‘no-go’ zones. The FCDO might advise against all travel, or all but essential travel to parts or all of an area.

Iran is top of mind for many ‘danger tourists; this week, after British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman were detained by Iranian authorities on espionage charges.

After staying in Tabriz, Tehran and Isfahan, they never reached their hotel in Kerman. The couple said they were choosing to ignore travel advice.

The family of a British couple in custody in Iran, named as Craig and Lindsay Foreman, says they are in a "distressing situation". The couple, in their early 50s, who were on a trip across the world on motorbikes, were arrested in January but the news emerged on Thursday when state-run Iranian media reported they were being held on unspecified security charges. A photograph was published of the couple, with their faces blurred, meeting the British ambassador Hugo Shorter at the public prosecutor's office in Kerman. A statement issued by the Foreign Office on their family's behalf, said: "This unexpected turn of events has caused significant concern for our entire family, and we are deeply focused on ensuring their safety and well-being during this trying time." It added: "We are actively engaging with the British government and relevant authorities, working diligently to navigate the complexities of this matter. The family are united in our determination to secure their safe return." — British nationals Craig and Lindsay Foreman have been detained in Iran (Picture: Family handout)

From the threat of terrorism to unstable political climates and natural disasters, there are many reasons why the FCDO may advise Brits to avoid certain places.

While British nationals make around 50 million trips each year – most of which are trouble-free – it’s important to check the FCDO before you pack your suitcase. Your insurance might be invalid if you travel against their advice.

Here is the current list for February 2025, according to the FCDO website.

FCDO advises against ‘all travel’

FCDO advises against ‘all travel’ to parts

Algeria: areas within 30km of Algeria’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Tunisia.
Armenia: areas within 5km of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border.
Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabah, the districts of Zengilan, Jabrayil, Qubadli, Lachin and Kelbajar on the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. The western areas of Khojavand, Fuzuli and Aghdam. Any travel within the 5km border with Armenia.
Burundi: Cibitoke and Bubanza provinces, Kayanza Province, Melchior Ndadaye International Airport to Cibitoke, Bujumbura Rural Province.
Benin: Northern border regions, Eastern Benin.
Burkina Faso: everywhere apart from the capital, Ouagadougou, where it advises against all but essential travel.
Chad: Borkou, Ennedi Ouest, Ennedi Est and Tibesti provinces, Kanem Province, including Nokou, Lake Chad region, within 30km of all Chad’s other borders. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Chad.
Côte d’Ivoire: borders with Burkina Faso and Mali, Côte d’Ivoire-Liberia border.

The Sphinx next to the Pyramids in the sands of Giza desert, Egypt — Parts of Egypt are off limits (Picture: Getty Images)

Cameroon: Bakassi Peninsula, borders with Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, the Far-North, North-West, North, South-West and Adamawa regions, Limbé and Maroua.
Central African Republic: against all travel except to the capital, Bangui.
Congo: some distrcits in Pool region, border with Central African Republic in Likouala region, Mouyondzi District in Bouenza region.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: border with Central African Republic, Eastern DRC, areas in the Kinshasa Province, Kwamouth territory of Mai-Ndombe Province, Kasaï Oriental, Kasaï, Kasaï Central.
Djibouti: border with Eritrea.
Eritrea: within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders.
Egypt: border with Libya, North Sinai, northern part of South Sinai, Western Desert, Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid, Eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate.
Ethiopia: border areas, Tigray, Amhara, Afar, Gambela, Oromia, Somali, Central, Southern, Sidama, South West and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.
Georgia: South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Indonesia: Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Mount Semeru, East Java, Mount Ruang, Northern Sulawesi, Mount Ibu, North Maluku.
Iraq: Federal Iraq (see FCDO website for specific areas).
Israel: Gaza, The West Bank, Northern Israel.
India: border with Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur.
Jordan: border with Syria.
Myanmar: States of Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, regions of North Mandalay and East of the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway in Bago region.

Scenic view of sea and mountains against blue sky in Aqaba, Jordan — Avoid the border with Syria in Jordan (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

Mali: advises against all ravel except to Bamako.
Mauritania: Eastern Mauritania, borders with Mali and Western Sahara, Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, Hodh el Gharbi, Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimaka provinces.
Moldova: Transnistria.
Mozambique: Cabo Delgado, all but essential travel to the rest of Mozambique.
Nigeria: areas of North East, North West, South East and South Nigeria.
Niger: everywhere except Niamey.
Pakistan: border with Afghanistan, provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The Occupied Palestinian Territories: Gaza, areas near Gaza, the West Bank, Northern Israel.
Philippines: Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago.
Saudi Arabia: border with Yemen and Abha International Airport.
Somalia: Eastern and Western Somaliland.
Sudan: everywhere apart from Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid, where all but essential travel is advised.
Tunisia: Western Tunisia
Togo: border with Burkina Faso.
Turkey: border with Syria.
Ukraine: Crimea, within 50km of Belarus, everywhere else in Ukraine.
Venezuela: within 80km of the border with Colombia, within 40km of the border with Brazil, Zulia state.
Western Sahara: areas within 30km north and west of ‘the Berm’ boundary line, and areas in the territory south and east ‘the Berm’ boundary line.

High angle view of sea and rocks against sky,Mayotte — The FCDO advises against but essential travel to Mayotte (Picture: Getty Images/500px)

FCDO against against ‘all but essential travel’

Mayotte
New Caledonia
North Korea

FCDO advises against ‘all but essential’ travel to parts

Angola: Cabinda Province (except Cabinda city), areas within 1km of the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in Linda Norte (except for official border crossings and their access roads).
Bangladesh: Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Bolivia: Chapare region.
Brazil: Amazonas State.
Burundi: Rusizi National Park.
Colombia: the Pacific Coast, northern Colombia, the borders with Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador, southern Colombia and central Colombia.
Ecuador: coastal region, areas within 20km of the border with Colombia.
Eswatini: the border with Mozambique.
Ghana: Bawku Municipality.

Historical colonial district of Quito and the monument of — The border between Ecuador and Colombia should be avoided (Picture: Getty Images)

Guatemala: within 5km of the Mexican border, Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia in the department of Huehuetenango.
Iraq: Kurdistan Region of Iraq (see FCDO website for specific areas).
Kenya: border with Somalia.
Kosovo: Zvečan, Zupin Potok and Leposavic, and areas of Mitrovica north of the river Ibar.
Laos: Xaisomboun Province.
Mexico: States of Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Chiapas.
Mayanmar: Shan State South and East, Mandalay Region, Tanintharyi Region south of Tanintharyi township, the rest of Bago region.
Malaysia: Eastern Sabah coastal islands.
Nigeria: North Central and the Federal Capital Territory.
Papua New Guinea: Hela and Southern Highlands provinces.

Thai traditional wooden longtail boat and beautiful sand beach — Some parts of Thailand shouldn’t be visited (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Peru: within 20km of the Colombia border, Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers.
Tanzania: within 20km of the Tanzanian border with Cabo Delgado Province in Mozambique.
Tunisia: areas north and west of Ghardimaou, within 30km of the Algeria border, Kasserine Governorate, within 10m of the Tunisia border, within 10k of Mount Mghila, Mount Orbata, Southern Tunisia
Thailand: parts of the south, near the border with Malaysia, Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line.
Ukraine: western Ukraine, parts further than 50km from the border with Belarus.
Uganda: Queen Elizabeth National Park, area south-wesdt of Kasese town, Semuliki National Park.
Venezula: all areas apart from those listed above.

This article has been updated and was originally published on January 16.

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