In order to keep tourists safe while abroad, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warns Brits against travelling to certain countries and regions within them. These warnings can be issued for multiple reasons, including risk of terrorism, crime, political instability or civil unrest. In 2026, a total of 12 countries are on the Foreign Office’s no travel list. This means that the FCDO advises against all travel to these countries.
However, there are more countries to which the FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Meanwhile, it also advises against travel to certain parts of several other countries, while some regions within those same countries are considered safe to go to. On the no-go list are countries in Asia, South America, Africa and even Europe. Meanwhile, there are a staggering 42 countries spread across the globe that include regions where Brits should never travel to for any reason.
These are the 12 countries that the Foreign Office says you should never travel to in 2026 for any reason.
- Afghanistan: Volatile security situation
- Belarus: “Significant” risk of arrest
- Burkina Faso: Risk of terror attacks and kidnapping
- Haiti: Volatile security situation
- Iran: Significant risk of arrest for British nationals
- Mali: Unpredictable security situation
- Niger: Increased reports of kidnappings by terrorists and criminals
- Russia: Risks involving Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine
- South Sudan: Risks related to armed violence and crime
- Syria: Ongoing conflict in the country
- Venezuela: Air strikes on targets across the country
- Yemen: Unpredictable security situation
The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to North Korea. It says that the security situation there can change suddenly without warning.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office advises against all travel to certain parts of the following countries:
There are several more countries with dodgy areas where the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel. They include four river areas towards the west of Amazonas State in Brazil.
Also in South America, tourists are advised against travelling within 20km south of the Peru-Colombia border in Peru, along with the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro River.
Mexico has several places where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel. Tourists should avoid parts of Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero and Chiapas.