Countries to Avoid in 2026: US and UK Do-Not-Travel Lists

The short answer

As of 7 November 2026, the UK government advises against all travel to 11 whole countries, and the US State Department rates 23 countries at its highest level, "Level 4: Do Not Travel". All 11 UK countries are also on the US list: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Iran, Mali, Niger, Russia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Many more countries have warnings for specific regions only, and some places carry extra risks for particular groups, such as LGBT+ travelers or dual nationals.

These lists change, sometimes within days. Always check your own government's current advice before you book and again before you fly.

Visit UK travel advice (FCDO) ↗Visit US travel advisories ↗

What "red list" and "do not travel" actually mean

Governments use different labels for the same idea. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) says it "advises against all travel" or "all but essential travel", either to a whole country or to parts of it. The US State Department uses four levels, from Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) to Level 4 (do not travel). Ireland, Canada and Australia use similar scales. Travelling against this advice usually means your travel insurance will not cover you, and your embassy may be able to offer little or no help on the ground.

UK: countries where the FCDO advises against all travel

The FCDO currently advises against all travel to the whole of these 11 countries:

• Afghanistan
• Belarus
• Burkina Faso
• Haiti
• Iran
• Mali
• Niger
• Russia
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

It advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Cuba and North Korea, and against all travel to parts of 40 more countries, including large areas of Ukraine, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, and border areas of popular destinations such as India, Turkey, Kenya, Egypt and Jordan. (Checked against the UK government's official data, 7 November 2026.)

Visit UK travel advice (FCDO) ↗

US: Level 4 "Do Not Travel" countries

The US State Department rates these 23 countries at Level 4:

• Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen
• Belarus, Russia, Ukraine
• Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Libya, Mali, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda
• Haiti
• Myanmar (Burma), North Korea

Reasons include armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest and the risk of wrongful detention of foreigners. Several Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" countries, such as Pakistan, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia and Israel, also have Level 4 areas inside them. (List as published on 6 November 2026; check the official site for changes.)

Visit US travel advisories ↗

Why the UK and US lists differ

Each government judges risk for its own citizens: how they are treated at the border, whether the country is likely to detain them, and whether the government can help them there. Russia, Belarus and Iran, for example, appear on both lists largely because of the risk of arrest or detention of foreign nationals. That is why the right list for you is the one from the country whose passport you hold, and if you have two passports, both.

Check the advice for your own passport

Official travel advice from some of the governments most of our readers use:

• United Kingdom: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
• United States: travel.state.gov
• Ireland: ireland.ie (Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice)
• Canada: travel.gc.ca
• Australia: smartraveller.gov.au
• Other countries: your foreign ministry's travel advisory page.

Visit Ireland travel advice ↗Visit Canada travel advisories ↗

Extra risks for LGBT+ travelers

A country can be fine for most visitors and still dangerous for some. ILGA World's 2026 data shows that 65 UN member states still criminalise consensual same-sex relations, and that the death penalty is the legally prescribed punishment in 7 of them, with up to 12 where it may apply. Laws on gender expression and on "propaganda" also exist in dozens of countries, and the number criminalising same-sex relations grew in 2025 for the first time in almost a decade. Enforcement varies a lot, but the law on the books matters if anything goes wrong.

Before you travel, check the law in each country on your route, including stopovers, and read your government's LGBT+ travel advice. Be careful with dating and social apps abroad: in some countries they have been used to target LGBT+ people.

Visit ILGA World database ↗Visit UK advice for LGBT+ travellers ↗

Advice for women traveling

Women travelers face different risks in different places. The UK government's advice for women travelling abroad is a good checklist for anyone:

• Research local customs and laws before you go, including dress codes and how the law treats women in marriage, divorce and custody. In some countries a married woman may need her husband's permission to leave.
• Keep your drink with you and do not accept drinks from strangers.
• Be wary of job offers abroad that sound too good to be true, especially in hospitality, childcare or call centres.
• Check that the healthcare you might need is available, and get insurance that covers it.

Meeting other women first can make a trip feel safer. On Konnectors you can turn on Women-only mode and join women-only hangouts in the city you are visiting.

Visit UK advice for women travelling abroad ↗App to make female friends →

Dual nationals, journalists and activists

Some countries do not recognise a second nationality, so a dual national may be treated only as their citizen, with no consular help from their other country. The UK, for example, warns that British and British-Iranian dual nationals face a significant risk of arrest in Iran, and Ireland advises against all travel there because of arbitrary arrests of European citizens. Journalists, researchers, aid workers and people who have criticised a government online can face extra scrutiny at borders. If any of this applies to you, read the full country advice, not just the headline level.

Laws that catch ordinary travelers out

• Drugs: several countries, including Singapore and Indonesia, can impose the death penalty for drug trafficking, and small amounts can mean long prison sentences.
• Medicines: some common prescription medicines are controlled or banned in certain countries. Check before you pack them and carry your prescription.
• Photography: photographing government buildings, military sites or airports can lead to arrest.
• Social media: posts criticising a government or its leaders can be an offence in some countries, including posts made before you arrived.
• Public behaviour: rules on alcohol, dress and public affection vary widely.

How to check a destination in five minutes

• Open your government's advice page for the country and read the summary and the warnings map.
• Check every country on your route, including transit stops.
• Read the "local laws and customs" section, especially if you are LGBT+, a woman travelling alone or a dual national.
• Check your travel insurance covers the destination; most policies exclude places your government advises against.
• Register your trip with your embassy if your government offers it, and save the local emergency number.

Planning a trip with people you met online

Travel buddies make many trips safer and cheaper, but agree on the destination with the official advice in front of you, not someone else's confidence. Meet in public in your home city before you travel together if you can, keep your own copy of documents and your own money for getting home, and tell someone your plans. On Konnectors you can share trip dates to find travel buddies, plan the trip together and see local hangouts at your destination; your exact location is never shown to others.

Find travel buddies →Make friends when traveling solo →Safety tips →

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