Countries currently flagged by UK, US and other Western governments. This is where the visa is only half the question — the other half is whether you can, or should, actually go.
UK FCDO advises against all travel to Belarus (advice updated 10 September 2026). It warns of a significant risk of arrest for activities considered illegal by the Belarusian regime, and a low risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. If conflict starts, UK government support would be severely limited. Travel against FCDO advice may invalidate insurance.
UK FCDO (travel advice updated 10 Dec 2025, still current 8 Oct 2026) advises against all travel to Haiti.
The FCDO advises against all travel to Iran due to significant risk of arbitrary detention for British and dual nationals, regional tensions, and attacks. UK government support is extremely limited.
The FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Federal Iraq and against all but essential travel to other parts of Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq due to regional tensions following recent strikes and retaliatory attacks.
FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza, areas near Gaza, parts of the West Bank, Northern Israel, and the Occupied Golan Heights, and against all but essential travel to other parts of the West Bank due to regional tensions and the risk of missile and drone attacks.
The FCDO advises against all travel to many specific areas of Lebanon, including South, Nabatiyeh, Beqaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Akkar Governorates, Beirut southern suburbs, and Palestinian refugee camps, due to security concerns, regional tensions, and conflict.
The Government of Canada advises Canadians to avoid all travel to Myanmar (page last updated 26 May 2026) due to the risk of politically motivated violence, terrorist attacks, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest and detention, and civil unrest during the ongoing armed conflict. It says its ability to provide consular assistance in Myanmar is extremely limited.
The FCDO advises against all travel to Russia due to risks from the war in Ukraine, including security incidents, risk of arbitrary detention, terrorism, and severely limited UK government support.
The FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Ukraine (Crimea, border with Belarus, and most other regions) and against all but essential travel to western regions, due to the ongoing Russian invasion and frequent attacks.
US State Department Level 3: Reconsider travel to Azerbaijan (issued 28 Apr 2026; checked 13 Oct 2026) due to terrorism, armed conflict and landmines. Level 4 Do Not Travel advice applies separately to the southern border with Iran, unless it is your best overland exit from Iran; the border with Armenia; and Aghdam, Aghdara, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Jabrayil, Kalbajar, Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend, Lachin, Shusha and Zangilan. The rest of Azerbaijan is Level 3.
US State Department Level 3: Reconsider travel to Bahrain (issued 27 Aug 2026; checked 12 Oct 2026) due to terrorism and armed conflict, including an ongoing drone and missile threat and possible flight disruption. US government personnel travel restrictions described by the State Department are not tourist entry rules.
State Department Level 3 – Reconsider Travel due to crime and terrorism (issued 12 Mar 2026). Do Not Travel: San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva.
US State Department Level 3: Reconsider travel (issued 31 Oct 2025; read 13 Oct 2026) due to civil unrest, crime and terrorism, and the targeting of gay and lesbian individuals. This is safety advice, not entry law; it does not change visa or entry requirements.
US State Department Level 2: exercise increased caution due to crime (issued 26 Aug 2026; checked 13 Oct 2026). Police help may be limited, especially in remote areas. Organised and drug-related crime occurs across the country, and demonstrations can disrupt transport.
US State Department Level 2: exercise increased caution due to crime (issued 28 Jul 2026; checked 13 Oct 2026). Most crime occurs in Nassau and Freeport, but violent crime can happen anywhere; the advisory urges caution in the Over the Hill area of Nassau, which is not a separate Level 4 area. It also warns about boating and water-sports operator safety and beach risks. Its prohibition on using or renting jet skis and personal watercraft from independent operators on New Providence and Paradise Islands applies to US government employees, not tourists.
US State Department Level 2: exercise increased caution due to crime (issued 12 Mar 2026; checked 12 Oct 2026). The Southside of Belize City is separately rated Level 3 (Reconsider travel); the rest of the country is Level 2, not Level 3 or 4. The State Department strongly discourages its employees from travelling in the Southside area from Haulover Creek Canal to Faber's Road and from driving between cities after dark, and advises US citizens to follow the same guidance. This is safety advice, not an entry or immigration rule.
US State Department Level 2: exercise increased caution due to crime (issued 17 Jun 2026; checked 12 Oct 2026). It reports theft and petty crime, and potentially violent home invasions, break-ins, muggings and vehicle smash-and-grabs. Emergency help can be hard to reach in remote areas. This is safety advice, not an entry rule.
US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution (issued 28 Jul 2026; read 13 Oct 2026) due to crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, health, and traffic safety. Level 4 Do Not Travel areas: Nairobi's Eastleigh and Kibera neighbourhoods; Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Lamu counties; Tana River County except Tsavo National Park; Kilifi County north of the C103 road and coastal areas north of Malindi; West Pokot and western Turkana counties; and areas of Marsabit and Turkana counties within 50 km of the Ethiopian border. This is safety advice, not entry law; it does not change ETA or entry requirements.
Smartraveller: exercise a high degree of caution in the Kyrgyz Republic overall. Reconsider your need to travel to the Kyrgyz–Uzbek and Kyrgyz–Tajik border areas and the Ferghana Valley.
US State Department Level 2: exercise increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping and terrorism (issued 4 Sep 2026; checked 9 Oct 2026). Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advice applies separately to: (1) the Colombia–Peru border in Loreto; (2) VRAEM, including Vilcabamba; and (3) Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica and Huancayo within Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica and Junín.
Advisory levels reflect what the UK FCDO and US State Department currently say. Check each destination page for the exact wording, regional detail, and last-checked date — advisories change fast and often apply to specific areas rather than the whole country. When in doubt, the official government page linked on each destination is the source of truth.