TL;DR
The FCDO issues four levels of travel advice. 'Advice against all travel' is the highest. UK travellers who go to such destinations typically lose travel insurance cover and limit consular assistance options. The current Iran case has drawn renewed attention to these limits.
Last reviewed 3 June 2026
Key facts
- The FCDO publishes country-by-country travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
- Advice tiers: no restrictions, advice against all but essential travel, advice against all travel to part of a country, advice against all travel.
- Travel insurance policies typically void cover when the policyholder travels against FCDO advice.
- Consular assistance from FCDO is limited in countries where the UK has no formal diplomatic presence or where local authorities do not cooperate.
- Craig and Lindsay Foreman lost their appeal against a 10-year prison sentence in Iran on 2 June 2026.
What FCDO travel advice levels mean
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes travel advice for every country and territory at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. The advice has four practical levels:
No restrictions: Routine country-specific advice on safety, entry requirements, health and laws. Travel insurance and normal consular assistance apply.
Advice against all but essential travel to a country or to specified parts of a country. Essential travel is generally interpreted narrowly: business contractual obligations, family emergencies, attending the funeral of a close relative.
Advice against all travel to specific parts of a country. This applies where the FCDO assesses that the risk to British nationals in those specific areas is extreme. Travellers can visit other parts of the country with normal cover.
Advice against all travel to the entire country. Iran is currently in this category. Other examples include Afghanistan, Syria, Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Yemen. Travellers who proceed face the consequences described below.
What happens to travel insurance when you ignore FCDO advice
Standard UK travel insurance policies typically contain a clause excluding cover where the FCDO has advised against all travel or all but essential travel to the destination. The clause means:
Medical emergencies are not covered. Emergency medical evacuation costs in countries against which travel is advised can easily exceed £100,000.
Cancellation and disruption cover does not apply.
Personal possessions cover may continue but with significantly reduced practical value if no claims handler operates in-country.
A handful of specialist insurers offer cover for travel against FCDO advice, including high-risk operators serving journalists, NGO staff and security contractors. The premiums are several times standard travel insurance and cover is typically limited.
What consular assistance can and cannot do
The FCDO provides consular assistance to British nationals in difficulty abroad. What that assistance covers in practice:
Can do: Provide a list of English-speaking lawyers in-country; facilitate communication with family in the UK; visit a detained British national (typically once initially and periodically thereafter); provide information about local legal and medical processes; help raise concerns about treatment with local authorities.
Cannot do: Secure release from detention; intervene in judicial processes; pay for legal representation or medical care; secure preferential treatment; transport a British national out of a hostile environment without local authority cooperation.
In countries where the UK has no diplomatic presence (Iran since 2022 when the UK closed its embassy in Tehran), consular assistance is significantly more limited. The UK relies on partner countries' diplomatic representation or international intermediaries.
The case of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, the East Sussex couple sentenced to 10 years on espionage charges they deny and who lost their appeal on 2 June 2026, illustrates the practical limits. Family members have repeatedly called on the UK government to recognise the detention as 'arbitrary' and apply diplomatic pressure. The Foreman family was told the appeal was conducted without their knowledge.
Advisory: FCDO travel advice changes during a trip. Sign up to email alerts at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for each country visited. If advice changes while you are in-country, your insurance position can change too.
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Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, insurance, or investment advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO ZC135439) as a data controller but is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures and rules are correct at time of publication and may change. Always check the primary source linked below before acting on any information, and seek advice from a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What does FCDO 'advice against all travel' mean for insurance?
Standard UK travel insurance policies exclude cover when the FCDO has advised against all travel to the destination. Medical, cancellation and disruption cover all typically void. Specialist high-risk insurers offer alternative cover at substantially higher premiums.
Can the FCDO get me out of trouble abroad?
Consular assistance can provide a list of local lawyers, communication with family, prison visits and information about local processes. It cannot secure release from detention, intervene in judicial processes, pay for legal representation or transport you out of a country.
Does the UK still have an embassy in Iran?
The UK closed its embassy in Tehran in 2022 and Iran's London embassy was effectively closed in the same period. Consular assistance to British nationals in Iran is significantly more limited as a result.
How do I check FCDO advice for my destination?
Visit gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and search the country. Sign up to email alerts to receive updates if advice changes during your trip.
