Latest UK foreign office news & advice

The UEFA Euro 2012 football tournament is fast approaching. British nationals should check our travel tips before travelling to Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012.

There is advice on what vaccinations you will need, ensuring your passport is up to date and and taking out adequate travel insurance for any medical emergencies. Our country travel advice for Ukraine and Poland will also inform you on local laws and customs so you don't get a red card!

Further information

Euro 2012 top tips

Follow travel advice for Ukraine and Poland

UEFA Euro 2012 (opens a new website)

Our Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) is a joint-initiative with the Home Office. In 2011 there were 1468 instances where the FMU gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage. Of the 1468 instances, 78 per cent were female and 22 per cent male.

Our trained professionals offer confidential advice and assistance to:
• those who have been forced into marriage
• those at risk of being forced into marriage
• people worried about friends or relatives
• professionals working with actual or potential victims of forced marriage

We can also help if you a British national overseas?
Abroad, we work with embassy staff to rescue victims who may have been held captive, raped, forced into a marriage or into having an abortion.

In the UK the FMU assists actual and potential victims of forced marriage, as well as professionals working in the social, educational and health sectors. See our pages on information for professionals and information for victims for more details.

Further information

Telephone: 0207 008 0151

Email: fmu@fco.gov.uk

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You should exercise caution and vigilance if travelling abroad during election periods, particularly in areas where there are political or other large public gatherings. Avoid polling booths unless you are a registered voter, an accredited observer or an accredited journalist.

Demonstrations and outbreaks of localised civil unrest and violence can occur with little notice. There may be restrictions on vehicular and other movements on election days and the preceding night. You are advised to comply with them and carry ID at all times.

In the days following elections you are advised to continue to monitor local news, avoid troubled areas and seek advice from your hotel or tour operator before departure.

Further information

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Read the travel advice for the countries you intend to visit

Travel insurance advice

Up to 75,000 British nationals visit Bangladesh every year. If you are travelling to Bangladesh, please be aware that further hartals (general strikes) could be called.

This activity tends to be in the evenings and can attract large numbers of supporters and activists who gather in the street. To avoid any potential incidents we advise visitors to avoid this road between 18:00 and 06:00 daily.

Further information

See our travel Bangladesh travel advice

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There is potential for demonstrations to take place in some Spanish cities. British nationals should stay clear of any large scale demonstrations and allow extra time to clear security at airports, ports and border crossings.

Further information

Check Spain travel advice

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Research from Gocompare.com reveals that there's considerable confusion amongst British travellers as to what benefits the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does and does not provide. The EHIC is essential for British travellers to Europe. In some hospitals it may entitle you to free or reduced cost state healthcare, and some insurance companies may reduce or waive their excess costs depending on your travel insurance policy. But an EHIC card does not always entitle you to free or cover full costs of medical treatment in Europe. It also does not cover the cost of medical repatriation should you need it.

The EHIC is valid in the European Economic Area (EEA) which is made up of all 27 members of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The EEA has a special arrangement with Switzerland which allows the EHIC issued in any EEA member state to be used to access healthcare there.

Lynda St Cooke of the Foreign Office’s Know Before You Go Campaign said: “It is worrying that so many British EHIC holders are not aware of what the card entitles them to. If you are travelling in Europe, you should definitely take your EHIC – you can apply for it free on the NHS website.  But it is also important to take out comprehensive travel insurance before you travel”.

Further information

Travel insurance advice

EHIC

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Unions representing Portuguese air traffic controllers have announced that their members will be participating in strike action on 12, 13, 19, 20 and 26 April for a period of two hours from 0700-0900 hours. 

If the planned strike goes ahead, they may affect your travel plans. Be prepared for delays and keep in touch with your airline or tour operator for advice on the options available to you.

• See travel advice for Portugal

Further information

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The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre lifted the tsunami watch at 12.36 GMT.

British nationals in the region are advised to monitor local media for advice.

See our travel advice for the Asia Oceania region

Further information

British Embassy in Indonesia website

Travel advice for Indonesia

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There is a high threat of terrorist attack during religious festivals. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Nigeria to the following:

• Borno State
• Yobe State
• Bayelsa State
• Delta State
• Rivers State (including Port Harcourt)
• Riverine areas of Akwa Ibom State
• The Bakassi Peninsula

In addition we advise against ALL travel to the following States over the Easter Period:

• Niger State
• Kaduna Stae
• Kano State
• Katsina State
• Sokoto State

We advise against ALL BUT ESSENTIAL travel to:

• Bauchi State
• Jos City
• Gombe State
• Mubi Town in Adamawa State, and the area north of Mubi Town that border Borno State
• Non-riverine areas of Akwa Ibom State
• Abia State

Further information

Travel advice for Nigeria

UK in Nigeria

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A Foreign Office spokesperson said:

Given the unstable and unpredictable situation in Mali and the continuing lack of constitutional rule, the UK has decided to temporarily withdraw its staff from its Embassy in Bamako and temporarily suspend all in country services immediately, including consular assistance. Consular assistance will continue to be provided to British nationals from our Embassy in Dakar but the UK’s ability to help British nationals who chose to remain in Mali may become limited. We have recommended since 4 April that British nationals should leave Mali as soon as possible by commercial means.

Further information

Travel advice for Mali

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