Western Sahara
Warnings and insurance
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Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all travel
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- Areas in Western Sahara within 30km North and West of ‘the Berm’ boundary line
- Areas in Western Sahara the territory south and east of
the‘the BermBerm’ boundary line
Western Sahara is a disputed territory. The Berm is the militarised boundary between Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara and territory to the east controlled by the Polisario Front.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guideguide. andYou anymay specificalso travelfind adviceit thathelpful applies to you: to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our
disabledguide travellerson disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help Britishyou nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow
Get andtravel contactadvice FCDOupdates
Sign travelup onto get Twitter,email Facebooknotifications when andthis Instagram.travel Youadvice canis alsoupdated.
Follow signFCDO:
Update history
2026-06-29 14:34
FCDO now advises against all travel to areas in Western Sahara within 40km North and West of ‘the Berm’ boundary line, including the city of Es Semara (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-12-10 13:02
New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-06-10 17:00
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 11:19
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages
2023-03-22 12:53
Updated information about Ramadan (‘Local laws and customs’ page).
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against all travel
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- Areas in Western Sahara within 30km North and West of ‘the Berm’ boundary line
- Areas in Western Sahara the territory south and east of
the‘theBermBerm’ boundary line
Western Sahara is a disputed territory. The Berm is the militarised boundary between Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara and territory to the east controlled by the Polisario Front.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guideguide. andYou anymay specificalso travelfind adviceit thathelpful applies to you: to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our
disabledguidetravellerson disability and travel abroad - see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help Britishyou nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow
Get andtravel contactadvice FCDOupdates
Sign travelup onto get Twitter,email Facebooknotifications when andthis Instagram.travel Youadvice canis alsoupdated.
Follow signFCDO:
Update history
2026-06-29 14:34
FCDO now advises against all travel to areas in Western Sahara within 40km North and West of ‘the Berm’ boundary line, including the city of Es Semara (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2025-12-10 13:02
New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-06-10 17:00
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 11:19
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages
2023-03-22 12:53
Updated information about Ramadan (‘Local laws and customs’ page).