The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Turkey and Cyprus amidst the ongoing conflict between Iran, the US and Israel
Foreign Office advice has been issued for Brits in Cyprus (Image: KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Travel warnings have been issued for Brits in both Cyprus and Turkey as the conflict between Iran, the US and Israel enters its fourth day.
A huge swathe of the global airspace has been shut down completely as the conflict spreads further across the region. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon have exchanged strikes, with the Lebanese health ministry announcing that Israeli attacks in Beirut and southern Lebanon have killed at least 31 people, with 149 injured
On Sunday, an Iranian missile strike killed nine people in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, while Iranian officials reported that at least 153 people were killed after a strike on a girls’ school. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian called the incident a “barbaric act”.
Have you been impacted by the conflict? If you’re safe to do so, please contact webtravel@reachplc.com
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It is important to note that at the time of writing, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not issued ‘do not travel’ warnings for either Turkey or Cyprus. Such alerts are key because they signal extremely high risks – such as conflict, terrorism, or civil unrest – that often instantly invalidate travel insurance, leaving tourists personally liable for accidents or medical bills.
However, the FCDO does advise against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria “due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism”, warning that “your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO.”
On Sunday, the FCDO updated its Turkey travel advice for those planning to cross the border from Iran to Turkey. The border remains open visa-free for people travelling on UK or Iranian passports.
“If you are a British national intending to cross the land border from Iran into Turkey, you must request facilitation from the British Embassy in Ankara by contacting the FCDO before travelling to the border. You must state which border point you intend to use and provide personal details (name, date of birth, details of travel document used to enter Turkey). Also indicate whether you are contacting from Iran or from the UK on behalf of a relative,” the FCDO update reads.
“If you intend to leave Iran overland, you do so at your own risk. In Iran, holding a British passport or having perceived connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you. “
Concerns are also growing for Cyprus, which sits less than 100km from the coasts of Lebanon and Syria. This morning it was reported that the RAF base Akrotiri in Cyprus has been hit by a one-way attack drone. No one was reported injured.
In response to the attack, the base is moving families and temporarily relocating non-essential staff. Around 30,000 Brits live in Cyprus and 1.3million visit from the UK each year.
The Foreign Office travel advice for Cyprus was updated this morning (March 2). The latest advice reads: “On 2 March 2026, the Sovereign Base Areas Administration confirmed a suspected drone impact at RAF Akrotiri. British nationals in the Sovereign Base Areas should follow instructions from the Sovereign Base Areas Administration British Bases Cyprus Facebook. British nationals in the Republic of Cyprus should follow any instructions from Cypriot local authorities.”
The FCDO has also issued general advice for people in the region. It urges British nationals to take “sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances.” These include:
- Read if you’re affected by a crisis abroad – GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
- Sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
- Monitor local and international media for the latest information
- Sign up to local information alerts/resources and follow the instructions of the local authorities
The governmental body has also launched a central advice hub where all the latest updates can be found. British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and United Arab Emirates can register their presence to receive direct updates from the Foreign Office.
Make sure to check the Foreign Office advice regularly if you’re travelling to or are in the region. The advice is updated often.