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Brunei
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for Brunei with an update to the Local Laws & Customs section – revised information on Common Law and Sharia Penal Code.  The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Local Laws & Customs
In 2014, Brunei began the introduction of a Sharia Penal Code, to run in parallel with the Common Law. The final phase was introduced on 3 April 2019. It specifies severe punishments, for certain crimes, including some that are not illegal in the UK.
Most laws under Common Law and the Sharia Penal Code apply to all people in Brunei, regardless of nationality or religion.
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed. There are no restrictions within the advice.
 
View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brunei
 
 
 
India
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for India with an update to the Summary – voting in India’s general elections ends on 19 May 2019, and the results will be issued on 23 May 2019; there may be heightened political activity in the run up to and after the results are announced; you should exercise caution and avoid large gatherings.  The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Summary
Voting in India’s general elections ends on 19 May 2019, and the results will be issued on 23 May 2019. There may be heightened political activity in the run up to and after the results are announced. You should exercise caution and avoid large gatherings. For more information, see the Election Commission of India website.
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• the immediate vicinity of the border with Pakistan, other than at Wagah
• Jammu and Kashmir, with the exception of (i) travel within the city of Jammu, (ii) travel by air to the city of Jammu, and (iii) travel within the region of Ladakh
• Manipur, except the state capital Imphal, where the FCO advise against all but essential travel

The tourist destinations of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg fall within the areas to which the FCO advise against all travel.
The FCO advise against all but essential travel to:

• the city of Srinagar and between the cities of Jammu and Srinagar on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway
• Imphal, the state capital of Manipur

 
View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india

 
The overall level of the advice has changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise all British nationals against all travel to:

• within 100km of the entire Iran/Afghanistan border
• within 10km of the entire Iran/Iraq border
• the province of Sistan-Baluchistan
• the area east of the line running from Bam to Jask, including Bam

Additionally, the FCO advise British-Iranian dual nationals against all travel to Iran.
 
 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for Iran with an update to the Summary and Safety & Security section – change to advice against travel; the FCO now advise British-Iranian dual nationals against all travel to Iran; all British nationals should consider carefully the risks of travelling to Iran.  The overall level of advice has changed. The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Summary
There is a risk that British nationals, and a higher risk that British/Iranian dual nationals, could be arbitrarily detained in Iran. All British nationals should consider carefully the risks of travelling to Iran. The Iranian authorities don’t recognise dual nationality for Iranian citizens and therefore don’t grant consular access for FCO officials to visit them in detention. If you’re a British-Iranian dual national and are subsequently detained in Iran, the FCO’s ability to provide consular support is extremely limited. See Safety and security.
 
 
Safety & Security
The FCO advise British-Iranian dual nationals against all travel to Iran.
British nationals, in particular dual British/Iranian nationals, face greater risks than nationals of many other countries. The security forces may be suspicious of people with British connections. These could include individuals with links to institutions based in the UK, or which receive public funds from, or which have perceived links to, the British government. The risks are likely to be higher for independent travellers or students than for people travelling as part of an organised tour or business people invited by the Iranian authorities or companies. If you have links to any organisation perceived as being anti-Iranian, either within Iran or elsewhere, you may be at even greater risk.
There is a risk that British nationals, and a higher risk that British/Iranian dual nationals, could be arbitrarily detained in Iran. In such cases the FCO has serious concerns that the subsequent judicial process falls below international standards. The Iranian authorities don’t recognise dual nationality for Iranian citizens and therefore don’t grant consular access for FCO officials to visit them in detention. If you’re a British-Iranian dual national and you are subsequently detained in Iran, the FCO’s ability to provide consular support is extremely limited.
 
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise all British nationals against all travel to:

• within 100km of the entire Iran/Afghanistan border
• within 10km of the entire Iran/Iraq border
• the province of Sistan-Baluchistan
• the area east of the line running from Bam to Jask, including Bam

Indonesia Embassy will be closed on the 27^th May.

Please be aware that the month of Ramadan starts 5th May 2019

The opening and closing times of the Muslim Related embassies may change  and this  can cause a delay in visas being issued.

At the End of this period the embassies will close from 1 day up to as much as 7 working days and will nearer the time as and when embassy release their closures

THE PHILIPPINES EMBASSY WILL BE CLOSED ON 13^TH AND 14^TH MAY 2019.

Algeria Embassy is closed on 1^st May.

Belarus Embassy is closed every Wednesday and will be closed on 7^th to 9^th  May.

Mozambique Embassy is closed on 1^st  May.

Nambia Embassy is closed every Friday and will also be closed on the 1st May and 10^th May.

Nigeria Embassy will be closed on the 1^st of May.

Russia Embassy is closed from 1^st  to 3^rd  May, 6^th May, 9^th and 10^th  May.

Republic of Congo Embassy is closed on 1^st  May.

Egypt Embassy is closed on 1^st  May.

Tanzania Embassy is closed on 1^st May.

Ghana Embassy is closed on 1^st  May.

Kazakhstan The Embassy is closed on 7^th May, 9^th and 10^th May.

Vietnam Embassy is closed on 1^st May.

The FCO have updated the travel advice for the following countries: Burma / Indonesia
 
Burma
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for Burma with an update to the Local Laws & Customs section – addition of information on Burma’s defamation laws.  The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Local Laws & Customs
Burma’s defamation laws give broad scope for individuals to bring potentially arbitrary charges which could result in criminal penalties, including a prison sentence. Foreigners have been subject to criminal investigations for acts such as posting a critical review of a hotel online.
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to:

• Rakhine State, except the southern townships (administrative areas similar to a borough or county) of Kyaukpyu, Ramree, Munaung, Toungup, Thandwe (including the tourist resort of Ngapali) and Gwa.
• Paletwa township, in southern Chin State, due to active armed conflict. If you’re visiting Mount Victoria in Mindat township, you should seek advice from tour operators or guides before travel.
• Shan State (North), except Kyaukme town, Hsipaw town, and the train line from Mandalay to Kyaukme and Hsipaw. Please note that the town of Lashio and its airport are included in the area where the FCO advise against all but essential travel.
• Kachin State (except the towns of Myitkyina, Bhamo and Putao) due to continued risk of armed conflict. On 15 May 2018 there were 2 explosions with no casualties on the train track between Mandalay and Myitkyina. See Local travel

 
View the travel advice in full here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/burma
 
 
 
Indonesia
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for Indonesia with an update to the Summary – General elections were held in Indonesia on 17 April with official results set to be announced on 22 May; you should avoid all protests, demonstrations and political rallies.  The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Summary
General elections were held in Indonesia on 17 April 2019 with official results set to be announced on 22 May 2019. You should avoid all protests, demonstrations and political rallies as there’s a risk of violence.
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• within 4 kilometres of the Mount Agung crater in east Bali
• within 7 kilometres of the Mount Sinabung crater in Kalo Regency, North Sumatra

The FCO have updated the travel advice for the following countries: Sudan
 
Sudan
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for Sudan with an update to the Entry Requirements (Visas) section – updated information on exit visas for visitors to Sudan on a single entry visa.  The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Entry Requirements
Visas
Visitors to Sudan on a single entry visa need to get an exit visa to leave the country, though this is not always enforced. Exit visas can be processed at the airport. If requested, you should be ready to show proof of your sponsor and pay the exit visa fee of 50 US dollars.
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• the Darfur states
• the Abyei Region
• South Kordofan and Blue Nile states
• the southern area of West Kordofan state that was previously part of South Kordofan, as shown on the map
• within 50km of the border with South Sudan in White Nile and Sennar states
• within 200km of the border with Libya

 
Sudan
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated the travel advice for Sudan with an update to the Entry Requirements (Visas) section – updated information on exit visas.  The relevant extract of the advice is below for your reference:
 
Entry Requirements
Visas
British nationals need a visa to visit Sudan. Apply before you travel via the Sudanese Embassy in London.
You should register with the Aliens Department at the Ministry of Interior within 3 days of your arrival in the country. You will need two passport size photos. The fee is the Sudanese Pound equivalent of around £35. If you don’t register within 3 days of arrival, you may be fined. Some of the larger hotels will do this for you but you should ask when you check-in.
Visitors to Sudan on a single entry visa need to get an exit visa to leave the country. Exit visas can be processed at the airport. You will need to show proof of your sponsor and the current cost is 50 US dollars.
Most foreign residents, including British nationals, also need an exit permit. You are advised to check the details with your sponsor, ideally before your arrival, and to ensure that you understand and are happy with the process. You should also be aware that this requirement could make it difficult for you to leave the country at short notice, should the need arise.
 
The overall level of the advice has not changed, and there are restrictions in place.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to:

• the Darfur states
• the Abyei Region
• South Kordofan and Blue Nile states
• the southern area of West Kordofan state that was previously part of South Kordofan, as shown on the map
• within 50km of the border with South Sudan in White Nile and Sennar states
• within 200km of the border with Libya

Following the latest European Council summit on Brexit, a further delay has been agreed to the UK’s departure from the European Union to Thursday 31 October 2019, at the latest.

This removes the threat of no-deal in the short-term, provided that the European Parliamentary elections take place as laid out in the Statutory Instrument that has been approved by Parliament, and covers the entire Summer season.

The Brexit extension provides certainty that people will be able to continue to travel to the European Union exactly as they do today, at least until the end of October 2019.

Advice for Members

We are also recommending that Members continue with contingency planning, as the no-deal scenario remains a possibility later in the year. We will continue to update our advice to Members in the coming weeks.

There is comprehensive advice and information for Members regarding Brexit available within the Member zone on ABTA.com https://www.abta.com/member-zone

Advice for Customers 
 

Philippines Embassy will be closed on the 18^th April 2019.

Ghana Embassy will be closed on the 1^st May 2019.

Mozambique Embassy will be closed on the 1^st May 2019.

Namibia Embassy will be closed on the 1^st May 2019.

Vietnam Embassy will be closed on the 1^st May 2019.