Lifestyle Trend: Foreign Office updates Thailand travel advice again for British tourists due to Middle East conflict You Should Know

The UK Government department is warning British nationals against all but essential travel in certain regions.

As the worrying conflict between Iran, the US and Israel continues, the Foreign Office has been updating its travel advice for British nationals currently stranded in the Middle East and surrounding areas. As circumstances regularly change, it is crucial that travellers keep up to date with the latest advice.

On March 4, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) upgraded its travel advice for Thailand, stating it had updated the information on options for British nationals that are affected in Thailand. This is due to the escalation in the Middle East which has caused widespread travel disruption.

This includes a large section of the global airspace being shut down, resulting in cancelled or delayed flights. The FCDO is warning Brits that their travel plans may be affected, so they should make sure to check the latest updates from their airline or tour operator before travelling.

British tourists are also being advised to review their travel insurance policy before they travel and to monitor local and international media for the latest information. A vital step is to sign up for travel advice email alerts to get quick updates.

However, if you have been impacted by travel disruption due to the Middle East and need to review your Thai visa, the Foreign Office is urging Brits to follow guidance published by the Thai Immigration Bureau. This advice states that those impacted with an expired visa that wish to depart will see the overstay fine waived.

Meanwhile, for those wishing to apply for a temporary stay, an immigration officer “shall first proceed with a fine settlement in accordance with the law, and thereafter consider granting an extension of temporary stay for a period not exceeding 30 days per each permission”.

The FCDO is also advising Brits in Thailand against all but essential travel in the parts of the south, especially those near the the Thailand-Malaysia border. This includes:

• Pattani Province
• Yala Province
• Narathiwat Province
• The districts of Chana, Thepa, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi in southern Songkhla Province

On top of this, the FCDO has also advised against all but essential travel on the Hat Yai to Padang Besar train line that runs through these provinces. This warning as there has been regular terrorist attacks in these areas.

However, the Foreign Office does add that these attacks could take place anywhere in Thailand, with tourist destinations not likely to be protected from threat. Therefore, British tourists are being advised to stay aware of their surroundings and keep up to date with local media reports and advice from local authorities.

Additionally, the FCDO has advised against all but essential travel to within 20km of Thailand’s land border with Cambodia. In July 2025, both countries fought along parts of the border with rock and artillery fire. While fighting ceased briefly, tensions still remain as fighting erupted again on various points in early December.

As such, land borders and crossing between Thailand and Cambodia are still suspended, with various tourist destinations in the border area being closed. This includes the Khao Phra Wihan/Preah Vihear temple, the Ta Kwai/Ta Krabey temple and the Ta Muen Thom/Tamone Thom temple.

Tourists are also warned to keep their distance as there are reported to be unexploded landmines still in the border areas.

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These travel restrictions come as the UK Government updated its advice for the Brits on how to leave the following countries – Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

This information can be found on the Foreign Office’s central advice hub, which provides updated travel advice for 21 countries.

This page also provides links for British nationals to register their presence to the UK Government if they are in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE. This system allows those registered to receive direct travel advice for their area, as well as the ability to be contacted in emergencies.

In order to sign up for yourself or for someone you know in the impacted countries, you need to have your UK passport number on hand, along with an email address and phone number in order to receive communications.

Earlier this week it was reported that out of the 300,000 Brits currently in the Gulf countries, around 102,000 have registered to the vital system.