Most national governments will provide specific travel advice for people travelling overseas to most countries in the world.

This advice will include information on safety and security in specific countries, entry requirements of whether or not a visa is required, any specific travel warnings and the latest information on coronavirus and any other current medical-related issues.

All this advice is useful for anyone travelling abroad for any reason, for any length of time, and people should sign up for email alerts which are normally offered by the government website as well, say that they can be aware if any situation suddenly changes, and the government advisor changes as well.

From the point of view of travel insurance, the insurance company expects people to comply with any recommendations issued by the government that are contained on the government website.

This specifically and mainly applies to any government advice not to travel to a particular country, or a particular area of a country if there are real security concerns.

Failure to follow this advice could potentially validate someone’s travel insurance policy.

Different countries have different perspectives on the world, and their travel advice websites might differ depending upon their view of what is going on in another country.

For this reason, it is a good idea to look at other countries’ websites to see the advice they offer on the country that you may be visiting, the case the risk assessment or threat intelligence differs.

Below or some of the main English-speaking government websites, including where applicable health-related websites that may be part of a national government.

UK Government

• Foreign Travel Advice
• NHS Travel Health Advice
• NHS Travel Vaccinations
• Travel Insurance
• Help and Services around the World

Canada Government

• Travel Advice
• Travel Outside Canada
• Assistance Outside Canada
• Travel Health – Vaccinations, Health and Safety

USA Government

• Travel Advisories
• International Travel
• Travel Health Notices – CDC
• Medical tourism – CDC
• Traveler Advice – CDC

Australia Government

• Travel Advice – Smartraveller
• Travel Health
• Health Direct
• Travelling with Medicines
• Medical Treatment Overseas Program
• Yellow Fever Vaccination
• Travel Insurance

New Zealand Government

• Travel Advisories and Alerts
• Health and Travel
• When Things Go Wrong
• Travel Insurance
• Security Advice

South Africa

Travel Advice and Alerts