The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has sounded the alarm for Brits planning to travel overseas. In a bid to keep UK travellers informed and safe, the FCDO regularly updates its travel advice.

The FCDO’s guidance is frequently amended, with people alerted to extreme weather conditions and other potential hazards in various countries. A recent post on X, previously known as Twitter, from the official FCDO account urges travellers to act “before you pack your passport”.

The post reads: “Heading overseas? Before you pack your passport, check the latest Travel Advice for your destination. You’ll find all the key info from entry requirements to laws and cultural differences”. A link to the Foreign Office’s travel advice page is included in the update, encouraging people to “get advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.”

Travellers are also advised to “keep a copy of your passport, visa, and flight ticket separately from originals when travelling. Keep copies at home and on your phone.”

An earlier update from the FCDO this week also reminds holidaymakers that it is currently hurricane season, advising them: “You should closely monitor local and international weather updates and follow advice of local authorities and your tour operator, including any evacuation orders.”

And passengers continue to be reminded that new rules for travel to the Schengen Area come into force next month. From November the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES), will mean anyone travelling on a UK passport will need to have their fingerprints and photo taken when entering the Schengen area.

If you enter the Schengen area through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, your fingerprints and photo will be taken before you leave the UK.