The Foreign Commonwealth Office

Who are the FCO?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO, is the British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas.

What do the FCO do?

Among many things, the FCO provide up-to-date travel advice on over 200 countries and are an essential resource for anyone travelling overseas.

Where can I access this travel advice?

If you're planning a trip overseas, the FCO travel advice widget (on the right) is an invaluable resource for worldwide news and advice that's bang up to date.

How do I use the widget?

It couldn't be easier! Simply type in the name of the country that you're planning on visiting and then select the type of information you wish to find out.

What information does the FCO widget provide?

The widget provides up-to-date information on over 200 countries including:

• Travel Summary: A snapshot of all travel advice relating to the particular country searched for
• Entry Requirements: Detailed information relating to visas, work permits, travelling with children and exit requirements
• Local Laws & Customs: A description of all the important laws and customs for the country searched for, but it specifically highlights the difference from British laws
• Safety & Security: Containing all the advice to ensure you're safe at all times with updates on general crime, travel safety, possible terror alerts and political stability
• Health: Covers everything you need to know about vaccines, insurance and any other health issues

You can visit the FCO Website www.fco.gov.uk/travel or alternatively you can call their 24 hour travel advice line on 0845 850 2829.

How can the FCO help me when I'm overseas?

The FCO travel advice isn't just a resource to be used before you go: it can be helpful if things go wrong while abroad too.