VoyaggoraTravel Live
Government advisories for Western Sahara
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)
UK · regionalAdvises against all travel to parts
Latest change: FCDO now advises against all travel to areas in Western Sahara within 40km North and West of 'the Berm' boundary line, including the city of Es Semara ('Warnings and insurance' page).
Official notice Source: gov.uk · updated Jun 29, 2026
LGBT+ and women travellers: what the UK FCDO says
- LGBT+ travellers: Same-sex sexual activity is illegal. Be sensitive to local laws and customs and avoid showing affection in public. Complaints can lead to prosecution. See more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
- Women travellers: Women may receive unwanted attention from men, especially when travelling alone. Consider wearing loose-fitting clothing which cover the arms, legs and chest. See advice for women travelling abroad .
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Jun 29, 2026
Each government uses its own scale. Read the full advisory before you book or travel; regional differences inside a country can matter more than the headline level.
Where in Western Sahara the UK advises against travel
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- Areas in Western Sahara within 40km North and West of ‘the Berm’ boundary line, including the city of Es Semara
- Areas in Western Sahara the territory south and east of ‘the Berm’ boundary line
Western Sahara is a disputed territory. The Berm is the militarised boundary between Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara and territory to the east controlled by the Polisario Front. Cross border rocket fire has occurred which cannot be ruled out in the future.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .
Official notice Source: UK FCDO travel advice, areas where it advises against travel (Open Government Licence v3.0) · updated Jun 29, 2026
Entry requirements for Western Sahara
🇬🇧 British passport holders
- Visa: You can travel without a visa for visits to the Moroccan-administered parts of Western Sahara and Morocco for up to 90 days.
- Passport: Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
Read the full UK entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Western Sahara’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Western Sahara set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Moroccan Consulate General in the UK.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Dual nationals
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
Visa requirements
You can travel without a visa for visits to the Moroccan-administered parts of Western Sahara and Morocco for up to 90 days.
Travel is restricted. Organised groups are generally permitted, but independent travellers could be turned back at the border.
Make sure you get your passport stamped.
When first arriving in Morocco/Western Sahara, make sure you get a passport stamp from the Moroccan border control authorities. You may have difficulty leaving the country without a stamp.
Vaccine requirements
For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Western Sahara guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Western Sahara. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Check Moroccan customs rules (in French) for the Moroccan-administered parts of Western Sahara.
Official notice Source: UK Foreign Office · updated Jun 29, 2026
Other passports
Rules depend on your nationality, so we do not guess. Before you book:
- Read your own government's travel advice first.
- Not sure what your passport needs? Check the visa rules for your nationality (eVisas visa checker) or compare with VisaHQ. These are affiliate links: if you use their application service we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Official government sites are usually cheaper and are linked above where we have them.
- Check your passport: many countries want it valid for 6 months after arrival and with blank pages.
- Check for an e-visa, travel authorisation or digital arrival card, and any vaccine rules (yellow fever is the common one).
- Ask your airline: they can refuse boarding if your documents do not match the rules.
Entry rules are set by each government and change without notice. This summary is for planning only and is not legal or immigration advice. Confirm on the official government website and with your airline before you book or travel. Voyaggora is not a government agency and does not process visas.
Essentials for travelers
- Plugs: type C, E
- Power: 220 V, 50 Hz
- Traffic drives on the right
- Tap water: varies
- Calling code: +212
Compiled by Voyaggora from IEC World Plugs, government and consular sources. Confidence: low. Check with your embassy or hotel before you rely on it in an emergency.
Local language
الصحراء الغربية Arabic
Essential phrases in Arabic
| Hello | مرحبا | Marhaba |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | شكرا | Shukran |
| Help! | النجدة! | An-najda! |
| Where is the hospital? | أين المستشفى؟ | Ayna al-mustashfa? |
| I need the police | أحتاج إلى الشرطة | Ahtaj ila ash-shurta |
| I need a doctor | أحتاج إلى طبيب | Ahtaj ila tabib |
| How much is it? | بكم هذا؟ | Bikam hadha? |
| Where is the toilet? | أين الحمام؟ | Ayna al-hammam? |
Country names come from the Unicode CLDR. Phrases are short standard translations; show them on your phone to ask for help.
More live hazards and notices
- Globe at Night campaign running 2026-11-01 to 2026-11-10: look for Cygnus, Grus, Pegasus. Join in: globeatnight.org.
Live feed Sources: NOAA / NWS (ash advisories from the ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres, aurora from the Space Weather Prediction Center), USGS, GeoNet New Zealand (CC BY 3.0 NZ) · checked
Health and vaccines
Vaccines, malaria and yellow-fever certificate rules: TravelHealthPro country pages (UK Health Security Agency), CDC destination pages, UK Foreign Office health advice. Ask a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go.
Airport weather right now
| Airport | Temperature | Wind | Visibility | Conditions | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laayoune GMML | 20°C / 68°F | 6 kt from 340° | 3.73 mi | Marginal (some cloud/haze) |
Live feed Source: NOAA Aviation Weather Center · checked
Money
1 US dollar ≈ 9.77 MAD · 1 euro ≈ 10.97 MAD
Central-bank reference rate for Oct 18, 2026. Your card or exchange desk will differ.
Live feed Source: Frankfurter · checked
Voyaggora destination guides
Quick answers: is it safe to travel to Western Sahara?
- Is it safe to travel to Western Sahara right now?
- It depends on where you go. As of Oct 18, 08:28 UTC. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Western Sahara. Advisory levels change and can vary by region within a country: check the official page before you travel. Sources: UK FCDO.
- Which parts of Western Sahara do governments warn about?
- Governments warn about parts of Western Sahara rather than the whole country. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Western Sahara. Canada lists no regional advisories. The US State Department page lists area-specific levels. Open each official page for the exact areas and routes.
- Are there any active weather or hazard alerts in Western Sahara right now?
- As of Oct 18, 08:28 UTC, Travel Live shows these live hazard and alert sections for Western Sahara: more live hazards and notices. Each one on this page names its official source and the time it was checked. Worldwide storms, earthquakes and disasters are on the Travel Live hub.
- What do the advisory levels mean?
- US State Department: Level 1 exercise normal precautions, Level 2 exercise increased caution, Level 3 reconsider travel, Level 4 do not travel. Canada: take normal security precautions, exercise a high degree of caution, avoid non-essential travel, avoid all travel. UK FCDO: it advises against all travel, or all but essential travel, to the whole country or to parts of it, or has no warnings. Each government uses its own scale, so the levels are not directly comparable.
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Get the Weekly BriefContains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Voyaggora summarises official sources and is not a government service; always confirm with the official advisory before you travel.