Libya Travel Risk

Do not travel to Libya for any reason due to crime, terrorism, health concerns, unrest, kidnapping, or landmines. Read entire Travel Advisory.

Do not travel to Libya for any reason.

Restrictions on U.S. Government Personnel Movement

• There is currently no U.S. Embassy in Libya.
• The U.S. government cannot offer emergency services to U.S. citizens in Libya due to the safety risks.
• U.S. citizens in Libya in need of routine consular services should contact the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia for assistance.

Crime

• Clashes among armed groups, including violence between competing armed groups and government-aligned forces, can occur at any time.
• Weapons are plentiful in Libya and are controlled by various government organizations, armed groups, tribal factions, and criminal organizations.
• Criminal organizations in Libya are known to be armed and involved in drug and human trafficking and other smuggling activity.
• Targeted kidnappings and assassinations are common and committed by criminal organizations and armed groups.
• Crimes of opportunity occur frequently. Wealthy or foreign nationals are often victims of these crimes.

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

FCDO advises against all travel to Libya except for the cities of:

• Tripoli
• Benghazi, Al-Bayda and Derna, and the surrounding area known as Jebel Akhdar, either side of the coastal and desert roads between and including the towns of Al-Maqrun and Al-Tamimi
• Misrata

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the cities of:

• Tripoli
• Benghazi, Al-Bayda and Derna, and the surrounding area knows as Jebel Akhdar, either side of the coastal and desert roads between and including the towns of Al-Maqrun and Al-Tamimi
• Misrata

Find out more about why the FCDO advises against travel.

UK government support

UK government support is limited in Libya. If you are in Libya and need urgent help from the UK government (for example, if you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died) contact the British Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia who provide assistance for British nationals in Libya. In-person support is not available in Libya. If you are a British national already in, or planning to travel to Tripoli, you should have robust security arrangements and contingency plans in place.

Terrorism

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Libya

Terrorist attacks in Libya cannot be ruled out.

Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. British people and nationals of other western countries are considered high-value hostages. Government buildings and security checkpoints have also been targeted in recent years, leading to deaths.

Recent significant attacks include:

• In April 2022, 3 people were injured in a car bombing attack by Islamic State near a Tariq Ibn Ziyad Brigade camp in Umm el Araneb, Southern Libya.
• In 2021 Daesh claimed responsibility for 2 separate bomb attacks on Libyan security forces in the Fezzan province in southern Libya. These attacks killed at least 4 people.

Extremist groups including Daesh in Libya (formerly referred to as ISIL) are responsible for most attacks, which have targeted:

• foreign and diplomatic personnel and premises
• international hotels
• oil installations
• government and other official security institutions

While there is a greater concentration of terrorist groups in the Fezzan Province, it is highly likely smaller numbers of terrorists can move relatively freely to other towns and regions to facilitate activity outside of the Fezzan Province.

In the north of Libya, it is likely security pressure and violence between armed groups have helped to limit the movement of terrorist groups.

It is likely both Daesh and Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) are using the Fezzan region in south-west Libya as a base for operations such as people-smuggling and illegally transporting weapons. These resources are essential to support terrorist activity in West Africa.

The risk of terrorism may be higher if you travel in the border regions. Extremist groups operating in the region, including AQIM and Daesh, conduct operations in the border areas of northern Mali, Niger and Algeria. They have a proven capability of travelling long distances to carry out attacks, including in neighbouring countries and Libya.

Terrorist kidnap

There has not been a terrorist kidnap in Libya for many years. Terrorist groups within Libya have intent to carry out kidnappings and it’s a realistic possibility that they will target foreign nationals. Criminal gangs also carry out kidnappings, and there is a realistic possibility that they would sell hostages on to terrorist groups. Foreign nationals have been kidnapped in Libya in the past, including 4 foreign nationals in south-east Libya in 2018.

It is likely that any kidnap for ransom attempt by a terrorist group in Libya would occur in the south of the country, whereas a kidnap for ransom by militias would occur in a northern coastal city.

In recent months, the importance of oil and natural gas production in Libya has increased, and any western nationals working for oil and natural gas companies in Libya are highly likely viewed as high-value targets.

British nationals are seen as legitimate targets, including tourists, humanitarian aid workers, journalists and business travellers. If you are kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to protect you or secure your safe release.

The long-standing policy of the British government is to not make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners builds the capability of terrorist groups and finances their activities. This can, in turn, increase the risk of further hostage-taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) makes payments to terrorists illegal.

This section has safety advice for regions of Libya. It only covers regions where the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice for Libya.

Tripoli

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all areas within the city limits of Tripoli.

The general security situation in Tripoli has been relatively stable since the UN-brokered ceasefire was signed in October 2020. Areas of the city are controlled by different militia, and the potential for sporadic inter-militia fighting remains, as witnessed in August 2022, during the large-scale mobilisation in May 2023 and clashes in August 2023 and May 2025. Such clashes can break out without warning and may involve exchanges of high-calibre gunfire and rocket propelled grenades.

Benghazi

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all areas within the city limits of Benghazi. Al-Bayda and Derna, and the region of Jebel Akhdar, either side of the coastal and desert roads between (and including) the towns of Al-Maqrun and Al-Tamimi.

The general security situation in Benghazi has been calm throughout 2024 and 2025. Security is controlled by a single military group, however there remains a risk of in-fighting, but there have not been any incidents in the last 12 months.

Misrata

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to all areas of within the city limits of Misrata.

The security situation in Misrata is stable despite the presence in the city of several armed groups. Regular policing is the responsibility of the Misrata Security Directorate, the security forces are widely assessed to be the most professional in the western region.

Risk level

LIBYA - AVOID ALL TRAVEL

Avoid all travel to Libya due to the volatile security situation throughout the country, unannounced clashes between rival armed groups, political instability, high risk of terrorist attacks and of arbitrary arrest, and high crime rate.

You should consider leaving by commercial means if it is safe to do so.

The Government of Canada's ability to provide consular assistance in Libya is extremely limited.

Terrorism

There is a threat of terrorism.

Extremist groups remain active throughout the country and generally target individuals and institutions associated with rival governments, as well as oil installations. Foreigners and people associated with Western countries are also targets of kidnapping and violence by terrorist groups.

The security forces of the rival governments of Tripoli and Benghazi regularly carry out anti-terrorist operations across the country.

Targets could include:

• government buildings, including schools and foreign diplomatic representations
• places of worship
• airports, as well as other transportation hubs and networks
• checkpoints
• public places such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, cafés, shopping malls, markets, hotels and other places frequented by foreigners
• foreign representatives, diplomats, aid workers
• teachers and other private-sector workers

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Be particularly vigilant during:

• sporting events
• religious holidays
• public celebrations
• major political events, such as elections

Terrorists may use such occasions to carry out attacks.

利比亚现有橙色（高风险）地区2个，其他地区均为红色（极高风险）。具体如下：

一、橙色地区：1. 利比亚米苏拉塔及其周边市镇（包括米苏拉塔、胡姆斯、兹利坦、塔韦尔加等）；2.班加西及其周边市镇（包括班加西、托克克拉、艾比亚尔、索卢克、卡米尼斯、贝尼纳、西迪哈利法等）。外交部提醒中国公民谨慎前往上述地区，已在当地的人员和机构密切关注局势发展，保持高度警惕，加强安全防范和应急准备，确保人身和财产安全。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻利使馆取得联系。

二、红色地区：上述两地以外地区。外交部提醒中国公民暂勿前往利比亚上述两地以外地区，已在当地的人员和机构尽快撤离或转移至安全地区。如遇紧急情况，请及时报警并与中国驻利使馆取得联系。

外交部和驻外使馆将继续密切关注海外安全风险形势变化，动态调整有关风险评估，并实时在中国领事服务网等平台发布、更新相应安全提醒，请持续关注。