Countries where jail risk is banned or restricted (2026 list)

Out of the 148 countries covered by LawsTravels, 88 ban and 39 require caution on jail risk. Here is the full list, region by region.

Banned or serious risk· 88

Europe · 1

🇷🇺 Russia

Middle East & Caucasus · 6

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan 🇰🇼 Kuwait 🇶🇦 Qatar 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇦🇪 UAE (Dubai)

North Africa · 7

🇩🇿 Algeria 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇱🇾 Libya 🇲🇷 Mauritania 🇲🇦 Morocco 🇸🇩 Sudan 🇹🇳 Tunisia

Sub-Saharan Africa · 36

🇦🇴 Angola 🇧🇯 Benin 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 🇧🇮 Burundi 🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇹🇩 Chad 🇩🇯 Djibouti 🇨🇩 DR Congo 🇪🇷 Eritrea 🇸🇿 Eswatini 🇪🇹 Ethiopia 🇬🇦 Gabon 🇬🇲 Gambia 🇬🇭 Ghana 🇬🇳 Guinea 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast 🇰🇪 Kenya 🇱🇸 Lesotho 🇱🇷 Liberia 🇲🇬 Madagascar 🇲🇼 Malawi 🇲🇱 Mali 🇲🇿 Mozambique 🇳🇪 Niger 🇳🇬 Nigeria 🇨🇬 Republic of Congo 🇸🇳 Senegal 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone 🇸🇴 Somalia 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇸🇸 South Sudan 🇹🇿 Tanzania 🇹🇬 Togo 🇺🇬 Uganda 🇿🇲 Zambia 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

East Asia · 2

🇨🇳 China 🇯🇵 Japan

South-East Asia · 10

🇧🇳 Brunei 🇰🇭 Cambodia 🇮🇩 Indonesia (Bali) 🇱🇦 Laos 🇲🇾 Malaysia 🇲🇲 Myanmar 🇵🇭 Philippines 🇸🇬 Singapore 🇹🇭 Thailand 🇻🇳 Vietnam

South & Central Asia · 8

🇧🇩 Bangladesh 🇮🇳 India 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan 🇲🇻 Maldives 🇳🇵 Nepal 🇵🇰 Pakistan 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

The Americas · 17

🇧🇸 Bahamas 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇨🇺 Cuba 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇬🇹 Guatemala 🇬🇾 Guyana 🇯🇲 Jamaica 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇵🇦 Panama 🇵🇾 Paraguay 🇵🇪 Peru 🇸🇷 Suriname 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago 🇻🇪 Venezuela

Oceania · 1

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea

Allowed, with limits· 39

Europe · 18

🇦🇱 Albania 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇿 Czechia 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇬🇷 Greece 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇹 Italy 🇲🇪 Montenegro 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇪🇸 Spain 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Middle East & Caucasus · 5

🇦🇲 Armenia 🇧🇭 Bahrain 🇬🇪 Georgia 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇴🇲 Oman

Sub-Saharan Africa · 6

🇧🇼 Botswana 🇨🇻 Cape Verde 🇲🇺 Mauritius 🇳🇦 Namibia 🇷🇼 Rwanda 🇸🇨 Seychelles

East Asia · 5

🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇲🇴 Macao 🇲🇳 Mongolia 🇰🇷 South Korea 🇹🇼 Taiwan

The Americas · 4

🇦🇷 Argentina 🇨🇱 Chile 🇨🇷 Costa Rica 🇺🇸 United States

Oceania · 1

🇫🇯 Fiji

Relaxed· 21

Europe · 16

🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇮 Finland 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Middle East & Caucasus · 1

🇮🇱 Israel

The Americas · 2

🇨🇦 Canada 🇺🇾 Uruguay

Oceania · 2

🇦🇺 Australia 🇳🇿 New Zealand

The details are in the app

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the thresholds, the penalties, what to do at customs — for the country you are actually going to, offline.

See my destination

How it works, in general

🆘 Your rights, in practice

You have the right to contact your consulate. Ask immediately, and repeat the request until it happens.
A consulate cannot get you out, but it can find a lawyer, notify your family and monitor conditions.
Never sign a statement you cannot read. Demand an interpreter, in writing if possible.
Pre-trial detention can last months in many countries, including for minor charges.

📋 Prepare before you go

Save your consulate's number in your phone and on paper, separately from the phone.
Leave a copy of your passport with someone at home.
Travel insurance with legal assistance costs little and covers lawyer fees.

Frequently asked questions

In which countries is jail risk banned?

88 countries flag jail risk as banned or a serious risk for travellers: Algeria, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia (Bali), Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Congo, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE (Dubai), Uganda, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Where is jail risk allowed with limits?

39 countries allow it under conditions (age, place, quantity, permit): Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Czechia, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, Macao, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia….

How do I check the rules for my destination before I fly?

Open LawsTravels: pick your destination, the topic jail risk shows the level, the thresholds and the penalties, offline. Your home country is free.

By region

Europe35 Middle East & Caucasus12 North Africa7 Sub-Saharan Africa42 East Asia7 South-East Asia10 South & Central Asia8 The Americas23 Oceania4

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These pages indicate a level of risk only. They summarise publicly available legal information and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — always confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.